Well, this is unexpected, but I can dig it!

[OldDarth]

BTW - for general knowledge info - Eddie is not from out world:

"Co-Op City is a neighbourhood area in New York City. In the version of Earth that Eddie Dean is from, Co-Op City is located in Brooklyn, but in our world, Keystone Earth, it is located in the Bronx."

 

[Takoren]

BTW - for general knowledge info - Eddie is not from out world:

"Co-Op City is a neighbourhood area in New York City. In the version of Earth that Eddie Dean is from, Co-Op City is located in Brooklyn, but in our world, Keystone Earth, it is located in the Bronx."

I actually knew this, which is why I qualified my statement about where they come from. But then, apart from subtle differences their world might as well be our world.

Anyway, I doubt we're ever going to agree on this, but the simple fact is that I care far more about faithfulness to the book and the character. There is just too much history here to say "hey, we can make arbitrary changes to this character and no one will care except a bunch of old raci--I mean, sticks in the mud, right?" As I said, I also didn't like the idea of Christian Bale or Russell Crowe in the role, and they're as white as the driven snow, so clearly I'm not hung up on race. I just want to see the right man in this role. It's not Bale, it's not Crowe and it's not Elba.

 

[OldDarth]

If this project ever gets made, here's to hoping it delivers something worthy of the source material.

 

[Takoren]

If this project ever gets made, here's to hoping it delivers something worthy of the source material.

On that we definitely agree.

 

[SHEEMIEE]

Now that that is cleared up / let's watch Star Wars and argue about the latest baddie !

 

[Baz]

There is no right or wrong in these situations only our subjective viewpoints.

So sorry right back at you as we both have our viewpoint which we both believe is right.

One note - message boards of any type constitute only a very minor portion of the overall public.

Bool!

The end.

I kinda think there is a right and wrong, and those choices distinguish whether a film is great or a great big mess.

 

[Baz]

He does cares but the qualities he considers vital have to do with attributes that are not superficial external ones.

Shawshank is exactly the same and I suspect that if it were being made today and Morgan Freeman was being announced as playing Red, internet reactions would sadly be the same.

Also respectfully another fan for 30plus years - though I don't believe seniorty makes our opinions more valid than those with less years.

Race is not superficial in this story.

 

[OldDarth]

Race is not superficial in this story.

We'll have to agree to disagree.

 

[OldDarth]

Now that that is cleared up / let's watch Star Wars and argue about the latest baddie !

Yippee!

Ooops - wrong trilogy.


BTW if anyone is interested - Hans, from Lilja's Library, and I spend about a hour talking about this in our latest Stephen King podcast.

 

[jt0565]

The first decision about an adaptation is to change the race of the Gunslinger?As much as I want to see it on the big screen it will clearly be NOTHING like the novels. Maybe they should cast Robert Downey as a white man playing a black man based on a white character.

 

[Takoren]

The first decision about an adaptation is to change the race of the Gunslinger?As much as I want to see it on the big screen it will clearly be NOTHING like the novels. Maybe they should cast Robert Downey as a white man playing a black man based on a white character.

I agree with the sentiment, but no decisions have been made. Elba is just the latest in a line of actors who've been "looked at" for the role. At some point they'll move on, likely looking at guys like DiCaprio, Downey, Hardy, Fassbender, etc., not because they're right for the part but because they're popular. I'm really hoping at some point this project gets shelved again until a director/screenwriter can be chosen who actually cares about the source material, which it's clear Arcel and company do not.

 

[jt0565]

They need to get Frank Darabond involved.

 

[Takoren]

They need to get Frank Darabond involved.

Absolutely, as producer if not director too.

 

[Robert Gray]

We'll have to agree to disagree.

Yes, we will. Altering Roland's race is more than a superficial change. It fundamentally alters the The Drawing of the Three in every aspect dealing with Detta Walker. That is merely one, rather radical alteration. There is also the fact that the Gunslinger looks a bit like King himself or at least an idealized version (which is broached by the characters themselves after they meet him). I could go on and on. There are lots of great actors who could play the part, that doesn't mean they should play the part.

 

[Takoren]

I just put this up over on the IMDB. I'll put a link to what I said (warning, it's long) because I am so sick of the arguments that "his race is incidental" (somehow, that's ALWAYS the argument if the character is white) and "it's all about getting the best person for the job, regardless of color", as though it's not possible for race to preclude that a person is the right actor for the role.

Here's the link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1648190/board/thread/251768772

 

[Moderator]

Ultimately, it's Stephen's decision. He's already said on Twitter that it doesn't matter to him. He spoke to me about it a little last Friday and I see where he's coming from, but that's not something I can share at the moment.

 

[Baz]

I just put this up over on the IMDB. I'll put a link to what I said (warning, it's long) because I am so sick of the arguments that "his race is incidental" (somehow, that's ALWAYS the argument if the character is white) and "it's all about getting the best person for the job, regardless of color", as though it's not possible for race to preclude that a person is the right actor for the role.

Here's the link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1648190/board/thread/251768772

Since GamerGate, where I first heard of SJW's, I've seen their influence pop up everywhere. This worries me because they are not afraid to label anyone who disagrees with them as racists, misogynists an so on, without evidence. But what do we know, we've "forgotten the faces of our fathers" apparently. If the gunslinger ends up being white the SJW's will cause a fuss and call everyone involved racist, that's how they get what they want cos they know people will bend to avoid being slandered by them. Pfft.

 

[Robert Gray]

Ultimately, it's Stephen's decision. He's already said on Twitter that it doesn't matter to him. He spoke to me about it a little last Friday and I see where he's coming from, but that's not something I can share at the moment.

Heh, true enough... but he has also said in his interviews and writings that the way Hollywood is run he feels he comes out ahead if the film isn't entirely awful. They can never take the books from him or alter what he wrote, and I suppose that is what is truly important. For my own part, I'd rather see the Roland from the books and not the one Hollywood has conjured up thinking they know better. The world is full of great... and I mean GREAT actors. There are plenty out there that fit that bill and look like Roland from the text. My chief concern is the loss of certain character interactions between Detta in Drawing of the Three, but I suppose they mean to gut her character entirely and rewrite all of that anyway. Personally, all things considered, I'd rather there not be a movie at all.

 

[Takoren]

Since GamerGate, where I first heard of SJW's, I've seen their influence pop up everywhere. This worries me because they are not afraid to label anyone who disagrees with them as racists, misogynists an so on, without evidence. But what do we know, we've "forgotten the faces of our fathers" apparently. If the gunslinger ends up being white the SJW's will cause a fuss and call everyone involved racist, that's how they get what they want cos they know people will bend to avoid being slandered by them. Pfft.

And that, if anything, is my chief issue with this.

Me: I think this guy's too young
SJW's: *crickets*

Me: This guy's too old.
SJW's: *crickets*

Me: This guy's too pretty for such a hard character.
SJW's: *crickets*

Me: I really don't see a point in changing the character's race.
SJW's: OMG YOU RACIST!!!

 

[Takoren]

... My chief concern is the loss of certain character interactions between Detta in Drawing of the Three, but I suppose they mean to gut her character entirely and rewrite all of that anyway.

There are people who have suggested they'd be okay with that, too. I keep wondering if there are any changes they wouldn't be okay with, and if they'd happily accept a Dark Tower movie that has as much in common with its source material as The Lawnmower Man did with its source material.