IDRIS ELBA, YES YES YES

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not_nadine

Comfortably Roont
Nov 19, 2011
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I am way out of my element here. Far be it from me to blindly agree with something I don't fully understand, but it sounds like you are asserting that the old biblical/Miltonesque paradigm juxtaposition overrides racial equality for the purposes of casting.
If that is the case (I'm wrong so don't even read that again) I would normally argue that individuality supersedes ethnicity, gender, etc. I see your point. Good one too.

Meant to hit reply. not like. That's just too many big words for me to read right now.
 

Ebdim9th

Dressing the Gothic interval in tritones
Jul 1, 2009
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Susannah's gender and disabilities are also involved, but all connected. To pull that apart and place half of it on Roland reduces the quality of the narrative/ morality play about racial, gender, disability equality. Elba will handle whatever they give him, but even at it's best, the reductionist result will be inferior to the journey of self-discovery and restitution that the books tell. From what I understand, Susannah will even be cut out of the movie, as they will only focus on the part of Wizard and Glass that focuses on Roland's past, and not the Ka-tet's current adventures. Again, we wind up with less instead of more, and an actor of Elba's caliber is again left with less quality to work with, though he will do justice to what he is given.
 

Ebdim9th

Dressing the Gothic interval in tritones
Jul 1, 2009
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A large part of this story is about Susannah's race and gender and disabilities. To pull her race out of it and place it on Roland is again, to be reductionist with the story's original intent and purposes in describing changes in attitude towards these prejudices, conscious and unconscious. Idris will handle the results ably, but are these the results that bring the best awareness of prejudice and resolution?
 

OldDarth

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Jul 10, 2006
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The movie pulls elements from the other books to help build up the Dark Tower world but the narrative is mainly from The Gunslinger. That is why Eddie, Oy, & Susannah are not in the first movie.

From what I've heard Wizard & Glass is most discussed as being done via a TV series outside of any movies.

As to the rest of your post - we'll have to agree to disagree.

Peace.
 

Ebdim9th

Dressing the Gothic interval in tritones
Jul 1, 2009
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The first book would be just about where you'd have to start ...especially if you're going to rewrite the entire series to change Susannah's relation to the Dark Tower world around her, from Roland and Eddie on out ....

Within these wide-scope changes Idris will make an excellent Roland, I just think the story is losing some of it's greatest elements concerning race, gender, and disability equality to a deconstructionist, muddled version of lesser depth and impact.
 
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OldDarth

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Jul 10, 2006
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The first book would be just about where you'd have to start ...especially if you're going to rewrite the entire series to change Susannah's relation to the Dark Tower world around her, from Roland and Eddie on out ....

Within these wide-scope changes Idris will make an excellent Roland, I just think the story is losing some of it's greatest elements concerning race, gender, and disability equality to a deconstructionist, muddled version of lesser depth and impact.
You may be absolutely right.

Can't wait till next February to find out! =D
 

Robert Gray

Well-Known Member
It is a new turn of the wheel. We don't know if he will be required to draw three this time around let alone who they might be.

We won't know that after this movie either; this movie isn't another book in the set. No amount of trying to rationalize it as a reboot is going to make part of the canon. The movie will have NOTHING to do with the series. It won't answer any questions about what happens afterwards. It is entirely self contained. I'm not saying it is going to be bad or good. I'm simply saying we should stop trying to attribute it with some sort of validity which it will not have. Purist and elitist or not, the only thing that will ever tell us what happens further in Roland's tale is if Mr. King starts to hear that music, the whispers of voices, and the call to the blank page.
 
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1st post and shocked that as a 41 year old (Who keeps forgetting they're not actually 42 yet) woman I am only just now finding this forum! Life long SK fan so this is a little emotional for me finding this place. Anyway!

I read The Gunslinger when I was 16, Roland has been a voice in my head since then (when I've forgotten the face of my father) and when I heard Idris Elba was cast as Roland I instantly loved the choice.

Idris has Roland's intestinal fortitude, his ability to speak without words, the depth, honor, strength and eyes that feel like deep wells of swimming thought and emotion while looking stoic.

Had Clint been young enough he'd of course be the best choice but that option passed us by over a decade ago at least. In my opinion, as a deeply committed and invested fan, I am beyond thrilled at this choice. And, due of how good I know Iris Elba to be (you're missing out if you don't watch Luther), I feel so much better about this movie than I did prior. Because whoever is making the choices is making the right choices. I don't believe there is an actor out there today who could do the role of Roland as much justice is I believe Idris Elba will.
 
Aug 9, 2016
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Oh, I see now there is an issue with Susannah and racial issues.

I don't see that as a problem at all. Detta/Odetta didn't see things as they were, she saw them as she thought they were. She could easily see Roland as white and she could easily behave in exactly the same manner. Because it was never actually about Roland, it was always about herself. I don't see there being a need to change anything. I see this as being very simple.
 
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Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
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1st post and shocked that as a 41 year old (Who keeps forgetting they're not actually 42 yet) woman I am only just now finding this forum! Life long SK fan so this is a little emotional for me finding this place. Anyway!

I read The Gunslinger when I was 16, Roland has been a voice in my head since then (when I've forgotten the face of my father) and when I heard Idris Elba was cast as Roland I instantly loved the choice.

Idris has Roland's intestinal fortitude, his ability to speak without words, the depth, honor, strength and eyes that feel like deep wells of swimming thought and emotion while looking stoic.

Had Clint been young enough he'd of course be the best choice but that option passed us by over a decade ago at least. In my opinion, as a deeply committed and invested fan, I am beyond thrilled at this choice. And, due of how good I know Iris Elba to be (you're missing out if you don't watch Luther), I feel so much better about this movie than I did prior. Because whoever is making the choices is making the right choices. I don't believe there is an actor out there today who could do the role of Roland as much justice is I believe Idris Elba will.
Welcome to the board!
 

chief4db

When it doubt, run!
Feb 11, 2015
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I have not posted on this forum in YEARS, but I have to stick my nose in just this once. Yes, I think Idris Elba will be great in the role as Roland. I could argue that everyone is being racist, he is an amazing actor, blah blah blah, but here is my real reasoning...


Point #1: When has Hollywood ever cared if the actor playing a part is the same race as the character? Elizabeth Taylor played Cleopatra, Johnny Deep played Tonto, Keanu Reeves played Buddha… shall I bother to list how many white guys played Jesus Christ? **Unless you actually believe that Jesus looked like one of the BeeGees; if so, never mind.

Does an actor have to be white to play Hamlet? If your answer is "no" , then think about it. As long as an actor can make us feel the character and who he is, who cares what race he or she is?


Point #2: SHOULD the movie be 100% faithful to the novel? Sure, you can nitpick the plot and the physical description of Roland from the book, but I have to ask, why bother? A movie will never carry the entire story as presented in a novel, so some things will inevitably need to be changed. And if you have to change it, at least give the film makers some creative freedom to do something different. If I want the exact story in the novels, I will just read the novels. I actually prefer to have creative changes when a book is adapted for the big (or small) screen. Then the story becomes new for me again.


The Walking Dead series is a good example of this creative freedom. I read the comic books years ago, and with the TV version they made many changes. Other than just fleshing out the story and adding new characters (Daryl anyone?), original characters are picked up or knocked off at different times than the original comics, which keeps the series interesting. Shane was still running around in season two (drove me CRAZY!), and when Sophia DIED in season two I almost cried! I still have the thrill and tension of knowing anyone could go at any time, and that keeps me watching.

Point #3: Call me crazy, but I like to see something different. Looking forward to it.
It's not a question of racism bc he is black. Many actors can play those roles of different races. It's the question of race bc of the whole premise of his relationship with Odetta in basically the whole book of drawing of the 3 is based on racism. Her being black and having racist attitude towards roland who is white. Then how there relationship grows from there. So it doesn't have to do with him as it does to the premise and context of the book . So Hollywood is going to have to re write that or omit it completely which stink bc book 2 is one of the better books in the series.
 
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Aug 9, 2016
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It's not a question of racism bc he is black. Many actors can play those roles of different races. It's the question of race bc of the whole premise of his relationship with Odetta in basically the whole book of drawing of the 3 is based on racism. Her being black and having racist attitude towards roland who is white. Then how there relationship grows from there. So it doesn't have to do with him as it does to the premise and context of the book . So Hollywood is going to have to re write that or omit it completely which stink bc book 2 is one of the better books in the series.

I never really thought there was an issue of racism to be upset because Idris is black. Well not for some people. But I understand the issues because the character is white and the aspect of Detta hating him. I just don't think that needs to be an issue.

As I said earlier, Odetta/Detta did not see things as they were, she saw them that she believed them to be. She could still believe Roland is white, the cracker-ass grey meat. Nothing actually has to change. She was delusional when they brought her over. Quite sick as a matter of fact, soul sick from the racism and assaults from the pusher she's received in her life. I actually don't really think this is too much of an issue. I think people just don't think outside of the box enough to see that this doesn't have to be a problem at all.
 

OldDarth

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Racism is only one form of prejudice. It can be replaced with many others. If both characters are black, they can actually go at each other in more intense ways without it being uncomfortable on screen.