Oh, yeah. I think Jordan should be getting combat pay for having to moderate the SK Facebook page today.
Elba's Casting CONFIRMED?!!
- Thread starter OldDarth
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Robert Gray
Well-Known Member
Feh. The die is cast. The Rubicon is crossed. There is nothing to say or do about it. All we can do is strap in and hope for the best. They can't take the books from us, they will always be there. For my own part I will be avoiding reading anymore news about the films at all. When it is out I'll get the scoop from the reviews and what people here thing before I even consider going.
Blazing Saddles did a superb job with a black gunslinger. Perhaps The Dark Tower series will get the same Hollywood treatment.
(Just kidding.)
I though Denzel Washington did an amazing job in The Book Of Eli. Really worth watching if you’ve never seen it, and a kind of feel and atmosphere in the movie that always reminded me of The Gunslinger. I think if the movie treatment of King’s DT novels takes on the feel of The Book Of Eli, it might turn out pretty dang okay.
(Just kidding.)
I though Denzel Washington did an amazing job in The Book Of Eli. Really worth watching if you’ve never seen it, and a kind of feel and atmosphere in the movie that always reminded me of The Gunslinger. I think if the movie treatment of King’s DT novels takes on the feel of The Book Of Eli, it might turn out pretty dang okay.
#1 absolute...Roland is not an African-American. Sorry, I'm not racist. He just isn't. He's a lean, chiseled, grizzled, cowboy hat wearing world weary white guy. Idris Elba is not the right pick. I can sure see Matthew McConahaugh(sp) as "the dark one". He can be twisted!!! Have you seen the new car commercial with the 2 dogs. His hair is all cut off & HE"S grizzled looking.
....so if Walter gets the Lincoln, does the Gunslinger follow in a Lexus?......
I joined this forum in 2008 after finishing the last Dark Tower book, and since then I've been pushing for this film to be made. Guillermo del Toro said recently along the lines of this:
"For every project I write that gets made, 19 others don't"
Maybe he said 20, but 19 seemed to fit somehow...
I'm just happy its getting made now, at Sony, with big names on the project. If any of them read this I want you put your all into this.
I was questioning the casting choice too, but I've accepted it now. It can still be a great film. Id rather get behind them in support than go to the point where its another failed attempt.
Long Days and Pleasant Nights
"For every project I write that gets made, 19 others don't"
Maybe he said 20, but 19 seemed to fit somehow...
I'm just happy its getting made now, at Sony, with big names on the project. If any of them read this I want you put your all into this.
I was questioning the casting choice too, but I've accepted it now. It can still be a great film. Id rather get behind them in support than go to the point where its another failed attempt.
Long Days and Pleasant Nights
Sorry. I have to wholeheartedly disagree with you. At this point I'd rather see the whole project stop. This will not be The Dark Tower. It will be a movie with that title and a few elements of the source material, but a far cry from what the average CR has known as the The Dark Tower. Gone is the character that should have been Roland and any semblance of the real Susannah. You can call me a pessimist, hater, or whatever label you see fit, but this is just a bad idea.
I have spent over the past twenty years reading this story on average once per year. It is my all time favorite hands down. My wife even felt bad for me when she saw the look on my face when all the current rumors started cropping up. I, like you, have longed to see this brought to life, but not like this. This is what happens when you get a bunch of suits who are only seeing dollar signs because, by god, it's Stephen King! I guarantee not more than a select few involved in this fiasco even know the story past a general synopsis. The fundamentals of it are going to be so drastically different it literally makes me want to weep. Over the years my friends and family have known my love of this story, though only a handful have actually read it for themselves. Now I can already see those whose only insight will be whatever they drudge up out of this saying "That's what he thought was so great?", and then I'll have to explain how it is not the real story.
And I'll also say this...
It is about race. No ifs ands or buts. Roland is not black. Period. Susannah is black. Period. Idris Elba? Love the guy. Great actor. No doubt about that. But the simple truth is he has no business playing Roland. I don't care what King tweeted. What else was the guy going to say? He'd be crucified if he said any thing to the contrary.
Meh. I could rant for hours. Probably will for some time as I steer people clear of this so called adaptation. I know it will change nothing, but I had to say....something.
I have spent over the past twenty years reading this story on average once per year. It is my all time favorite hands down. My wife even felt bad for me when she saw the look on my face when all the current rumors started cropping up. I, like you, have longed to see this brought to life, but not like this. This is what happens when you get a bunch of suits who are only seeing dollar signs because, by god, it's Stephen King! I guarantee not more than a select few involved in this fiasco even know the story past a general synopsis. The fundamentals of it are going to be so drastically different it literally makes me want to weep. Over the years my friends and family have known my love of this story, though only a handful have actually read it for themselves. Now I can already see those whose only insight will be whatever they drudge up out of this saying "That's what he thought was so great?", and then I'll have to explain how it is not the real story.
And I'll also say this...
It is about race. No ifs ands or buts. Roland is not black. Period. Susannah is black. Period. Idris Elba? Love the guy. Great actor. No doubt about that. But the simple truth is he has no business playing Roland. I don't care what King tweeted. What else was the guy going to say? He'd be crucified if he said any thing to the contrary.
Meh. I could rant for hours. Probably will for some time as I steer people clear of this so called adaptation. I know it will change nothing, but I had to say....something.
I have just one question.
Have they decided on a name for this movie yet?
Have they decided on a name for this movie yet?
..."Show Me the Money".....
But if they decided to change up the race of the characters, they must have adjusted other elements in the book to work. I am withholding judgement on changing Roland's race until I see it. Mainly because I loved Kubrick's The Shining, and that was a v different interpretation of The Shining the book.
Besides, the racial tension was only super important in the 2nd and (arguably not even) the 3rd. After that the story line evolved. It's not as key as everyone makes it out to be.
Remember, by the end Detta had a grudging respect for Roland, and the racial slurs were only because Detta is a contrary b*tch, and she loves being one. I want to see how they'll make her though. Detta can't be taken out, she was pretty integral to Sussanah being a gunslinger.
I do also want to see how they're going to the part that reflects the 2nd book. I heard it's just 1 long movie?
Besides, the racial tension was only super important in the 2nd and (arguably not even) the 3rd. After that the story line evolved. It's not as key as everyone makes it out to be.
Remember, by the end Detta had a grudging respect for Roland, and the racial slurs were only because Detta is a contrary b*tch, and she loves being one. I want to see how they'll make her though. Detta can't be taken out, she was pretty integral to Sussanah being a gunslinger.
I do also want to see how they're going to the part that reflects the 2nd book. I heard it's just 1 long movie?
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Hell, I could almost get behind this if I hadn't already read Akiva Goldsman's childish comments, i.e. calling us all 'racist a-holes who can *bleep* off'...no sir. Thems fightin words on my level of the tower, do ya.
Forget it, man. Done lost any respect I may have had for this project.
Forget it, man. Done lost any respect I may have had for this project.
I did not know what your were referring to, I have avoided all articles today, but I did look that up.
damn. Won't post the link - might have been posted, I don't know.
That was beyond harsh.
I agree with you 100 percent. It has almost reached the point where one must abandon all common sense, rational debate or any contrary opinion because it seems to result in an immediate dismissal and a swift racist labeling.
As someone of mixed race and whose children are even further mixed, I find that racial identity is something that has become more about driving political and social agendas, rather than a celebration of diversity and cultural differences. To me when you still have under represented groups of people with no voice in politics and the media, and a political and media system that caters to only select groups...that isn't inclusive. That is by definition exclusive. That is not equality.
In one way, yes I absolutely brought up Jet Li and Jackie Chan to spark a conversation into what people consider racism. It was absolutely a shame that Will Smith didn't get nominated this year at the Oscars. I imagine he was very deserving and I like him a lot, though I have not seen that movie yet. But for people to constantly make it seem that this is an intentional and nefarious slight committed by the very group of people (Hollywood elite) who champion racial diversity, gender equality, etc. and are the driving force behind this Political Correct change of Roland from White to Black - that is completely ludicrous and hypocritical to me. How can you complain about these things if you are choosing to only address one particular groups wants and needs. I never hear anyone complain about the fact that only 5 Latino actors have ever won Oscars and only 3 Asian actors (2 if you choose to see Ben Kingsley as White considering that he is only half Indian). I also find it really sad that this year should have been a monumental celebration for Alejandro Inarritu for winning two Oscars back to back and a celebration for the latino community. It seems to have been overshadowed by the media spectacle of Black vs White in Hollywood and the antics of Chris Rock (sorry I just don't care for his brand of humor and never will).
Secondly, I brought up Jet Li vs Jackie Chan to show an example that seems just as left-field for the role of Roland as Idris. Why does it seem like most people have no problem seeing Asian actors as right for the role of marital art heroes, sidekicks, nerds or villains? Why is it ok for Chris Rock to insult Asians at the Oscars in front of the world - by bringing out 3 young Asian children as the Academy Accountants. Thanks for perpetuating stereotypes Chris - You only proved to me that in your mind it is still OK in 2016 to insult other groups of people. And why couldn't someone like Ken Watanabe, Jet Li or Jackie Chan play Roland if we are to believe that race truly doesn't matter as so many in the media are claiming. How can people defend the casting of Idris Elba because of how amazing of an actor he is or successful he is? Last I checked, and by using this logic, Jackie Chan is far more famous globally, financially bankable and experienced than Idris. Ask how many people can list even 5 movies that Idris has starred in. Guarantee without Google or IMDb near them they won't be able to, but will be able to name that many and more of Jackie Chan's films.
Regardless of how anyone feels about the issues of Black vs White or White vs all other races (strange to me considering most "White" people I know do not consider themselves just "White" - Whole lot of heritage, history and cultural differences in being Italian, Irish, French, Russian, etc. that gets washed under the rug when you look at someone as just "White") anyone that is Ok with Roland being portrayed by a Black actor should be Ok with all of the characters in the Dark Tower being changed and should be Ok with other fictional characters that were intended to be black such as John Coffey to be changed to any other race. If race truly doesn't matter in the context of the Dark Tower series, then SK might do well to revise all of the books at this point and remove phrases like "honkey mahfah" and any descriptive language pertaining to any characters for that matter. Might be time to get Michael, Bernie, Jae and the other artists to come in and start re-doing all the artist editions as well. Let them and all the publishers know that they have been wrong for 30 years on how they interpreted the renditions.
In any case, whether we approve of Idris or not, SK gave his blessing. It is his life's work, his stories, and his original vision that is being changed on the big screen. So ultimately it is his cross to bear. Not ours. I don't understand how any artist, writer, musician, etc can be OK with that. To me that would undermine what I set out to do with the work to begin with in exchange for Political Correctness, money and pandering to groups of people who apparently don't care or know about the work to begin with.
Hopefully I have not offended anyone here. I know this is a difficult issue for a lot of people and everyone comes in with their own life experiences that define them and their views. But I do ask that we all try to see other points of view. That is how humanity grows and how true friendships are formed. Finding common ground rather than attacking others views, trying to understand them. I ask that people look a little deeper at why any fan of the DT series would find this change to the main character such a slap in the face. Not unlike having never put Chris Hemsworth in Thor and made the movie with a woman instead. I get the struggles of representation and equality with race and gender, but it would have been nothing but a Political stunt to me and also a slap in the face at the fact that Thor was a mythological character from Norse mythology long before Marvel touched him.
So so tired of the Race crap.
This is not about race. This is about Roland and the Dark Tower. Nothing more.
Can we stop making every damn thing about race?
Roland is what he is, and has been written. Same as Suze, same as Jake and Eddie. And Oy.
Go Hollywood. I won't be there.
I'm done, been upset about this all day.
This is not about race. This is about Roland and the Dark Tower. Nothing more.
Can we stop making every damn thing about race?
Roland is what he is, and has been written. Same as Suze, same as Jake and Eddie. And Oy.
Go Hollywood. I won't be there.
I'm done, been upset about this all day.
I think the key will be to create a believable conflict relationship between Detta/Odetta and Roland (and Eddie, really), because its is the at conflict relationship that drives a lot of the character growth in the second book. I'm curious how they will do that, and if whatever they come up with will be as riveting as Mr. King's original story.
To me, the back stories are both important AND interesting. If they are cut, or changed (as has been posted about Jack's back story) then it's not the same story.
Maybe it will be good, maybe not. But if they are writing a different story, why say it's The Dark Tower?
I'm with you. I don't think wanting to see the story King wrote makes me a racist.