Here’s some more news from Universal Pictures… Unfortunately it seems as though they’ve had to push this year’s start date on the Ron Howard-directed adaptation of Stephen King’s novel series Dark Tower until February. Mike Fleming from Deadline recently reported that “it was supposed to start this summer. The studio will work with the filmmakers to reduce the budget on a series that will include three feature films and two limited-run TV series. Universal has its own ticking clock: It must greenlight the film by July, or the rights revert back to the author and the filmmakers. Recent speculation had Universal contemplating putting the film in turnaround. That hasn’t happened, yet. Akiva Goldsman wrote the Dark Tower script, and Brian Grazer is producing with Goldsman. Javier Bardem has been set to play gunslinger Roland Deschain. The original plan by Universal, to mount a movie trilogy and limited-run TV series, is arguably the most ambitious Hollywood project since New Line and Peter Jackson shot three installments of The Lord of the Rings in one long shoot.”
With the delay of this film, no doubt countless Stephen King fans will be disappointed upon hearing the news. It’s best to keep in mind that although it was delayed, it wasn’t canceled and the film should still make it to theaters. There’s an old saying that comes to mind…”better late than never.”
