Abrams on Dark Tower? | Movie News

Abrams on Dark Tower?
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by: Mike Sampson Feb. 14, 2007

JJ Abrams and his "Lost" buddies (namely co-creator Damon Lindelof) have never made a secret of their love for Stephen King. They said when "Lost" debuted that King's "The Stand" was a big influence. Later they participated in a roundtable interview with King for Entertainment Weekly and Lindelof even brought a copy of "The Gunslinger" for King to sign. So it should come as no surprise that King and Abrams are in talks to adapt THE DARK TOWER. It's unclear if the project is headed towards the big-screen or small as it hasn't ended up at either Paramount or Warner Bros. TV where Abrams has his production deals. It's still in the early talking stages but the project could be designed as either a TV mini-series, a season long TV series or a trilogy of movies. Abrams involvement in the adaptation is also unclear. He doesn't seem to be committed to direct STAR TREK XI but hasn't announced his next directorial project either. Adaptations of King's works for TV haven't had the best results so I'm hoping with the involvement of Abrams, they can deliver not just a faithful but entertaining DARK TOWER.

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Extra Tidbit: King and Marvel Comics just released a prequel comic book titled "Gunslinger Born."

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Wordslinger
12:06PM on 02/15/2007 Add as a friend | MFC profile
God, this would be such a hard series of books to make into a movie. Especially towards the end of the series... I'm really not sure anybody would be able to handle it correctly.



Consider me skeptical.
God, this would be such a hard series of books to make into a movie. Especially towards the end of the series... I'm really not sure anybody would be able to handle it correctly.



Consider me skeptical.
 
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brentage5000
6:23PM on 02/14/2007 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Oh, it BETTER fuckiing be a damn TV series, because considering how Jake ages about a year in total throughout all seven books, they need to get it all filmed as quickly as possible, but a movie or miniseries would be too much at once. Just film it all quickly, and then release it over the length of a season, since some of the wordier parts that seemed long were really all taking place in space...
Oh, it BETTER fuckiing be a damn TV series, because considering how Jake ages about a year in total throughout all seven books, they need to get it all filmed as quickly as possible, but a movie or miniseries would be too much at once. Just film it all quickly, and then release it over the length of a season, since some of the wordier parts that seemed long were really all taking place in space of about five minutes
 
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GroundlessNFree
6:11PM on 02/14/2007 Add as a friend | MFC profile
The way to go is definitely TV as a regular series. 7 seasons/years isn't going to work, but 4 might. Or 7 mini seasons, but not like they did with LOST, and not a 2 night miniseries. I'm talking 7 seasons of about 10 1 hour episodes. But the 7 seasons wouldn't span 7 years.
The way to go is definitely TV as a regular series. 7 seasons/years isn't going to work, but 4 might. Or 7 mini seasons, but not like they did with LOST, and not a 2 night miniseries. I'm talking 7 seasons of about 10 1 hour episodes. But the 7 seasons wouldn't span 7 years.
 
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xander829
5:29PM on 02/14/2007 Add as a friend | MFC profile
HBO could do well with the series... but it might have a fate much like Carnivale.
HBO could do well with the series... but it might have a fate much like Carnivale.
 
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arbe79
4:42PM on 02/14/2007 Add as a friend | MFC profile
I have read all 7 books and think that you should fear a poor adaptation. I rode the rollercoaster that was the Dark Tower and have the movie in my head already. Reading those books was a journey in itself. For people who have never read the books I would hate for them to see the movie (if it turned out poor) and have a bad taste in their mouth and never give the book a chance. I would also...
I have read all 7 books and think that you should fear a poor adaptation. I rode the rollercoaster that was the Dark Tower and have the movie in my head already. Reading those books was a journey in itself. For people who have never read the books I would hate for them to see the movie (if it turned out poor) and have a bad taste in their mouth and never give the book a chance. I would also hate for the movie to be bad and leave a bad taste in my mouth and have to read them all again to remember why i loved em. lol (twice was enough)
 
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arbe79
4:41PM on 02/14/2007 Add as a friend | MFC profile
I have read all 7 books and think that you should fear a poor adaptation. I rode the rollercoaster that was the Dark Tower and have the movie in my head already. Reading those books was a journey in itself. For people who have never read the books I would hate for them to see the movie (if it turned out poor) and have a bad taste in their mouth and never give the book a chance. I would also...
I have read all 7 books and think that you should fear a poor adaptation. I rode the rollercoaster that was the Dark Tower and have the movie in my head already. Reading those books was a journey in itself. For people who have never read the books I would hate for them to see the movie (if it turned out poor) and have a bad taste in their mouth and never give the book a chance. I would also hate for the movie to be bad and leave a bad taste in my mouth and have to read them all again to remember why i loved em. lol (twice was enough)
 
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reachingforsky
4:34PM on 02/14/2007 Add as a friend | MFC profile
I'm looking forward to seeing this done.



Don't be so scared of an adaptation! If it turns out to be good, then that's awesome. If it's not so great, then dammit.



But seriously, I don't think a poor adaptation will ruin the books for constant reader. If someone is dedicated enough to even get through all seven books, they will know better than to trust a movie...
I'm looking forward to seeing this done.



Don't be so scared of an adaptation! If it turns out to be good, then that's awesome. If it's not so great, then dammit.



But seriously, I don't think a poor adaptation will ruin the books for constant reader. If someone is dedicated enough to even get through all seven books, they will know better than to trust a movie adaptation as basis for not reading them.
 
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arbe79
4:34PM on 02/14/2007 Add as a friend | MFC profile
also.....
would be rather hard and expensive to do the fx. Unless it is done right i dont want it. Just makin Suze legless for a long series would be rough.
would be rather hard and expensive to do the fx. Unless it is done right i dont want it. Just makin Suze legless for a long series would be rough.
 
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arbe79
4:30PM on 02/14/2007 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Be Hard
It would be hard to do 7 seasons too with Jake. He would age to fast in the series. Maybe animated?
It would be hard to do 7 seasons too with Jake. He would age to fast in the series. Maybe animated?
 
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Chucklez
3:24PM on 02/14/2007 Add as a friend | MFC profile
I do not really know JJ's work, but I am a huge fan of the series. I don't care how they bring it to the people, just as long as it stays true to the story.
I do not really know JJ's work, but I am a huge fan of the series. I don't care how they bring it to the people, just as long as it stays true to the story.
 
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Van Glorious
3:09PM on 02/14/2007 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Don't
There is no way they can fit the content of all the books into a mini-series or a movie trilogy while remaining faithful to the source material. If it is ever adapted, it would have to be as an HBO series, where every book is a separate season and the censors aren't so strict.
There is no way they can fit the content of all the books into a mini-series or a movie trilogy while remaining faithful to the source material. If it is ever adapted, it would have to be as an HBO series, where every book is a separate season and the censors aren't so strict.
 
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Acerbus III
1:05PM on 02/14/2007 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Small Screen
I am terrified of an adaptation of the Dark Tower because 1) they are incredible books and 2) nearly every King story put into motion picture form has been done way wrong. The ONLY way to do this would be a one or two season long TV series...and probably not on a network...although I guess they get away with more these days. I'm a big LOST fan and so Abrams appeals to me...but the whole thing...
I am terrified of an adaptation of the Dark Tower because 1) they are incredible books and 2) nearly every King story put into motion picture form has been done way wrong. The ONLY way to do this would be a one or two season long TV series...and probably not on a network...although I guess they get away with more these days. I'm a big LOST fan and so Abrams appeals to me...but the whole thing scares me.
 
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Pandemoniac
12:55PM on 02/14/2007 Add as a friend | MFC profile
This would be really hard to pull off in any form of movie/series. As said, it's a really really long story with so many elements that are difficult to translate to motion picture scenes while maintaining the same value.

Even with a large budget it would be only a shadow of the books.
This would be really hard to pull off in any form of movie/series. As said, it's a really really long story with so many elements that are difficult to translate to motion picture scenes while maintaining the same value.

Even with a large budget it would be only a shadow of the books.
 
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cerealkiller182
12:36PM on 02/14/2007 Add as a friend | MFC profile
AS much as i love the dark tower (only the first 4 books so far) i dont see this going to the big screen. It is 7 books long, more than twice the length LOTR and it took LOTR like 3 years(i think) to findish. this is a big commitment to ask of anyone.
AS much as i love the dark tower (only the first 4 books so far) i dont see this going to the big screen. It is 7 books long, more than twice the length LOTR and it took LOTR like 3 years(i think) to findish. this is a big commitment to ask of anyone.
 
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theotherness
10:50AM on 02/14/2007 Add as a friend | MFC profile
And there is NO way that it could EVER be compacted down into a movie TRILOGY. EVER. Period.
And there is NO way that it could EVER be compacted down into a movie TRILOGY. EVER. Period.
 
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xander829
10:43AM on 02/14/2007 Add as a friend | MFC profile
No miniseries.



Either make it a series that will just have a cap on the end of it or make it into a series of movies.



Though with both of the choices the ratings or box office figures could start to drop by the time they get to the 5th book and then we will never see the end.



That is probably what will happen with Narnia.
No miniseries.



Either make it a series that will just have a cap on the end of it or make it into a series of movies.



Though with both of the choices the ratings or box office figures could start to drop by the time they get to the 5th book and then we will never see the end.



That is probably what will happen with Narnia.
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