I understand about being emotionally invested in a story. Some people might not, because there is so much in life to be invested in that "stories" seem frivolous. It's not like your bills aren't going to be paid, or your family is going to kick you out of the house because someone took creative license with (or a battle axe to) a story from a book when they made a movie out of it.
The thing is, as King said, when he quoted another author (I don't remember which), about changing the story of a book for a movie, the book doesn't change. You still have your book on the shelf and no matter what they do in the movie based on it, the book won't change.
I stopped being bent out of shape about movie adaptations the moment that truth sunk in.
So far as Elba goes, he's a fantastic actor. He has the look of a gunslinger, he has the emotional range in his acting that will more than cover the character of Roland. Him being black, to me, adds a level of interest to him. I think it's a brilliant twist I would have never imagined to tell the truth. If this adaptation doesn't cut muster it isn't going to be because Elba can't pull off the role of Roland.
My personal Roland isn't a black man, but I'm not making a movie, someone else is and I'm going to trust their vision. I think it's exciting to see a movie made from one of my all time favorite stories, pulled from someone else's imagination. Stephen King is in on producing this project which means to me, that if it's okay with the constant author, it's okay with me.
In the end, I hope I like what they do. If I don't, my car won't break down, my cats won't go bald and there will still be water if God wills it.
