Mike Flanagan's upcoming adaptation of Stephen King's epic fantasy saga, The Dark Tower, is set to be a faithful rendition of the novels. Known for his successful adaptations of King's works like Doctor Sleep and Gerald's Game, Flanagan has now enlisted the support of King himself to ensure the project stays true to the source material. In an exclusive roundtable interview with IGN for The Monkey, King confirmed his active involvement, stating, "All I can say is it's happening. I am writing stuff now and I think that's all I want to say because the next thing you know, I'll stir up a bunch of stuff I don't necessarily want to stir up yet. I'm in process right now, and to say too much feels like a jinx."
The Essentials: Stephen King's Dark Tower Multiverse
20 Images
The Dark Tower is a cornerstone of King's oeuvre, with its roots tracing back to the 1970 publication of The Gunslinger. The series is renowned for its intricate mythology and its connection to nearly all of King's fiction. King's involvement in Flanagan's adaptation could mirror his contributions to the Paramount+ series The Stand, where he penned an epilogue to enhance the storyline. Given the expansive nature of The Dark Tower, King's new material could significantly enrich the adaptation.
Flanagan's commitment to fidelity is evident in his promise to keep the adaptation as close to the books as possible. In a 2022 interview with IGN, he emphasized, "it would look like the books" and cautioned against transforming the story into something akin to Star Wars or Lord of the Rings. He believes that The Dark Tower is perfect as it is, a tale of a small group overcoming immense odds, and promises an emotionally resonant experience.
This approach stands in stark contrast to the 2017 film adaptation, which was criticized for its disjointed narrative and deviation from the source material. While the exact release date and format of Flanagan's The Dark Tower remain undisclosed, fans can look forward to other King adaptations from Flanagan, including The Life of Chuck, set for a May release, and a Carrie series in development for Amazon.
