Universal Pictures and NBC Universal Television Entertainment are backing Imagine Ent.'s unprecedented adaptation of Stephen King's DARK TOWER series, which will see the property adapted as one continuing adventure over both film and television, reports Deadline.com.
Universal Pictures and NBC Universal Television Entertainment are backing Imagine Ent.'s unprecedented adaptation of Stephen King's DARK TOWER series, which will see the property adapted as one continuing adventure over both film and television, reports Deadline.com.
Ron Howard will direct the first feature film in a planned trilogy, as well as the first season of a TV series. Akiva Goldsman will write both the films and the TV show. Brian Grazer is set to produce with Goldsman and King. As planned the project would start as a feature film. Each film in the trilogy would then be bridged by a TV season.
The series follows the last member of a knightly order named Roland Deschain in an alternative America where he must find the Dark Towers in order to save humanity. The film and TV series will be based on King's own novels, as well as the prequel graphic novels that he plotted.
Previously, King granted J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse the rights to the series for $19, but the studio was unable to crack the epic tale. Imagine's take on the material will allow for a feature budget, but the luxury TV provides to tell a more nuanced and deep story.
Howard, Grazer and Goldsman will exec produce the TV series, while Weed Road's Kerry Foster and Imagine's Todd Hallowell and Erica Huggins will exec produce the first feature.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
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