Skip to main content

King says 'The Dark Tower' TV series will take place in its own universe

The Dark Tower review
Image used with permission by copyright holder
All things considered, it’s been a pretty good year for Stephen KingIt released to strong reviews and went on to become the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time and the Netflix adaptation of Gerald’s Game holds a 90 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite all the hits, there’s one black mark on King’s 2017 record and that’s The Dark Tower. 

Despite containing some stellar talent, such as Idris Elba as Roland, the last Gunslinger, and Matthew McConaughey taking on the iconic role of Randall Flag, the film met with poor reviews and a weak box office showing. Fans of King’s 8-novel epic were disappointed both by the movie itself and the fact that the planned series is currently in limbo. However, not all hope is lost as King himself has announced that the planned TV series will be a complete reboot.

King also gave his thoughts on what the movie did wrong though he stressed that he personally enjoyed it.

“The major challenge was to do a film based on a series of books that’s really long, about 3,000 pages,” King told Vulture. “The other part of it was the decision to do a PG-13 feature adaptation of books that are extremely violent and deal with violent behavior in a fairly graphic way. That was something that had to be overcome, although I’ve gotta say, I thought [screenwriter] Akiva Goldsman did a terrific job in taking a central part of the book and turning it into what I thought was a pretty good movie. The TV series they’re developing now … we’ll see what happens with that. It would be like a complete reboot, so we’ll just have to see.”

King’s comments regarding a complete reboot do contradict news that was reported earlier this year in which it was stated that the TV show and movie will exist within the same universe. Then again, given the fact that The Dark Tower itself is a story about the multiverse and different realities, perhaps both things could be true. It was initially reported that Elba would be reprising his role as Roland, but it remains to be seen whether or not this is still the case.

The Dark Tower currently does not have a release date, but it is expected to premiere some time next year.

Editors' Recommendations

Eric Brackett
Former Digital Trends Contributor
10 best stop-motion animated movies of all time, ranked
Coraline crawls through a dark tunnel.

Stop-motion animation is one of the most creative and beloved subgenres -- and it only seems to get better with time. The greatest movies in this category showcase the hard work and artistry of the inventive minds behind these stories, which often take a long time to commit to film. Each frame is a painstakingly crafted work of art, all aimed at creating immersive worlds full of unforgettable narratives and characters.

From obscure modern classics like The Wolf House to genre-defining masterpieces like The Nightmare Before Christmas, the best stop-motion animated movies highlight the full potential of the medium to deliver complex stories alongside gorgeous and distinct visuals. The craftmanship on display in these films is a testament to the power of animation and those who boldly push the genre's boundaries to create enchanting realities.
10. James and the Giant Peach (1996)

Read more
The 50 best anime on Hulu right now
Gintama anime key art featuring Gintoki leading the supporting cast of the series.

Even when it's not the primary destination, Hulu is still easily among the best mainstream platforms to stream some of the best anime available. It's an especially great supplement for audiences already fans of the streamer's live-action originals, boasting impressive diversity in its anime offerings across film, TV, and various genres.

For customers who aren't subscribed, the Disney Bundle is more than worth consideration to back up Hulu's anime library. This package deal gives viewers countless hours of content through Disney+, ESPN+, and the base ad-supported Hulu plan. Fans will have access to all the Star Wars, Marvel Studios, National Geographic, and sports content they could hope for on top of Hulu's anime catalog.

Read more
Nuggets vs Mavericks live stream: Can you watch for free?
Nikola Jokic squares up a free throw on the court.

Luka Dončić and the Dallas Mavericks take on Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets today. Playoff seeding implications aside, it's always a must-watch event whenever two of the greatest international players of all-time do battle.

This one is set to start in about one hour, at 3:30 p.m. ET, and will be televised on ABC in the United States. If you don't have cable or you're looking to finally cut the cable cord, there are a bunch of different ways you can watch a live stream of the game online.
The Best Way to Watch the Nuggets vs Mavericks Live Stream

Read more