Well, this is unexpected, but I can dig it!
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No sir. I don't like it. He'd be a good James Bond though.
No, I don't think so. I know it's not PC but this would be a mistake. I have no issue with casting different races for nondescript roles but this would just be a distraction. I mean when I read the article I laughed, I thought it was a joke. I mean you have to ask yourself, okay, King made Susannah black for a reason...so, should a Latino play her? I'm serious. Would you be okay with a white woman playing Mother Abigail? In theory, yes, but if you're honest with yourself I think it just wouldn't make sense. It all depends on the role, I suppose. Hmmmm...interesting. I'll have to brood over this one, ha.
I don't like it...... Not for Roland.....
It would change the dynamic between Roland and Susannah quite a bit--actually, between Roland, Susannah, and Eddie. Not sure how much I like that idea. I do like Elba as an actor, though, and he could do the job. I really don't see this coming to fruition--it's like when Twilight was such a hit and Pattinson was rumored to be in the running for every job coming down the line. Playing to fans and trying to stir up controversy.
I agree. And in most of Roland's world isn't Susannah being black rather unique?
Hi all, first time poster, long time reader 
My 2 cents for what it's worth... I believe that the race issue, which is pivotal, with Detta's character and with that of Roland can be overcome by Idris. For me, it's not so much the black vs white thing, which is of course there, it is more about the dark vs light, the evil vs good. I think Idris would be able to pull this off incredibly especially if he is paired with a great Detta character. I think that we, the audience, would be able to accept this once we see it play out on screen. Remember that Roland is of the line of Eld, which could be viewed, by Detta, as being the same type of enslaving "race" as how Detta sees white people. White or Black, in Detta's eyes, Roland symbolizes the same thing to her.
My 2 cents for what it's worth... I believe that the race issue, which is pivotal, with Detta's character and with that of Roland can be overcome by Idris. For me, it's not so much the black vs white thing, which is of course there, it is more about the dark vs light, the evil vs good. I think Idris would be able to pull this off incredibly especially if he is paired with a great Detta character. I think that we, the audience, would be able to accept this once we see it play out on screen. Remember that Roland is of the line of Eld, which could be viewed, by Detta, as being the same type of enslaving "race" as how Detta sees white people. White or Black, in Detta's eyes, Roland symbolizes the same thing to her.
I don't know. Film is never as deep as a book can be.
But in UTD they took King's name, book title, a few character names, and then just made a royal mess with it. If they want to do that, changing the lead character so completely is a great start.
But in UTD they took King's name, book title, a few character names, and then just made a royal mess with it. If they want to do that, changing the lead character so completely is a great start.
Respectful disagreement. Delta has no idea what an Eld is--she's from another world entirely. It is very much a black and white thing, not a power thing. The racial tension between them and then between her and Eddie is a big part of their group dynamic. Whether it is intrinsic to their dynamic...hard to say.Hi all, first time poster, long time reader
My 2 cents for what it's worth... I believe that the race issue, which is pivotal, with Detta's character and with that of Roland can be overcome by Idris. For me, it's not so much the black vs white thing, which is of course there, it is more about the dark vs light, the evil vs good. I think Idris would be able to pull this off incredibly especially if he is paired with a great Detta character. I think that we, the audience, would be able to accept this once we see it play out on screen. Remember that Roland is of the line of Eld, which could be viewed, by Detta, as being the same type of enslaving "race" as how Detta sees white people. White or Black, in Detta's eyes, Roland symbolizes the same thing to her.
I'll actually be surprised if this project ever comes to fruition, anyway. Too big, a little dated, and clunky in parts. LOTR had some of the same issues, but Jackson sliced through by paring down rather than making big changes. HE might be able to make DT. MIGHT.
Isn't the current talk a Gunslinger movie, followed by a DT television series?
I think that could work, but the movie MUST get it right first. The series would not be true to the books, but it's more important for them to at least start by being true to the characters. I have not read Walking Dead or Game of Thrones, but they are examples of successful transitions from book to series.
That was my exact suggestion for The Stand update. HBO or even FX or AMC would be great networks to rally around. The perfect vehicle to tell a long, complicated, character driven story.
Hi everyone, I don't know about you but I'm not for this at all. The web is ablaze with posts, one half pretty positive and the rest not so much. What's worse, the guys for it are screaming racists at the guys not for it. They're supposed fans who have read the series over 10 times, which I find hard to believe. We want what has murdered us over and over to be done right. Don't we? Many are sure that it wont matter if the role of Roland is played by an African American, but most believe that Stephen created him white, so he must be played by a white actor. I mean everything about Roland was created specifically with Clint Eastwood in mind. And there are many specific parts of the series that reference him being white. Detta going crazy when Roland steps forward into her mind and she realizes he's white, his blue bombardier eyes, Mordred calling him "white daddy." So I'd like to keep Roland as we know him, as he was written. An old school cowboy. They should stay as close to him as they can, or I see this flop before they even started.
Love Elba as an actor, but as Roland? Not so sure. Detta wouldn't be able to refer to him as a "white honkey-mufu". That would be a shame.
Of all Stephen King's work The Dark Tower has taken the fans on the wildest roller coaster ride imaginable. Damn it people, it just rips us wide open, even the introduction and foreword is steeped in emotion, you become just passionate about it. "...I realized that what I wanted to write was a novel that contained Tolkien's sense of quest and magic but set against Leone's almost absurdly majestic backdrop." You have forgotten that these books are based on a western, an OLD western. I now it's crappy but African American cowboys were not that many. ( Say sorry.) Cowboys everyone, cowboys. So here's the thing, as a HUGE fan, (with the tattoos to prove it) it feels that too much of the essence of the story would be lost. Roland is Roland the way King created him. It's as easy as that. Roland in any other way is NOT The Gunslinger. Idris Elba is awesome. He is just not Roland. No, Roland being white is written into the story. It is not racism it is simply the story. Oh and remember Javier Bardem? Who was also first choice for the role a few years back? The fans also felt he was not the right one to take on the role of Roland! It's just not all about the color of Roland's skin, (although it is important to many aspects) it's everything or nothing. What it comes down to is that TDT made me feel so many feelings and it was the whole of it that made me go back again and again. The book has touched many and not making the films do it credit would do it an injustice.
As expected this news has generated split reactions.
I think Elba would be awesome.
Altering Roland's skin colour does not change the story in any way. Same for the wordslinger. Heck Elba could play both roles!
Elba vs McConaughey? Bring it on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Remember Morgan Freeman as Red in Shawshank? Did that change the story in any way? It did. His casting made the adaptation better!!!!!!
I think Elba would be awesome.
Altering Roland's skin colour does not change the story in any way. Same for the wordslinger. Heck Elba could play both roles!
Elba vs McConaughey? Bring it on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Remember Morgan Freeman as Red in Shawshank? Did that change the story in any way? It did. His casting made the adaptation better!!!!!!
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Sounds more like a "Blazing saddles" movie then the story of Roland.
Keeping my expectations low,
Movies are never as good as the books,
Look at Bradbury movies, they rarely translate correctly,
( in my opinion)
Keeping my expectations low,
Movies are never as good as the books,
Look at Bradbury movies, they rarely translate correctly,
( in my opinion)
Just finished blogging about this.
In short, this is one of the few times I feel that changing a character's race would change the story to its detriment, and iconic characters should be altered from their source material as little as possible.
In short, this is one of the few times I feel that changing a character's race would change the story to its detriment, and iconic characters should be altered from their source material as little as possible.
Well reasoned blog entry. I understand your POV but don't agree with you. Roland is only iconic to Constant Readers. Joe Public has no idea who Roland is.
Run through the DT story in your mind. Now change Roland's race. Switch genders. Run through the story again. Does changing any of those characteristics fundamentally change Roland's journey? I From where I stand, the answer is no.