‘Dark Tower’ TV Series Still Moving Forward, Might Be Separate Universe
The forces behind The Dark Tower didn’t let a few bad reviews keep them down; next announcing ex-Walking Dead boss Glen Mazzara as the TV arm’s showrunner. Mediocre box office isn’t slowing them down either, though there’s talk that the series might maintain its own universe, even building up spinoffs.
The series is said to based on King’s novel Wizard and Glass, following a younger Roland Deschain, with Idris Elba potentially putting in occasional appearances along with Dennis Haysbert (Roland’s father) and Tom Taylor (Jake Chambers). Ron Howard, Akiva Goldsman, Jeff Pinkner and Brian Grazer produce, and The Hollywood Reporter claims the series will move forward regardless of whether the film is considered a financial success.
Perhaps more importantly, however, the piece notes that The Dark Tower may take a page from The Flash and keep its movie and TV universes separate:
But while there is casting overlap, the plan is for the TV series to stand on its own and build its own universe — including potential spinoffs. (Sources note that it could parallel Warner Bros.’ DC film and TV universes, where The Flash, for example, exists on both the big and small screen in completely separate stories.)
The adaptation is reportedly planning a straight-to-series order of 10-13 episodes, with production eyed to begin in early 2018, though no network has yet confirmed an attachment. There’s time yet for the film franchise to improve its odds, but should a Dark Tower TV series move forward regardless?