IDRIS ELBA, YES YES YES

[Neesy]

I saw the movie last night but can't really say too much about it as it's still embargoed until 8 PM tonight. I think it's okay to say I didn't have a problem with either actor.

Why The Gunslinger’s Race Doesn’t Matter, According To Stephen King

I have pretty high hopes for this film, plus I don't care what colour his skin is!

"There you have it. When the man who created Roland Deschain of Gilead says that the race of a particular character -- even one as revered as The Gunslinger -- doesn't matter to him, then it shouldn't matter to us. An interpretation of a beloved literary character is exactly that: An interpretation. And now we're left to see what Idris Elba, a spectacular actor, does with the coveted role.


We asked this question of Stephen King during an exclusive Q-and-A following a tour of his hometown of Bangor, Maine on behalf of The Dark Tower. Here's a shot of the author, entertaining our queries:

p.s. You'll have to click on the link to see what he says

 

[GNTLGNT]

....at least tell me if Old Yeller makes it this time around......

 

[Tery]

I'm okay with Idris Elba. It's Matthew I'm concerned about. When he opens his mouth, I hear him, ya ken. But I'm going in open to this being the exception to that rule.

 

[Maddie]

I haven't read the Dark Tower books and I am looking very forward to the movie, this way for us who haven't read it to get the Big picture a whole lot faster. I know that's not possibly possible but I am looking forward to it. I was posting this the other day, I didn't realize til after the fact that it was an evil troll who opened the thread I went into, but I wanted to say that my brother, who is familiar with Stephen only through movies, none of his books, told me the other day, that The Dark Tower trailer is the first trailer he has seen in over 10 years, that makes him actually WANT to see a movie.

I told him there was lot of people complaining about the cast and he said WHO in the F#%K could be complaining about the cast?

 

[recitador]

I haven't read the Dark Tower books and I am looking very forward to the movie, this way for us who haven't read it to get the Big picture a whole lot faster. I know that's not possibly possible but I am looking forward to it. I was posting this other day, I didn't realize til after the fact that it was an evil troll who opened the thread I went into, but I wanted to say that my brother, who is familiar with Stephen only through movies, none of his books, told me the other day, that The Dark Tower trailer is the first trailer he has seen in over 10 years, that makes him actually WANT to see a movie.

I told him there was lot of people complaining about the cast and he said WHO in the F#%K could be complaining about the cast?

i can understand questions of casting by those who have read the books. what i don't understand is hoping it will fail, because if it fails, it's unlikely anyone is going to want to take a chance on it again anytime soon. i'd much rather see adaptations shine, and then maybe we can get some more decent ones.

 

[danie]

I haven't read the Dark Tower books

I'm glad you are looking forward to the movie, but please read the books, Maddie! It's a journey you will never forget.

 

[SHEEMIEE]

I saw the movie last night but can't really say too much about it as it's still embargoed until 8 PM tonight. I think it's okay to say I didn't have a problem with either actor.

cool, but what we really want to know is -

goosebump factor !

tell me the goosebump factor Ms Mid - did it flicker ?

and did Idris Darkle and tinc ?

 

[Maddie]

i can understand questions of casting by those who have read the books. what i don't understand is hoping it will fail, because if it fails, it's unlikely anyone is going to want to take a chance on it again anytime soon. i'd much rather see adaptations shine, and then maybe we can get some more decent ones.

I understand too the issues surrounding it having been around the story for as long as I have and discussions by those who love it. I think the movie will be a huge success actually and its also going to attract so many people who know nothing of the Dark Tower but the trailer itself.

 

[AnnaMarie]

I’ve seen the trailer played quite a bit lately on TV... and I hope the movie is more than just 95 minutes of shoot-em-up bang, bang.

Speaking of which....why do they call it "earth"? What planet is Roland from?

 

[Maddie]

I'm glad you are looking forward to the movie, but please read the books, Maddie! It's a journey you will never forget.

Its so endearing, I don't know why Id not been able to ever begin, I have 5 on the shelf, someone actually sent me the first 3 a long time ago encouraging me to get started, and I bought the next two and still haven't, John said 'it means you not ready for the journey yet but you will read them when youre ready' , and I always wonder when I will, but I'm so going to! Thanks danie.

 

[AnnaMarie]

i can understand questions of casting by those who have read the books. what i don't understand is hoping it will fail, because if it fails, it's unlikely anyone is going to want to take a chance on it again anytime soon. i'd much rather see adaptations shine, and then maybe we can get some more decent ones.

I haven't heard of people hoping it will fail. I kind of expect it to. And I won't really care if it does....but I don't hope it.

But, I see no reason to think it being successful would lead to a future adaption based on the actual books. Success might lead to more sequels of the movie....but they would have even less to do with the book than this one does.

 

[recitador]

I haven't heard of people hoping it will fail. I kind of expect it to. And I won't really care if it does....but I don't hope it.

But, I see no reason to think it being successful would lead to a future adaption based on the actual books. Success might lead to more sequels of the movie....but they would have even less to do with the book than this one does.

i guess i'm more concerned with the fact that this constitutes a chance taking enterprise as far as hollywood is concerned, and every time one of those fails hollywood execs like to retract into their shells like brain dead little turtles and start muttering to themselves about sequels and reboots. we already get enough of that. but i'd also love for them to take a shot at this rumored interconnected universe thing, regarding king's works.

 

[Robert Gray]

I don't think much of Hollywood at all, but I've seen wonderful things from Netflix, Starz, etc. I think it is almost guaranteed that we will see an adaptation of King's work in one of those formats. The success or failure of this film won't affect that at all. The only thing the success or failure of this film will affect is whether or not the current players are involved in the next project, and if there are sequels by Sony.

 

[AnnaMarie]

i guess i'm more concerned with the fact that this constitutes a chance taking enterprise as far as hollywood is concerned, and every time one of those fails hollywood execs like to retract into their shells like brain dead little turtles and start muttering to themselves about sequels and reboots. we already get enough of that. but i'd also love for them to take a shot at this rumored interconnected universe thing, regarding king's works.

Well, if you mean that this movie failing could prevent a movie being made from a completely different book (for example Clan of the Cave Bear which also has a huge following) I will agree with that.

However, if they are as bad as the first CotCB movie they really shouldn't be made anyway.

 

[Steffen]

....at least tell me if Old Yeller makes it this time around......

Come on man, don't dig up old wounds.

 

[GNTLGNT]

Come on man, don't dig up old wounds.

...still hounds at yer heart eh?....

 

[Ebdim9th]

Ive already read one bad review, from someone admitting, in not having read the books, to be one of those outside watchers, writing for Uproxx. Still, those previews/trailers we've seen still give me hope that I'll like it....

 

[Neesy]

Ive already read one bad review, from someone admitting, in not having read the books, to be one of those outside watchers, writing for Uproxx. Still, those previews/trailers we've seen still give me hope that I'll like it....

I'm also a bit afraid to read any reviews (but I'd most likely enjoy the movie anyway, even if it got panned).

We hardly ever go out to the movies so just the experience of seeing it on the big screen with popcorn etc. sounds inviting to me.

 

[Rockym]

Why The Gunslinger’s Race Doesn’t Matter, According To Stephen King

I have pretty high hopes for this film, plus I don't care what colour his skin is!

"There you have it. When the man who created Roland Deschain of Gilead says that the race of a particular character -- even one as revered as The Gunslinger -- doesn't matter to him, then it shouldn't matter to us. An interpretation of a beloved literary character is exactly that: An interpretation. And now we're left to see what Idris Elba, a spectacular actor, does with the coveted role.


We asked this question of Stephen King during an exclusive Q-and-A following a tour of his hometown of Bangor, Maine on behalf of The Dark Tower. Here's a shot of the author, entertaining our queries:

p.s. You'll have to click on the link to see what he says

This means nothing. He probably is getting a cut of the profits and wants people to go see the movie.

 

[recitador]

or he could just appreciate it for what it is, an adaptation, which is rarely exact. why people feel the need to assign bad motives to him praising this movie, i just don't understand. you really think he needs the money that bad? he was sitting pretty well before this movie came along.