Yesterday came the sad news that Universal has chosen to pass on making the ambitious DARK TOWER movie/TV series that Ron Howard and Brian Grazer had been planning. It’s a real shame since the project was so ambitious, and yet you can’t truly blame the studio for being nervous about the risky gamble. They were set to sink a ton of money into this venture, and if it didn’t work, well, they’d lose a ton of money. That’s the way the industry works, like it or not. (They also passed on Guillermo del Toro’s AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS epic for the exact same reason.)
Entertainment Weekly reached out to their frequent contributor Stephen King to hear his thoughts on the matter. King, in turn, reacts with a sly little dig at Universal and their mammoth FAST & FURIOUS franchise:
“I’m sorry Universal passed, but not really surprised. As a rule, they’ve been about smaller and less risky pix; maybe they feel it would be better to stick with those fast and furious racing boys. I bear them no ill will, and trust Ron Howard to get Roland and his friends before the camera somewhere else. He’s very committed to the project.”
You’re damn right they’re sticking with those fast and furious racing boys – those dudes are guaranteed bank, no matter how uninspired.
I hope King’s optimism about THE DARK TOWER finding life on the big and/or small screen is rewarded; lord knows I want to see this thing put on the fast track somewhere else, and I’m sure I’m not alone.
FAST & FURIOUS hottie Jordana Brewster