The Dark Tower

[LeeScoresby]

Stephen King's Official "Web Presence" has announced that the sixth Dark Tower novel is now "set for publication in 2003". This means TWO Dark TOwer books in the space of a year and a half.

My mouth is actually watering...

To help me control my DTT's, how'z about a suggested cast list for the inevitable TV miniseries? I, for one, was thinking HBO or Showtime, as there's more leeway in what you can show. So, who out therehas read this series? Anyone care to join me in dreamcasting this one?

Might take some time...but here's my list (in rough book order). Yes, there are more obvious casting choices (like Eastwood for The Gunslinger), but where's the fun in that?
Roland of Gilead (as a man): Sam Elliot.
Alice: Marg Helgenberger
The big Mama-Jamma What Ran the Church in Tull: Kathy Bates (because she's in ALL his stuff :) )
Sheb the Piano Player: Bob Balaban
Nort (the Weed Eater): Cheech Marin
The Man in Black: Vincent D'Nofrio
Faraday/Flagg: Jamie Sheridan
Jake: Haley Joel Osment
Roland's father: Kurt Russell
Roland's mother: Amy Brenneman
Hax (the cook): Oliver Platt
Cort: Cast against type, I could see Michael Clarke Duncan here. The man is talented, and race doesn't really play into the character (if I remember correctly).

Susannah Dean: Angela Bassett
Eddie Dean: Guy Pierce
Oy: Little Muppet thing.
Henry Dean (as adult): Kevin Dillon
Balthazar: James Gandolfini

Blaine the Mono (voice): The guy who does Buster Bunny (from Tiny Toons), Cow and Chicken, etc.
Gasher: Tim Curry
TickTock Man: Billy Bob Thornton

Roland (as teenager): ?
Alain: Justin Long
Cuthbert: Brad Renfro
Kimba Rhymer: John Malkovich
The Mayor: Jeremy Irons
Jonas: Kris Kristopherson
Big Coffin Hunters: Bill Paxton, Powers Booth

Well? Any thoughts?

[Blofeld]

Titles:

Dark Tower 5: Wolves of the Calla
Dark Tower 6: The Song of Susannah

[Johnny Butane]

I've said it before, I'll say it again: NO ONE in Hollywood could adapt those books. It would be just plain wrong to try and bring this epic story to the big screen, there's too much underlying emotion in Roland's character to make it work correctly, without the use of a constant voice over. And that's just one of the many problems they'd have to tackle.

However, if there were any director I believe could do it, it'd be Peter Jackson, and he's already said he won't be making anymore epics for a long while, if ever again.

It's fun to play with the idea, but the execution would be disastorous.

[billylove]

I agree.

A very difficult work to produce in a picture format.

[gossamer13]

Finally - it seems like I have been waiting for the next in the series forever. Guess I will go back and re-read the first four...

[Katanga]

I've never read this series and I'm just now finishing up The Stand. Does The Dark Tower tie into the stand?!?!?! Am I going to have to buy this series...???

[Blofeld]

Only if you want to read the best of King.

[LeeScoresby]

yes, it ties in. indirectly, but it does.
as do the following:

It
The Shining
Insomnia
Eyes of the Dragon
Hearts in Atlantis
Little Sisters of Eluria
Salem's Lot (my favorite tie-in of all...)

and much more...

King seems to be drawing all his stories INTO the story of the Dark Tower. Even if the relation is only tangential.

Usually, i'm excited about this. Discovering that Low Men in Yellow Coats was a hidden DT story made me get very excited. Discovering Black House was one made me want to tear the book in two.

I like the DT...but the Talisman is a GREAT book. king turned the sequel into a sub-par DT chapter. When it could have been SO much more.

For the beam's sake...I know it would make a terrible movie...just fun to cast such an iconic set of books...geez

[Johnny Butane]

If you want overly-detailed explanations on how ALL his books releate to one another, I suggest checking out 'The Stephen King Universe'. Great book, great authors, and stuff you probably would never catch if you weren't looking for it.

[Cochise]

I was just wondering if you guys think that Jack Sawyer from Black House/ The Talisman will be part of the next 3 Dark Tower books, as Parkus hints at in the end of Black House saying basically that he thinks Jack might have a part to play in it.