Mike Flanagan's upcoming adaptation of Stephen King's The Dark Tower promises unwavering fidelity to the source material. Flanagan's proven track record with King adaptations, including Doctor Sleep and Gerald's Game, already suggested a commitment to authenticity. Now, that commitment is solidified with the news that Stephen King himself is actively contributing to the project.
In an exclusive interview with IGN, King confirmed his involvement, stating, "All I can say is it's happening. I am writing stuff now and I think that's all I want to say because the next thing you know, I'll stir up a bunch of stuff I don't necessarily want to stir up yet. I'm in process right now, and to say too much feels like a jinx."
The Essentials: Stephen King's Dark Tower Multiverse
20 Images
The Dark Tower, a sprawling saga spanning nearly all of King's fiction, is one of his most beloved and personal works, its first installment, The Gunslinger, originating in 1970. King's contribution to Flanagan's adaptation remains shrouded in mystery, though his previous work on the The Stand miniseries, where he penned an epilogue, offers a glimpse into the possibilities. The sheer scope of The Dark Tower mythology presents countless opportunities for King to expand and enrich the existing narrative.
Flanagan's commitment to staying true to King's vision is evident in his past statements. In a 2022 interview with IGN, he emphasized his intention to remain faithful to the books, stating that "it would look like the books" and explicitly rejecting deviations that would transform it into something like Star Wars or Lord of the Rings. He further elaborated: "It is what it is, what it is is perfect. It's just as exciting as all of those things and just as immersive. It's a story about a tiny group of people, all the odds in the whole world are against them, and they come together. As long as it's that, it'll be fine and there won't be a dry eye in the house."
This approach stands in stark contrast to the 2017 film adaptation starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey, which received criticism for its disjointed handling of the source material.
While the release date and format of Flanagan's The Dark Tower adaptation remain undisclosed, Flanagan has a busy slate of Stephen King projects in the pipeline. His adaptation of King's short story, The Life of Chuck, is slated for a May release, and he's currently developing a Carrie series for Amazon, based on King's 1974 novel.
