OUCH!!!
Remember how Ron Howard and Brian Grazer were set to undertake a massive appropriation of Stephen King’s THE DARK TOWER…essentially turning the 7-part novel into a film trilogy and a pair of limited run TV series? Well, Universal is no longer interested…
Deadline is reporting the major studio has decided to pass on THE DARK TOWER once and for all, a multi-media endeavor said to be as ambitious as the LORD OF THE RINGS series. Obviously, this is a massive setback for Howard and Grazer, who, after finally getting Javier Bardem to commit to star in the project(s), must now scramble to find a new backer. Word is Universal was only willing to commit to one TV series and single film based on the strength of Akiva Goldsman’s script.
Of course, this news comes as somewhat of a shock. We did hear reports awhile ago that Universal may be forced to pass on the project to the escalating budget, but then came reports the studio would scale back the cost to ensure the project gets made. The flick was fast-tracked in February, and in the last few months, we’ve heard words from Howard and Grazer on how smoothly the project was moving forward.
Still, it’s Howard and Grazer we’re talking about here. My guess is they’ll find a new suitor soon, and that the film(s) will be made eventually. Question is, at what cost?
Jennifer Connelly, star of Howard’s latest, THE DILEMMA