Not sure why I'm posting this here, considering the last DT thread got absolutely no response, but the news is exciting (to me).

From Sci-Fi Wire:

Stephen King, the prolific best-selling horror author, confirmed to New York Comic Con fans that Lost co-creators J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof will adapt his epic multi-volume book series The Dark Tower for the screen. "I said no to everybody until recently, because I didn't think much of the chances of it being a good movie," King said in a panel discussion launching Marvel Comics' new Dark Tower comic books at the New York City Comic Con on Feb. 24. "I mean, this is my life's work, since the time I was 22 years old. It's very important to me. Usually, with the other [books], I don't give much of a s--t. My attitude is, 'Go make a movie, and if it's good, that's terrific, and if it's bad, then it will go to the video stores and back shelves of Blockbuster, and I still get royalties on the book.'"

Full Article

Apparently, Abrams is all about some adaptations/remakes. Wonder if he'll direct, too?

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I'm probably the only person here who owns the Dark Tower books, but has never read a page.  Don't know why - just haven't set aside the time.  My brother has borrowed them and raves about the story, so will be glad to hear about the movie adaptation.

So are they really as good as he says they are?

I've read quite a few books by King, and I feel his quality has dropped off in some more recent stories.  Maybe I'm old school, but Firestarter and The Stand really worked for me.  The Stand in particular was just brilliant...although the telemovie made about it was ordinary.

That seems to be the general consensus, yes.

The Dark Tower's story is always interesting, even if the writing itself occasionally fails to match it. It's about as epic as you can get, and there are some really neat things throughout most of the series. The best ones, for my money, are The Drawing of the Three and Wolves of the Calla. The final chapter, The Dark Tower, is kind of disappointing at times, and you may not like the ending, but I thought it was still pretty solid.

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The first four novels are very good.

The quality drops off because he wrote the final 3 in a frenzy after his accident and they don't have the same overall tone and consistency as the previous ones.

I have read every Stephen King novel and agree that old school King (It, Stand, Salem's Lot, Pet Sematary) are the best way to go.

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper

I haven't gotten around to finishing Wolves of Calla, or the remaining books in the series. But from the several books I've read in the series up to that point, I have enjoyed them. I'm a little skeptical about a movie version, as there are so many thousands of pages in the series. I tend to think it would be better made on HBO as a miniseries. But I'd see it anyways.

I've always liked post-apocalyptic stuff (which the series is mostly set in), along with some parallel universe hopping. That's pretty much what's going on in most of the series. It's kinda cool seeing in your mind's eye some characters that seem to be from our world, suddenly wander into other worlds afflicted by the horrors of King's other works. Kinda like riding a monorail around King's multiverse, recognizing glimpses of killings and creatures you've seen before as you ride through their various neighborhoods. I can never get enough of good o' Randall Flagg!

I have also heard the ending is a bit anti-climatic, which is disappointing to hear since this is the kind of series that should wrap up King's mythos like a nice crimson bow. But nobody's perfect. If you have the books, read them!

I still can't get through number 4 -- can't think of the name, but it's the one where it's mostly a story of what happened to him in the past -- he tells it around a campfire. I get a copule of hundred pages in and just can't go anymore. I hit a wall. Tried a handful of times. I've thought about just starting in the middle of the book instead.

Yeah, his quality has gone down. His books really need to be edited again. There was a point where old School King's long books were great, but over the past few years, the long books are just way too long. And you're right, it's all about the time of his accident -- he lost something after his accident.

Abrams would do great with the book. In fact, he's really the only one i can see doing the books at this point.

Jordan .

Wizard and Glass. :) The only reason I still even own that book is because the copy I have is this gorgeous illustrated special edition they released to SK book club members before the book sold to the public. It was shortly after that that I canceled by membership. I made it through the book but man...it took a LOT of effort. The book was an omen of things to come. Almost everything he's written since then has been just complete shite. I was so disgusted with the last three books of the DT series, I didn't even keep them. Sold them almost immediately on eBay.

I'm not sure I would care to see DT on film. I think there's limits to how far a movie can truly take a book. Phenomenon like LoTR are the exception and not the norm. And let's face it...JRR Tolkien was a vastly superior writer to SK. Tolkien's books are far more film-worthy than SK's...(need I remind you of the fact that most of his books-on-film are complete crap?)
 

~ Amanda

"Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave..."

I think the recent comics have shown how well the story works visually. I know, two very different mediums, but it cemented for me how cinematic Roland, et al, can be when you cut out the narrative fat around them.

I don't necessarily know if JJ Abrams is the man for the job, though. Maybe if the series was made-for-TV.

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Yeah, I think Abrams is suited for television and nothing more (if Cloverfield is any indication of the raping he's giving Star Trek right now, I may turn in my Spock ears for good). Pray that King's involvment in this film is minimal, as we've seen where his "talent" has taken us, cinematically.

~ Amanda

"Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave..."

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oh hey

Five pages of the same discussion going on at SA.

It's just more speculation and hearsay (and oh the complaints), but a couple intriguing casting suggestions. I could see Josh Brolin as Roland at this point. Also, Bruce Campbell for every character!.

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"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper

~ Amanda

"Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave..."