Status Update on The Dark Tower Movie

Universal may have cancelled their plans for Ron Howard's adaptation of Stephen King's The Dark Tower series, but that doesn't mean that this project won't see the light of day. Producer Brian Grazer recently provided a status update and it looks like Ron Howard still sees this as a priority project and they are looking for new ways to make this happen.

For those that missed out on previous reports, the pitch was for a trilogy of films and a TV series that would cover the entire book series. Brian Grazer says that they are looking into multiple options for the trilogy of films, including getting outside financing and then having a major studio distribute them. As for the TV element, they are talking to the big TV networks, but are also considering alternative options such as Netflix.

In terms of casting, Javier Bardem was set to star as Roland Deschain, and Grazer says that he is still attached to the film. Don't expect any of this to come together quickly, though. Due to Universal passing, Ron Howard will be directing Rush next and Brian Grazer said that the earliest Howard could start on the project would be June 2012.

The Dark Tower series consists of 7 books, which follow gunslinger Roland Deschain in his quest to reach the Dark Tower: The opening chapter in the epic Dark Tower series. Roland, the last gunslinger, in a world where time has moved on, pursues his nemesis, The Man in Black, across a desert. Roland's ultimate goal is the Dark Tower, the nexus of all universes. This mysterious icon's power is failing, threatening everything in existence.