THE DARK TOWER LOSES $45 MILLION AND GETS AN IMPROVED ENDING

How's the comic?

I would think he is talking about the ending to the whole thing but I'm also kind of confused about how the story is being cut up these days, so who knows.  Anyways, I can't see the ending to just the first part being particularly expensive. But then again I wouldn't have thought that the ending of the entire story as done in the books would be too expensive either.

And as a huge Tower fan, and one who didn't hate the ending, a greater ending can easily be cobbled together.

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Originally Posted by Pop Zeus 

How's the comic?

It's not too bad from a writing point of view (though it lacks King's particular brand of atmosphere, and Peter David falls back too heavily on the "do ya kennit, thankee sai" patois) but Jae Lee's art bugged the hell out of me. He tends to draw people heavily silhouetted and floating in a field of nothingness, which regardless of the quality of the art is shitty storytelling. Richard Isanove's ugly digital colouring doesn't help here either.

I was also puzzled by the fact that they seemed to wrap up after a mere four or five minis, when potentially they could have kept going for years. The story of Roland's childhood adventures is fertile ground, more interesting than the "main" story of the books in some ways.

I'm hoping that their "new" ending is a revamped confrontation between Roland and the Crimson King.  

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Originally Posted by CharlieCluster7 

I would think he is talking about the ending to the whole thing but I'm also kind of confused about how the story is being cut up these days, so who knows.  Anyways, I can't see the ending to just the first part being particularly expensive. But then again I wouldn't have thought that the ending of the entire story as done in the books would be too expensive either.

 

And as a huge Tower fan, and one who didn't hate the ending, a greater ending can easily be cobbled together.

I have a feeling that in terms of budget and an ending, Grazer is only speaking of the first film in this proposed franchise.  Basically, we are talking about a 90 million dollar adaptation of The Gunslinger with a new ending.  I'm guessing it is going to head a little into the second book before the credits role, considering the fact that the The Gunslinger ends with a conversation.  I don't know how far into The Drawing of Three they might go, but that's just my hunch.

I'm also assuming they are keeping to their original concept for a Dark Tower adaptation.....

1. Film 1

2. TV miniseries

3. Film 2

4. TV prequel miniseries

5. Film 3

6. (potential ongoing prequel series)

The only thing that we know for sure is that the second miniseries will be focused on Roland's early years, as depicted in the comic series and large portions of the fourth novel.  Also, if the franchise takes off, Grazer & Howard plan on producing an ongoing series set before the events of the first film.  Anyway, beyond that, they have given absolutely no indication as to how things will be split up.

Personally, if I were doing it in the above format, here's what I'd do....

Film One = The Gunslinger

TV One = The Drawing of Three/Waste Lands/Wizard & Glass

Film Two = The Wolves of the Calla/Song of Susannah

TV Two = Comics and W&G flashbacks

Film Three = The Dark Tower

TV series = the rest of the comics

Obviously there is going to be a bit of bleed over across all the "installments" in this series (assuming it makes it to the end).  If you cut down on a lot of the pop culture/meta references (beyond the ones that are absolute musts) and King's trademark ramblings, it won't be too hard to pare down the material to a decent size.
 

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Originally Posted by The Rocka-Who? 

I'm hoping that their "new" ending is a revamped confrontation between Roland and the Crimson King.  

While I have no doubt whatsoever that the ending to the franchise (if it becomes one) will be altered, I really don't think that is the ending that Grazer is talking about.  There is no way in hell that they are going to be able to properly adapt this series into multiple films/TV projects for a total of 90-95 million dollars.

I think it is safe to say that Grazer is speaking only of the first film.

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Originally Posted by S.D. Bob Plissken 

 

I have a feeling that in terms of budget and an ending, Grazer is only speaking of the first film in this proposed franchise.  Basically, we are talking about a 90 million dollar adaptation of The Gunslinger with a new ending. 

I hope not. Why on earth would The Gunslinger cost 90 million dollars? Seriously the biggest action piece is the town gunfight that happens and the only special effects that would even begin to cost is the slow mutants. Other than that we just have a western and juding by all the straight to video westerns I see it shouldn't cost 90 million. And judging by that budget......PG-13 right?

Sad to see this project come back from the dead. Between this and LONE RANGER, it seems all the worst projects are getting resurrected these days

Thanks for linking to me, Rene!

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Originally Posted by Waaaaaaaalt 

I hope not. Why on earth would The Gunslinger cost 90 million dollars? Seriously the biggest action piece is the town gunfight that happens and the only special effects that would even begin to cost is the slow mutants. Other than that we just have a western and juding by all the straight to video westerns I see it shouldn't cost 90 million. And judging by that budget......PG-13 right?

Yeah, 90 million is still too high for this..............................but on the flipside there is no way they could film the whole saga at that price either.  I wonder if they are combining the first two books for the initial film that Howard himself is directing?  It would make sense really, as neither book is that long and you could easily have that first miniseries be a combination of Wastelands and the "present" portions of Wizard & Glass.

EDIT - Then again, I seem to recall Howard implying that they would shoot the first film and that initial miniseries back to back................so that might explain the 90 million dollar price tag, assuming that is still the plan.

Dear Brian Grazer:  Use that $50 million you saved to make THE TALISMAN, goddamnit!

I did look up the ending of The Dark Tower series, and someone said in the comments it's an Ouroburous. That's pretty apt. That's pretty unsatisfying for people who want an ending to the trilogy. It's gotta be Roland vs. The Crimson King and Walter O'Dym. Also, I wonder since The Stand is going to be made, if they're going to reveal that Walter O'Dym is really Randall Flagg, or if they'll just gleam over that?

I wouldn't doubt it if the 3 films will divvy up the "meat" of the 7 books, with the tv series taking the lesser portions, and essentially doing their own thing. The suits will want it to be able to work on it's own with people who probably won't see the movie series.

SPOILERS, I guess?

Walter being Flagg always pissed me right the hell off, because King explicitly says they're two different people in the first book. And there was no need for it whatsoever anyway.

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Originally Posted by Waaaaaaaalt 

I hope not. Why on earth would The Gunslinger cost 90 million dollars? Seriously the biggest action piece is the town gunfight that happens and the only special effects that would even begin to cost is the slow mutants. Other than that we just have a western and juding by all the straight to video westerns I see it shouldn't cost 90 million. And judging by that budget......PG-13 right?

No way will this be a straight adaptation of The Gunslinger. It's just not a movie, or at least, not a franchise movie. I wager it'll blend events of the first two books, and possibly the others (like condensing all the unfocused back-and-forth with Jake into one storyline instead of three).

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Originally Posted by Ratty 

Dear Brian Grazer:  Use that $50 million you saved to make THE TALISMAN, goddamnit!

 

Good man.

Honestly they should scrap this Dark Tower idea and go with a The Talisman/Black House series. As much as I love The Dark Tower, it is a huge gamble that probably won't make it to completion(if it ever gets off the ground at all) and The Talisman is just sitting there, begging to get made.

I'm still baffled that in the post-Harry Potter world we got stuff like Eragon, Inkheart, and The Seeker but no The Talisman.

I think part of the problem is that Spielberg is STILL sitting on the rights to The Talisman and not really doing anything with it.  There were rumblings (yet again!) a few years back that it might be moving forward again as a TV adaptation, but I haven't read diddly since then.

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Originally Posted by CharlieCluster7 

 

I'm still baffled that in the post-Harry Potter world we got stuff like Eragon, Inkheart, and The Seeker but no The Talisman.

It's completely ridiculous.  Unlike Dark Tower, Talisman is A) a single novel easily adapted for a three-hour film and B) pretty universally liked if not loved and C) has a workable and satisfying ending.   Get that kid from Let Me In and go to work, damnit!

Yeah, Talisman would make a great show, and given that American Gods is happening maybe they'll be tempted. As with AG, I felt like there was room for a ton of stories in between the main narrative, and afterwards (hey, we've already seen what happened to Jack once he grew up, why not just fill in the blanks?)

Meh, The Talisman is okay (Black House is mediocre). I think I'd rather see an Eyes Of The Dragon movie.

If you don't think "The Talisman" is awesome, you probably shouldn't be commenting on a "Dark Tower" thread.

Maybe Black House dampened my opinion of the book, butI didn't think it was awesome. Sorry. I didn't think it was bad, it just didn't grab me the way other King books have. Maybe because it wasn't a purely King written book yet still had its share of King hallmarks. It felt overly familiar.