Are you ready for the interconnected Stephen King cinematic universe? Sony Pictures is certainly hoping so, and their hoping to get you up to speed with “The Dark Tower” in these new featurettes, which establish the epic conflict between noble gunslinger Roland Deschain (Idris Elba) and his mortal enemy Walter Padick, the “Man in Black” (Matthew McConaughey).
Representing both an adaptation of King’s eight-volume novel series of the same name, and a sequel continuation to that series, the film has the momentous task of condensing the sprawling narrative for novice filmgoers, pleasing King’s legion of faithful fans who see the book series as the horror author’s magnum opus, and serving as a launchpad for a franchise that Sony envisages as spanning several films and a TV series (though reviews of the film could squash those ideas before they even start).
READ MORE: Matthew McConaughey & Idris Elba Star In The ‘The Dark Tower’ [Review]
After inheriting the directing gig from J.J. Abrams and Ron Howard, both of whom had spent years in development hell trying to condense the fantasy epic into a cohesive film, Danish director Nikolaj Arcel (previously known for the period romance, “A Royal Affair”) believes he has found a way in to King’s material. Arcel revealed to EW recently that, “The hardcore fans of “The Dark Tower” series will know that this is actually a sequel to the books in a way…It has a lot of the same elements, a lot of the same characters, but it is a different journey.”
Joining Elba and McConaughey on the quest are Tom Taylor as the intrepid New Yorker and Roland’s young ward, Jake Chambers, with Katheryn Winnick, Fran Kranz, Abbey Lee Kershaw and Jackie Earle Haley.
“The Dark Tower” is directed by Nikolaj Arcel from a script by Arcel, Akiva Goldsman, Jeff Pinkner and Anders Thomas Jensen. “The Dark Tower” is in theaters today.