Just how far The Dark Tower goes as a franchise will largely hinge on how it does at the box office this weekend. So far the reviews have been pretty rough (I found it disappointing), and coupled with reports of a troubled production there are real questions about its prospects, which is to include sequels and a potential TV series. Regardless, a big step in the TV show's development has been made as Glen Mazzara, a former exec-producer on The Walking Dead, has been tapped as showrunner.
The Dark Tower's small-screen adaptation would be a prequel based on the fourth book in Stephen King's series, Wizard and Glass, which tells the origin of Roland Deschain, the Gunslinger. Idris Elba plays the character in the film, and he would return to do some framing sequences for the TV series, while a younger actor is cast to play Roland. Also expected to return are Tom Taylor as the powerful Jake Chambers, and Dennis Haysbert as Roland's father and fellow gunslinger, Steven. The film's director Nikolaj Arcel is helping to pen the scripts.
If all goes to plan there will be a 10-13 episode season with production to begin next year assuming a cable network partner can be secured. [THR]
