# So...The Dark Tower on film...any suggestions? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 18, 2004, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-dark-tower-on-film-any-suggestions/269936 "2004-10-18T23:51:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-dark-tower-on-film-any-suggestions/269936/1 "2004-10-18T23:51:46Z")
I don’t know if they will ever convert these books to film a la _Lord of the Rings_, but wouldn’t it be great if Peter Jackson directed? And for some reason, I see Timothy Dalton as Roland. Don’t laugh…one of the pictures in the book looked remarkably like Timothy Dalton. We need a tough, smart kid for Jake. I think Haley Joel Osmet is too waif-like, but I don’t have any suggestions. I have to think on Eddie and Susannah. With CGI as good as it is, they can do Oy with no problem. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-dark-tower-on-film-any-suggestions/269936/2 "2004-10-18T23:53:02Z")
I always saw Wilem Dafoe as Roland. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-dark-tower-on-film-any-suggestions/269936/3 "2004-10-19T00:43:11Z")
My suggestion? Don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-dark-tower-on-film-any-suggestions/269936/4 "2004-10-19T00:49:35Z")
Color me unimaginative, but I always pictured Clint Eastwood as Roland. I guess he’s too old now, so Scott Glenn would do. For Eddie, in my mind I always saw [Dean Winters](http://tinyurl.com/4kxl5) but he’s too old now too. That’s what happens to your mental casting when a series goes on this long… As for Susannah, Halle Berry? With more hair. I have no idea for Jake, since I’m not up on child actors. Someone not too cutesy. Definitely not Haley Joel Osment. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-dark-tower-on-film-any-suggestions/269936/5 "2004-10-19T01:01:52Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > My suggestion? Don’t. Ultimately, I’d like to see the entire series done in animated form (but not Final Fantasy-style CGI). ---
**Author:** ![Nightingale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecae2f/32.png) [@Nightingale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightingale)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-dark-tower-on-film-any-suggestions/269936/6 "2004-10-19T04:52:23Z")
Angela Basset as Susannah Edward Norton as Eddie I’m not sure who I’d pick for Roland and Jake. . . ---
**Author:** ![Engywook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bc8723/32.png) [@Engywook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engywook)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-dark-tower-on-film-any-suggestions/269936/7 "2004-10-19T05:20:03Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > My suggestion? Don’t. I know I shouldn’t say this without running for shelter, but I think a film of the Dark Tower series is a good idea. This would be have a lot of potential to be **better** than the books. The books are full of goosebumpy moments that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. But they aren’t perfect. A film trilogy would have a chance of getting this right - I’m picturing nine hours with the consistency and tightness that the books, to be honest, don’t have IMHO. It would leave the purists screaming, but if done well most of us would agree that it _feels_ like the Tower. A much more interesting question to me than casting is: how would it be done as a trilogy? It would be a challenge… here are my thoughts. Chapter I: The Drawing of the Three We see the events of the first book in flashback, including the massacre in Tull and Roland’s palaver with Walter O’Dim, as Roland crawls along the beach and draws in Susannah and Eddie. Through the flashbacks, we understand the importance of Jake to Roland. He is rescued on the way to the Cradle of Lud. Chapter II: Wolves of the Calla This would need to be the fulcrum of the trilogy - something I think the books lacked. We find out a lot about what made Roland who he is, by using flashbacks to his time in Mejis. The showdown in Mejis is shown in counterpoint to the showdown in Calla Bryn Sturgis. We look at 1) Roland as a rising hero, 2) Roland as a falling hero, 3) Jake as a rising hero. Jake makes the same sacrifices as Roland, and the road to the tower opens. Chapter III: The Dark Tower If Stephen King is going to be a character in falling action, why don’t we go balls to the wall with it? The last book did a great job in raising the tension in saving the beams. I know I’m just begging for a pitting, but why don’t we focus on that and forget all about anything to do with Susannah’s chap? Stick to what’s essential - save the beams and get Roland to the tower. And of course, we’d have both endings. King didn’t seriously believe we’d put the book down when he said we could stop reading, did he? No way. Questions: - is Walter O’Dim’s identity as Randal Flagg really essential? My gut tells me no. - what is Susannah’s role, really? Apparently she’s Stephen King’s best-loved character out of the series, but damned if I can say why. Everything to do with her and her chap just feels non-essential, except for her connections to the money needed to save the rose. My feeling is a series of films would need to do better. - what would be the best way to show the contrast between Jake’s heroism and Roland’s? Figure it might do me fine to strap on the asbestos suit. Don’t get me wrong, though - the Dark Tower has been with me since I was in high school, and now I’m more than twice as old. I love the series. But being completely honest, I think it could have been a lot better - and a film trilogy would be a marvelous opportunity to make it perfect, should the day ever come. ---
**Author:** ![Grossbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba8739/32.png) [@Grossbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grossbottom)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-dark-tower-on-film-any-suggestions/269936/8 "2004-10-19T14:05:05Z")
Angela Basset and Edward Norton, good picks. Hmm. Roland. Vin Diesel? Don’t hit me. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-dark-tower-on-film-any-suggestions/269936/9 "2004-10-19T14:45:35Z")
I always saw Susannah as the woman who played Claire Huxtable on the Cosby show. Rashad? Halle Berry is my choice for today’s movie. A very young Bill Paxton as Eddie. I have no idea who would play him now. Ditto on Roland. Cameron Bright as Jake. Look at Godsend (what an awful movie) but he plays “cute” and “sinister” equally well. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-dark-tower-on-film-any-suggestions/269936/10 "2004-10-19T17:15:43Z")
> [@Nightingale](#): > > Angela Basset as Susannah > Edward Norton as Eddie > . . . Woooo…good ones! I would also suggest Vivica A Fox might make a good Susannah. Hugh Jackman as Roland I have no idea about Jake. There’s only so many kid actors out there. > [@Grossbottom](#): > > Hmm. Roland. > > Vin Diesel? > > Don’t hit me. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-dark-tower-on-film-any-suggestions/269936/11 "2004-10-19T17:38:01Z")
To me, any movie for the The Dark Tower must include Orson Welles. Oh wait, you didn’t mean [this](http://www.vintagegamestore.com/shop/index.php?shop=1&itemid=2130) Dark Tower… sorry ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-dark-tower-on-film-any-suggestions/269936/12 "2004-10-19T17:38:42Z")
Anthony Zerbe needs to be in there somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Grossbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba8739/32.png) [@Grossbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grossbottom)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-dark-tower-on-film-any-suggestions/269936/13 "2004-10-19T17:40:49Z")
Oww. ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-dark-tower-on-film-any-suggestions/269936/14 "2004-10-19T17:48:45Z")
I second the animation idea. Also, I agree that it should be good old-fashioned cell animation (none of this Anime CGI stuff). The other stipulation that I would have is that is Stephen King comes within 100 yards of production that he would be clapped in irons and clubbed. If done well, it could be an epic masterpiece along the lines of The Lord of the Rings. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-dark-tower-on-film-any-suggestions/269936/15 "2004-10-19T18:34:32Z")
Smeghead took the words from my mouth. ---
**Author:** ![Spudo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@Spudo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spudo)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-dark-tower-on-film-any-suggestions/269936/16 "2004-10-19T20:21:19Z")
Smeghead posted exactly what I was going to. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-dark-tower-on-film-any-suggestions/269936/17 "2004-10-19T20:22:56Z")
I know it’s a cheesey choice, but how about Viggo Mortensen for Roland? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-dark-tower-on-film-any-suggestions/269936/18 "2004-10-19T23:14:23Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I know it’s a cheesey choice, but how about Viggo Mortensen for Roland? I don’t think he’s old enough. Clint Eastwood is a very obvious choice. We need a slick wisecracker for Eddie. How about the cute guy from _Saving Private Ryan_, not Vin Diesel, but the guy who got into a shouting match with Tom Sizemore, who was almost going to shoot him…what was his name? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-dark-tower-on-film-any-suggestions/269936/19 "2004-10-19T23:25:54Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I don’t think he’s old enough. Clint Eastwood is a very obvious choice. Just how old is Roland, anyway? I don’t think he’s any older than 50 or so.For him, it’s not the years, it’s the mileage. Viggo is in his mid-40’s; put some grey in his hair and he’ll be fine. Physically, he’s perfect - tall, thin, lanky, not exactly good-looking but with very distinctive features. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-dark-tower-on-film-any-suggestions/269936/20 "2004-10-20T12:17:20Z")
Perhaps not old in years, but certainly road-weary. I don’t think Viggo has the features…Clint does, but can the producers afford him? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-dark-tower-on-film-any-suggestions/269936.md?page=2)