Idris Elba Casting Rumour Gains More Solididty

[OldDarth]

Round 2 of the Elba - Roland casting rumour!


As per IGN:

THE DARK TOWER: AKIVA GOLDSMAN CALLS IDRIS ELBA 'THE GREATEST POSSIBLE IDEA FOR CASTING'

When asked to clarify whether changing the race of Roland was part of the initial conception of the movie or something that came about in the casting, Goldsman said, "100 percent it was literally, entirely who do we think the best guy for the job is and can we get him. That was it."

There has been a lot of talk of colour about this news in the previous thread so let me take this opportunity to add a new one.

Colour me - EXCITED!

 

[skimom2]

Meh. I'm a fan of his, but not for this role. Not too bothered, though--likely the project will continue in development hell, if it ever gets made at all.

 

[Spideyman]

SK twitter:

Stephen King ‏@StephenKing 11 Dec 2015
To me, the color of the gunslinger doesn't matter. What I care about is how fast he can draw...and that he takes care of the ka-tet.

 

[skimom2]

SK twitter:

Stephen King ‏@StephenKing 11 Dec 2015
To me, the color of the gunslinger doesn't matter. What I care about is how fast he can draw...and that he takes care of the ka-tet.

I agree with Mr. King that color doesn't matter to being a gunslinger--Roland being white or having blue eyes doesn't make him a better at what he does. In this instance, though, race does matter to the relationships between Odetta/Detta/Susannah, and Roland and Eddie. It matters to the narrative, KWIM? If that dynamic wasn't such a huge matter in TDoTT and a smaller matter in TW, I couldn't care less about appearance for appearance's sake. If Elba is cast, I guess we'll see if that relational tension is fundamental to the story and those relationships.

 

[GNTLGNT]

...still hate the idea....

 

[Robert Gray]

I didn't have a whole lot of interest in a movie version in the first place. Films tend to just annoy me in just how badly they transition the books. While I like the actor, he isn't right for the part. What little interest I had in the film died the moment he was in consideration. My interest is dead, not because of him alone but because it is clear that the filmmakers don't have any intention whatsoever of attempting to remain even remotely faithful to the text. This casting choice alters (as others and myself have pointed out) major conflicts and interactions between main characters. If they are willing to throw all that out just to get a particular actor, then I'm fully aware of just how much other stuff they are going to gut or change. I want to see the Dark Tower, not whatever misbegotten thing the Producers and Director are writing.

 

[GNTLGNT]

I didn't have a whole lot of interest in a movie version in the first place. Films tend to just annoy me in just how badly they transition the books. While I like the actor, he isn't right for the part. What little interest I had in the film died the moment he was in consideration. My interest is dead, not because of him alone but because it is clear that the filmmakers don't have any intention whatsoever of attempting to remain even remotely faithful to the text. This casting choice alters (as others and myself have pointed out) major conflicts and interactions between main characters. If they are willing to throw all that out just to get a particular actor, then I'm fully aware of just how much other stuff they are going to gut or change. I want to see the Dark Tower, not whatever misbegotten thing the Producers and Director are writing.

...this is well-stated, and quite on point....

 

[Takoren]

My interest is dead, not because of him alone but because it is clear that the filmmakers don't have any intention whatsoever of attempting to remain even remotely faithful to the text. This casting choice alters (as others and myself have pointed out) major conflicts and interactions between main characters. If they are willing to throw all that out just to get a particular actor, then I'm fully aware of just how much other stuff they are going to gut or change. I want to see the Dark Tower, not whatever misbegotten thing the Producers and Director are writing.

This says perfectly why I am 100% against this. And hoping beyond hope that the plug gets pulled on this project, especially after Goldsman's masturbatory and frankly disgusting gushing over this skilled but miscast actor.

The whole thing stinks, and I don't just mean because they're considering the wrong actor, but because they seem so celebratory of how they're going to ruin this for us. It was one thing back when Javier Bardem or Russell Crowe were being considered. I didn't like either of them but it looked like that's who they were going with. However, I did not see these professionals creaming their drawers because they had Bardem or Crowe signed on. I did not see articles bellowing with spasmodic glee over the choices and basically telling any fans who disagreed to go screw themselves. And I wonder, okay, why are they so freakin' excited over a rising, not yet famous, actor? Especially since his casting would fundamentally alter a large portion of the character dynamics?

 

[skimom2]

The hullabaloo will die down now that Elba didn't get the Oscar nod that he (arguably) deserved for Beasts of No Nation.

 

[Arkay Lynchpin]

I keep thinking if 'WE' (the CR) would accept a rabid, pink, Pomeranian to perform the role of Cujo, or if Christine were a Citroën CV2—Elba would cast well as a Speedy Parker (AKA Lester Parkus, his "Twinner"), but I can't figure anyone else but a 'White Dude Walkin' for the role.

 

[Takoren]

The hullabaloo will die down now that Elba didn't get the Oscar nod that he (arguably) deserved for Beasts of No Nation.

I've wondered about this myself. I wondered if the producers weren't looking at the recent Oscar potentials, thinking they'd snag a freshly popular actor for this, but it didn't work out.

I also think Elba deserved the nod, but I wonder if the Academy was confused about his eligibility considering the film aired on Netflix at the same time it was released to theaters. In fact, I'm not certain if he even was eligible. Is there any proof the movie was on the eligiblity list?

 

[skimom2]

I've wondered about this myself. I wondered if the producers weren't looking at the recent Oscar potentials, thinking they'd snag a freshly popular actor for this, but it didn't work out.

I also think Elba deserved the nod, but I wonder if the Academy was confused about his eligibility considering the film aired on Netflix at the same time it was released to theaters. In fact, I'm not certain if he even was eligible. Is there any proof the movie was on the eligiblity list?

As I understand it (and I could very well be wrong), the reason it was released in theaters at all was to make it eligible for awards. Even limited release is good enough--look at how many contenders show in a few theaters early, but go into wide-release once nominations are announced.

I have absolutely NO quibbles with Mr. Elba as an actor--he's very, very good, and one of my personal favorites. I do have issues with story changes that might change the tone of a narrative, and this is not limited to this book/series alone. My concern wouldn't even be with him as lead in The Gunslinger, if this is the limit of what will be filmed. It is with TDoTT and TW where issues crop up.

Meh. There isn't likely to be consensus here, so I'm done pounding on an expired equine.

 

[DiO'Bolic]

Is Idris Elba really beating out Will Ferrell for the role of Roland?

 

[Takoren]

As I understand it (and I could very well be wrong), the reason it was released in theaters at all was to make it eligible for awards. Even limited release is good enough--look at how many contenders show in a few theaters early, but go into wide-release once nominations are announced.

I have absolutely NO quibbles with Mr. Elba as an actor--he's very, very good, and one of my personal favorites. I do have issues with story changes that might change the tone of a narrative, and this is not limited to this book/series alone. My concern wouldn't even be with him as lead in The Gunslinger, if this is the limit of what will be filmed. It is with TDoTT and TW where issues crop up.

Meh. There isn't likely to be consensus here, so I'm done pounding on an expired equine.

I thought it had to be released in theaters exclusively. This is why they didn't submit the Doctor Who 50th anniversary special as an Oscar contender.

My concern with Elba is that it's one more piece of evidence that faithfulness to the source material is not on the minds of the producers. And respect for the source material must include respect for the fans, who have been seeing Roland a certain way for decades.

I don't want to see a reinterpretation of Roland. I want to see Roland.

 

[Moderator]

Is Idris Elba really beating out Will Ferrell for the role of Roland?

For the moment, but this is Hollywood we're talking about so we shouldn't rule him out.

 

[DiO'Bolic]

Perhaps with the lack of diversity among this year’s Oscar nominees, the casting of a talented actor like Elba might be a way to ensure an Oscar win next year. Stranger things have happened in Hollyweird.

 

[Takoren]

Perhaps with the lack of diversity among this year’s Oscar nominees, the casting of a talented actor like Elba might be a way to ensure an Oscar win next year. Stranger things have happened in Hollyweird.

This is neither the first, nor the last, year that the Oscars have only nominated white actors.

It happens, because, get this, there are fewer black actors. Statistically, people of African descent make up about 16% of the population of the US, so it's not at all strange that occasionally the 20 nominated actors, ten male, ten female, are all white. I know, Elba deserved it. Okay, he did, but is he anywhere near the first great performance snubbed by the Oscars? Of course not, he wasn't even the only snubbee this year. And most of the snubs have been white actors.

Oh, and yes, I know that technically the Academy nominates movies and actors from all over the world, but really, come on, you know they're US-centric.

 

[Arkay Lynchpin]

It's about time talent scouts return to walking the streets, explore more pubs (or lower class eateries), take note of phone consultants with a sangfroid joie de vivre (think Seven Pounds), and commission the next "Discovered by Chance" hypokrites.

 

[Blake]

I think they should have bill cosby as teh fathe.r