No Tower for Abrams | Movie News

No Tower for Abrams
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by: Niki Stephens Nov. 10, 2009

There's something respectful in hearing that someone doesn't want to adapt a piece of written work.

After the idea getting tossed around for a bit JJ Abrams and Damon Lindelof have decided not to do Stephen King's "The Dark Tower".

Getting Abrams and Lindelof to do it might have been a good idea. Abrams told MTV, "The 'Dark Tower' thing is tricky. It's such an important piece of writing. The truth is that Damon and I are not looking at that right now." He's got that right. 'Dark Tower' is a great story and I'm sure it's a bit intimidating trying to adapt something like that.

Being a huge fan of the content also makes thing a lot harder, "You'll be hard-pressed to find a huger fan of 'The Dark Tower' than me, but that's probably the reason that I shouldn't be the one to adapt it. After working six years on 'Lost,' the last thing I want to do is spend the next seven years adapting one of my favorite books of all time. I'm such a massive Stephen King fan that I'm terrified of screwing it up. I'd do anything to see those movies written by someone else. My guess is they will get made because they're so incredible. But not by me." You would seriously have to dedicate a massive amount of time to a project like that.

It's probably better off that they aren't doing it, but it does leave it open for others to do. Not that I don't think someone else could do a good job, it's just a difficult task. Seeing the monster that was WATCHMEN scared Lindelof off a little, "Having seen Zack go through what he went through on 'Watchmen' in terms of saying where can I digress from the material, I just get headaches thinking about changing anything." I loved WATCHMEN, but got sad when I saw something changed or taken out of the story. It just didn't feel the same. This is a good move on behalf of Lindelof and Abrams. What I want to know is, if they don't do it, who will?

Source: MTV Movies Blog

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BigCoffinHunter
11:50AM on 11/11/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Truly a sad, sad development.



Frank Darabont would be a great choice for the film as long as he doesn't butcher the ending like he did to The Mist.



I had a lot of faith in JJ Abrams, especially after they did that EW article with King and talked about KA and how they were sold the rights to the movie for $19. It all seemed so right. I guess I'll have to get by...
Truly a sad, sad development.



Frank Darabont would be a great choice for the film as long as he doesn't butcher the ending like he did to The Mist.



I had a lot of faith in JJ Abrams, especially after they did that EW article with King and talked about KA and how they were sold the rights to the movie for $19. It all seemed so right. I guess I'll have to get by with Fringe and Lost and all of their little nods to The Dark Tower.



Also, I'm glad there's finally a story where my user name has some significance to the overall story.
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BigCoffinHunter
6:42PM on 11/12/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Yeah, yeah, yeah...I know what King said, but I'm a purist.

I hate it when people say that a movie sucked because it wasn't like the book, but I'm like that when it comes to books that I love. So, I probably wouldn't be happy with The Dark Tower no matter how it turns out. I had to stop reading the comic series when I got fed up with how they were condensing the story too much. ...
Yeah, yeah, yeah...I know what King said, but I'm a purist.

I hate it when people say that a movie sucked because it wasn't like the book, but I'm like that when it comes to books that I love. So, I probably wouldn't be happy with The Dark Tower no matter how it turns out. I had to stop reading the comic series when I got fed up with how they were condensing the story too much. The illustrations were great, but the story line was too much like a cliff-notes version.
 
Short Round
2:06PM on 11/11/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Butchered the ending to The Mist? That had to be one of the most powerful endings I've ever seen. Sure, it wasn't the same as the story, but King himself said if he had thought of that ending when writing the story he would have used it.
Butchered the ending to The Mist? That had to be one of the most powerful endings I've ever seen. Sure, it wasn't the same as the story, but King himself said if he had thought of that ending when writing the story he would have used it.
 
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thembones
12:12AM on 11/11/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Why Not do the Dark Tower?
We got 7 big books just like Potter. The last book could easily be 2 movies. Then there's the adjunct Sister of Eluria. This could be stretched out quite well and with Hollywood in need of mining decent material and since King is consistantly mined lacklusterly, it's perfect. Even with the butchering that goes on and with enough marketing, Hollywood manages to make money off even the the...
We got 7 big books just like Potter. The last book could easily be 2 movies. Then there's the adjunct Sister of Eluria. This could be stretched out quite well and with Hollywood in need of mining decent material and since King is consistantly mined lacklusterly, it's perfect. Even with the butchering that goes on and with enough marketing, Hollywood manages to make money off even the the best of tripe that's been produced.
 
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JokerJonWaugh
11:07PM on 11/10/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Man..
I really just died a little inside.
I really just died a little inside.
 
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HoyleHaw
10:07PM on 11/10/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Tidbit
I missed Bernie more than I missed "The Black Freighter." Since they were sort of tied together I guess the answer's yes, but there was definitely a human element lacking in the theatrical cut (haven't seen the others).
I missed Bernie more than I missed "The Black Freighter." Since they were sort of tied together I guess the answer's yes, but there was definitely a human element lacking in the theatrical cut (haven't seen the others).
 
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FireCaptain4
9:06PM on 11/10/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Well, Dark Tower is going to be a slippery slope of an adaptation to approach in the first place since the ending provides the biggest kick in the balls imaginable. Without spoiling it, the ending is pretty much, "hey, you know all that stuff you've done for the past six and-a-half books? Yeah, that was all for nothing."
Well, Dark Tower is going to be a slippery slope of an adaptation to approach in the first place since the ending provides the biggest kick in the balls imaginable. Without spoiling it, the ending is pretty much, "hey, you know all that stuff you've done for the past six and-a-half books? Yeah, that was all for nothing."
 
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solidsnake58
8:55PM on 11/10/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
HBO series
And I agree that Dark Tower can't be done like Lord of the Rings. It's too long and too complex and it starts to get really unorthodox as an adventure as it goes along.
And I agree that Dark Tower can't be done like Lord of the Rings. It's too long and too complex and it starts to get really unorthodox as an adventure as it goes along.
 
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solidsnake58
8:53PM on 11/10/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Frank Darabont
"You'll be hard-pressed to find a huger fan of 'The Dark Tower' than me." Sorry, J.J., but Darabont is a bigger fan. He put the teaser poster in his last movie. Still, I like Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse.
"You'll be hard-pressed to find a huger fan of 'The Dark Tower' than me." Sorry, J.J., but Darabont is a bigger fan. He put the teaser poster in his last movie. Still, I like Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse.
 
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eko1400
8:27PM on 11/10/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
abrams can do it
After abrams' adaption of star trek (which was one of my favorite tv/film franchises of all time) and having seen it been wildly successful, I think he could totally pull off one of my favorite book franchises of all time. Do I want him to do it, No. Not in the slightest. Some things should just remain as they are, The Dark Tower being one of them. I can't think of an actor out there who...
After abrams' adaption of star trek (which was one of my favorite tv/film franchises of all time) and having seen it been wildly successful, I think he could totally pull off one of my favorite book franchises of all time. Do I want him to do it, No. Not in the slightest. Some things should just remain as they are, The Dark Tower being one of them. I can't think of an actor out there who could fill Rolands shoes successfully. That reason alone as well as the time it would take Abrams to produce the entire franchise when he could devote his time to other things such as star trek are the reasons I think he should direct his attention elsewhere.
 
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drc5145
8:07PM on 11/10/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
2 things...
Kind of sad. I've read about the series (never read it) look pretty interesting to turn into film and it sucks it won't happen. Hopefully someone that loves the books and is an even more capable director will tackle it. This break also gives me time to add the series onto my pile of books to read next.



Extra Tidbit: The Ultimate Cut of Watchmen came out today which has Black...
Kind of sad. I've read about the series (never read it) look pretty interesting to turn into film and it sucks it won't happen. Hopefully someone that loves the books and is an even more capable director will tackle it. This break also gives me time to add the series onto my pile of books to read next.



Extra Tidbit: The Ultimate Cut of Watchmen came out today which has Black Frieghter woven into it. The Film Stage put up a review that praised the hell out of that cut: [link]
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beatrixkiddo
8:10PM on 11/10/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
I have some of the comics and just acquired the book. As for my extra tidbit, I feel like a dumbass not having thought about the Ultimate Edition. I immediately ran out and bought the movie when it first came out. *headdesk*
I have some of the comics and just acquired the book. As for my extra tidbit, I feel like a dumbass not having thought about the Ultimate Edition. I immediately ran out and bought the movie when it first came out. *headdesk*
 
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AntoineDoinel
7:47PM on 11/10/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
I think Frank Darabont could adapt it. And I believe he is more talent than Abrams.



Extra Tidbit now. I believe in the word 'adaptation' and I think it was a good thing to leave The Black Freighter out of the film. I also like when an artist takes some liberties adapting something, or else there is pretty much no point in doing so. Its a matter of storytelling. Someone tells you...
I think Frank Darabont could adapt it. And I believe he is more talent than Abrams.



Extra Tidbit now. I believe in the word 'adaptation' and I think it was a good thing to leave The Black Freighter out of the film. I also like when an artist takes some liberties adapting something, or else there is pretty much no point in doing so. Its a matter of storytelling. Someone tells you a story, when you'll tell it yo your friends you'll do it differently. Same thing happens when a book is turned into a movie, or sometimes the opposite, and I believe its just fine.
 
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Sulaco
7:07PM on 11/10/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Duh. You can get Watchmen with the Black Freighter woven in.
Duh. You can get Watchmen with the Black Freighter woven in.
 
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Vnqshr
6:13PM on 11/10/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
My problem with reading this article was essentially to me it read



"Now The Dark Tower won't be done by people who respect the source material, and won't be done by anyone as talented as JJ and Damon."



If it HAD to be adapted, I'd be great for them to do it.
My problem with reading this article was essentially to me it read



"Now The Dark Tower won't be done by people who respect the source material, and won't be done by anyone as talented as JJ and Damon."



If it HAD to be adapted, I'd be great for them to do it.
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beatrixkiddo
6:50PM on 11/10/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
My deal with it was that it's probable that someone else will do it. It's a nice thought that JJ and Damon might have done it, but now they aren't. As everyone else is saying, it would be an interesting mini-series for HBO is it ever was adapted.
My deal with it was that it's probable that someone else will do it. It's a nice thought that JJ and Damon might have done it, but now they aren't. As everyone else is saying, it would be an interesting mini-series for HBO is it ever was adapted.
 
Short Round
6:45PM on 11/10/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Fair point, and I agree. But to me it reads more: "If people as talented as JJ and Lindelof who respect the source material don't think they can do it, then no one can or should."

Although, if it were, and could, be done by anyone else it'd have to be Frank Darabont. He's proven he's the best when it comes to adapting King.
Fair point, and I agree. But to me it reads more: "If people as talented as JJ and Lindelof who respect the source material don't think they can do it, then no one can or should."

Although, if it were, and could, be done by anyone else it'd have to be Frank Darabont. He's proven he's the best when it comes to adapting King.
 
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Short Round
5:43PM on 11/10/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Despite my immense faith in Lindelof as a writer, I am IMMENSELY pleased that this isn't happening. The Dark Tower series are by far my favorite books, not to mention King's greatest work, in my honest opinion. I'm also a firm believer that The Dark Tower cannot be adapted into films. It's just so epic you'd have to cut so much from it, not to mention film them ridiculously close together...
Despite my immense faith in Lindelof as a writer, I am IMMENSELY pleased that this isn't happening. The Dark Tower series are by far my favorite books, not to mention King's greatest work, in my honest opinion. I'm also a firm believer that The Dark Tower cannot be adapted into films. It's just so epic you'd have to cut so much from it, not to mention film them ridiculously close together in order to keep Jake's age consistent. Seriously, this is the best news I've heard all day.
 
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alucard_467
5:26PM on 11/10/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Extra tidbit.
then you obviously havent bought yourself the ultimate collectors edition. Has the extended version WITH black freighter woven into it as it is in the novel.
then you obviously havent bought yourself the ultimate collectors edition. Has the extended version WITH black freighter woven into it as it is in the novel.
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beatrixkiddo
5:34PM on 11/10/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
No I didn't. I got it when it first came out and bought Freighter separately. Looks like I effed that one.
No I didn't. I got it when it first came out and bought Freighter separately. Looks like I effed that one.
 
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n2oop5u
5:21PM on 11/10/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Extra Tidbit
Yeah, it was sad but I understand why they did it for the movie. I'm of the opinion that the movie shouldn't have been made at all. It should have been a miniseries. That could have been crazy.
Yeah, it was sad but I understand why they did it for the movie. I'm of the opinion that the movie shouldn't have been made at all. It should have been a miniseries. That could have been crazy.
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kurofusen
6:45PM on 11/10/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
That's what I was hoping for too and hopefully it might still be... one of these days.
That's what I was hoping for too and hopefully it might still be... one of these days.
 
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stoneyzepplin
5:14PM on 11/10/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Impossible
I'm not entirely sure the Dark Tower series CAN be adapted successfully into a movie (s).



Maybe a 12 part mini series on HBO? Get the ole team of Garris and King back together. Made a good version "The Stand" for TV
I'm not entirely sure the Dark Tower series CAN be adapted successfully into a movie (s).



Maybe a 12 part mini series on HBO? Get the ole team of Garris and King back together. Made a good version "The Stand" for TV
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