Dark Tower Film/Game

[new_age_reject]

There have been a few discussions mentioning peoples love for the epic series of novels by Stephen King and it just struck me:
Why has there not been a film or game adaptation of this masterpiece yet? It seems like the perfect candidate for many die-hard fans and surely a great way of making a bunch of money from the franchise.
I for one would see the films and play the games.

 

[new_age_reject]

Yeah, I saw that it has basically just been discussed and no real plans have been made, especially not until 'Lost' is done with, which wont be any time soon.

 

[The Wooster]

There have been a few discussions mentioning peoples love for the epic series of novels by Stephen King and it just struck me:
Why has there not been a film or game adaptation of this masterpiece yet? It seems like the perfect candidate for many die-hard fans and surely a great way of making a bunch of money from the franchise.
I for one would see the films and play the games.

I don't think the latter books would translate into a film at all. Mainly because they're kind of shitty but also because the plot goes loco. Also while the book ending just pissed off readers it would probably cause movie goers to riot.

 

[new_age_reject]

There have been a few discussions mentioning peoples love for the epic series of novels by Stephen King and it just struck me:
Why has there not been a film or game adaptation of this masterpiece yet? It seems like the perfect candidate for many die-hard fans and surely a great way of making a bunch of money from the franchise.
I for one would see the films and play the games.

I don't think the latter books would translate into a film at all. Mainly because they're kind of shitty but also because the plot goes loco. Also while the book ending just pissed off readers it would probably cause movie goers to riot.

Well yeah there of course would be some bits that would be hard to translate to film and would border on surrealism but that hasn't put many directors off from missing bits out and adding stuff in to make it a valid film.
Also, a great deal of the goers would be fans of the series anyway I think so they could deal with the plot.
However, I agree that the ending thing is probably the biggest problem. I personally thought it was quite good but I can see how many people dislike it.

 

[Rolling 20]

There have been a few discussions mentioning peoples love for the epic series of novels by Stephen King and it just struck me:
Why has there not been a film or game adaptation of this masterpiece yet? It seems like the perfect candidate for many die-hard fans and surely a great way of making a bunch of money from the franchise.
I for one would see the films and play the games.

I don't think the latter books would translate into a film at all. Mainly because they're kind of shitty but also because the plot goes loco. Also while the book ending just pissed off readers it would probably cause movie goers to riot.

*Puts on his 'Dark Tower nerd hat' * Okay, I had mixed feelings about the ending, but the more I think about it, the more I realise I like it. (Sorry, forgot about Spoiler alert)

I heard Abrams purchased the rights to it off of King of (i'm serious) $19. Yes, nineteen dollars apparently. I think he'll try and make it into a tv series or at least a mini-series. It wouldn't work as a movie because the sheer length and detail required would make Lord of the Rings look like Toy Story.

As for a game......difficult....but not impossible. It would be a game that would (more than likely) be awful, but because of us 'Dark Tower' fan boys, we would worship it regardless of its faults.

Which book would you like to see MOST in a tv/mini-series context?

 

[ellimist337]

But there was a game [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Tower_(game)]! It was even electronic, just not a video game. I have a friend who actually had this game; we dragged it out at his house one night to play but we couldn't because it took roughly 600 D batteries to power and we weren't dedicated enough to go to Wal-Mart.

 

[Rolling 20]

But there was a game [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Tower_(game)]! It was even electronic, just not a video game. I have a friend who actually had this game; we dragged it out at his house one night to play but we couldn't because it took roughly 600 D batteries to power and we weren't dedicated enough to go to Wal-Mart.

Holy crap!! I need to find this...now. My girlfriend is the BIGGEST King and Dark Tower nerd EVER! She got me into it. If I gave her this as a present....Heck I probably wouldn't have to get her anything as a present ever again...EVER!

EDIT:
It doesn't appear to have anything to do with the 'Dark Tower' series.

 

[axia777]

Stephen King confirms The Dark Tower Movie

Posted on Monday, February 26th, 2007 at 5:40 am by: Peter Sciretta

stephenkingbig1.jpg

Remember last week when we told you that JJ Abrams might be directing an adaptation of Stephen King?s The Dark Tower series? Well it looks like this rumor is true.

King confirmed the news to a crowded room at the New York Comic-Con:

?I know J.J. Abrams? work and Damon Lindelof, who is his collaborator on Lost. Damon is just a total comic-book freak, and he loves the Dark Tower books. I trust those guys, and they have a lot on the ball. When they said they wanted to talk about doing this, I said, ?You know what? Why don?t you buy the option on this and see what you can come up with.? They asked, ?How much do you want for an option?? I said, ?$19.? (A key amount that comes up frequently in the books) And that?s what they paid me, and that?s where it is.?

http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/02/26/stephen-king-confirms-the-dark-tower-movie/

I hope the movies are as good as the book. They have to be a super hard R in the ratings too. The movies have to have it all, the sex, violence, and all the freakishness.

 

[ellimist337]

But there was a game [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Tower_(game)]! It was even electronic, just not a video game. I have a friend who actually had this game; we dragged it out at his house one night to play but we couldn't because it took roughly 600 D batteries to power and we weren't dedicated enough to go to Wal-Mart.

Holy crap!! I need to find this...now. My girlfriend is the BIGGEST King and Dark Tower nerd EVER! She got me into it. If I gave her this as a present....Heck I probably wouldn't have to get her anything as a present ever again...EVER!

EDIT:
It doesn't appear to have anything to do with the 'Dark Tower' series.

Good luck; they've almost reached "collector's item" status; it'll cost you. But then the gift would probably mean that much more, so, like I said, good luck.

 

[new_age_reject]

*snip*

Which book would you like to see MOST in a tv/mini-series context?

That was my exact reaction to the ending and tbh I really don't think he could have ended it in any other way.
I think you're right on the length of the whole series. but one book at least would be nice.
Thinking back, the game thing is actually completely correct. To make it work would be extremely difficult, but there are many, many horrendous game adaptations out there that it surely couldn't be much worse than those, I would like to see someone try anyhow.

I have a deep-rooted love for 'Wolves of The Calla' and 'Drawing of The Three' but I think the problem with having just one of the books adapted is that there would have to be some kind of way of filling in a lot of the back story that you miss from the earlier books and the only way I can think of combating that problem is by doing each book in order which would end up with a ridiculous amount of TV time.

 

[new_age_reject]

But there was a game [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Tower_(game)]! It was even electronic, just not a video game. I have a friend who actually had this game; we dragged it out at his house one night to play but we couldn't because it took roughly 600 D batteries to power and we weren't dedicated enough to go to Wal-Mart.

Holy crap!! I need to find this...now. My girlfriend is the BIGGEST King and Dark Tower nerd EVER! She got me into it. If I gave her this as a present....Heck I probably wouldn't have to get her anything as a present ever again...EVER!

EDIT:
It doesn't appear to have anything to do with the 'Dark Tower' series.

Good luck; they've almost reached "collector's item" status; it'll cost you. But then the gift would probably mean that much more, so, like I said, good luck.

Oh wowo!
I would love to own one of these just for the sheer fact of owning one.

 

[PirateKing]

I personally really wanted to make the first book into a movie. I hope it doesn't get made until I'm done with film school. I think it could be done very cheaply and very stylishly.

 

[new_age_reject]

I really hope there's not much of a chance of this happening, I find JJ Abram's work to be annoying, gimicky and long-winded. Of course, most of his movies aren't using excellent material like the Dark Tower series, so maybe there's a chance. Of course, a lot of people would argue that the new Star Trek film has the backing of lots of good background as well. I'm no Star Trek fan but I know from the trailers and the complaining online that it will probably be butchered.

I am in no way looking forward to the new Star Trek film.
I think you are correct about old JJ's work though, I think this would be an immense task to take on for any director/producer and I can't actually think who I would prefer to do it.

I personally really wanted to make the first book into a movie. I hope it doesn't get made until I'm done with film school. I think it could be done very cheaply and very stylishly.

The first book really does look like the best candidate.

 

[Rolling 20]

I would love to see the fourth book done. Maybe even...(just throwing it out there) START with the fourth book. Get the prequel stuff out of the way, people identify the characters and Roland's 'issues' with Susan....*sigh* i'm going to go buy some beer for Australia Day now and return to discuss this....Australia style...

EDIT:
We're not leaving till we figure this out.

 

[new_age_reject]

I would love to see the fourth book done. Maybe even...(just throwing it out there) START with the fourth book. Get the prequel stuff out of the way, people identify the characters and Roland's 'issues' with Susan....*sigh* i'm going to go buy some beer for Australia Day now and return to discuss this....Australia style...

EDIT:
We're not leaving till we figure this out.

That actually seems to be a good way of starting out.
After all that's the way the graphic novels have gone.

 

[DrunkenKitty]

The first book was epic, and beautiful, and poetic. Best opening line to a book ever: "The man in black fled across the desert and the Gunslinger followed." Hero, villain, setting, conflict all right there.

The second book lack the simple beauty of the first, but was character-driven enough to hold my interest.

I read the third book because I liked the first two so much, but I found it juvenile. Reminded me of a group of middle schoolers playing a PnP campaign... and I mean that in a bad way.

Fourth book was given away after I read the first couple chapters.

I'm not even curious how the rest of the series goes.

 

[new_age_reject]

The first book was epic, and beautiful, and poetic. Best opening line to a book ever: "The man in black fled across the desert and the Gunslinger followed." Hero, villain, setting, conflict all right there.

The second book lack the simple beauty of the first, but was character-driven enough to hold my interest.

I read the third book because I liked the first two so much, but I found it juvenile. Reminded me of a group of middle schoolers playing a PnP campaign... and I mean that in a bad way.

Fourth book was given away after I read the first couple chapters.

I'm not even curious how the rest of the series goes.

The first book was probably, definitely the best read, but you should give the rest a go. The fourth is a great tale dealing with Roland's back story and the fifth really compells you to finish the series.

 

[Rolling 20]

The first book was epic, and beautiful, and poetic. Best opening line to a book ever: "The man in black fled across the desert and the Gunslinger followed." Hero, villain, setting, conflict all right there.

The second book lack the simple beauty of the first, but was character-driven enough to hold my interest.

I read the third book because I liked the first two so much, but I found it juvenile. Reminded me of a group of middle schoolers playing a PnP campaign... and I mean that in a bad way.

Fourth book was given away after I read the first couple chapters.

I'm not even curious how the rest of the series goes.

The first book was probably, definitely the best read, but you should give the rest a go. The fourth is a great tale dealing with Roland's back story and the fifth really compells you to finish the series.

The fifth book adds an extra dimension to the story. It feeds it a purpose, rather than just being a bunch of whacked out people chasing after a dude and a tower. The 6th book is the only book that lost it's way because of 'the writer' aspect, which was still nonetheless interesting....and the appearance of 'that' character in the 5th book.....that made me s&%t my pants.

Were this made into a game....what style would you use? RPG? RTS? FPS? 3RD Person?

 

[new_age_reject]

The first book was epic, and beautiful, and poetic. Best opening line to a book ever: "The man in black fled across the desert and the Gunslinger followed." Hero, villain, setting, conflict all right there.

The second book lack the simple beauty of the first, but was character-driven enough to hold my interest.

I read the third book because I liked the first two so much, but I found it juvenile. Reminded me of a group of middle schoolers playing a PnP campaign... and I mean that in a bad way.

Fourth book was given away after I read the first couple chapters.

I'm not even curious how the rest of the series goes.

The first book was probably, definitely the best read, but you should give the rest a go. The fourth is a great tale dealing with Roland's back story and the fifth really compells you to finish the series.

The fifth book adds an extra dimension to the story. It feeds it a purpose, rather than just being a bunch of whacked out people chasing after a dude and a tower. The 6th book is the only book that lost it's way because of 'the writer' aspect, which was still nonetheless interesting....and the appearance of 'that' character in the 5th book.....that made me s&%t my pants.

Were this made into a game....what style would you use? RPG? RTS? FPS? 3RD Person?

Definitely the use of that character just made the book all that more wondrous and mind boggling.
I think if it had to be any genre only the FPS/RPG mix style would fit. Kinda like Bioshock 3rd person or like FF without the turn based battles.

You could probably make an RTS based on the battle of Jericho Hill.

 

[Rolling 20]

The first book was epic, and beautiful, and poetic. Best opening line to a book ever: "The man in black fled across the desert and the Gunslinger followed." Hero, villain, setting, conflict all right there.

The second book lack the simple beauty of the first, but was character-driven enough to hold my interest.

I read the third book because I liked the first two so much, but I found it juvenile. Reminded me of a group of middle schoolers playing a PnP campaign... and I mean that in a bad way.

Fourth book was given away after I read the first couple chapters.

I'm not even curious how the rest of the series goes.

The first book was probably, definitely the best read, but you should give the rest a go. The fourth is a great tale dealing with Roland's back story and the fifth really compells you to finish the series.

The fifth book adds an extra dimension to the story. It feeds it a purpose, rather than just being a bunch of whacked out people chasing after a dude and a tower. The 6th book is the only book that lost it's way because of 'the writer' aspect, which was still nonetheless interesting....and the appearance of 'that' character in the 5th book.....that made me s&%t my pants.

Were this made into a game....what style would you use? RPG? RTS? FPS? 3RD Person?

Definitely the use of that character just made the book all that more wondrous and mind boggling.
I think if it had to be any genre only the FPS/RPG mix style would fit. Kinda like Bioshock 3rd person or like FF without the turn based battles.

You could probably make an RTS based on the battle of Jericho Hill.

The problem with the RPG element is the fact that we already know their abilities...it would work...but anyone who knows the books back to front won't be convinced by it because they know Roland doesn't have a +20 in stealth and theft...

What do you think of this idea....think 'Savage'. One person is the leader and operates RTS-style, and the rest operate FPS style. There are plenty of battles where this is useful....Jericho Hill, Lud, that town in the first book, the battle with the wolves, that battle at the 'mind user' place, battle with the Low-Men in the club, battle, battle, battle... What do you think?