Mike Flanagan's highly anticipated adaptation of Stephen King's The Dark Tower promises unwavering fidelity to the source material. This commitment is further solidified by an exclusive revelation from IGN: Stephen King himself is collaborating with Flanagan on the project.
During an IGN interview promoting The Monkey, 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."
This collaboration is significant, given the epic scope of The Dark Tower and King's history of occasionally adding to his existing works, such as his epilogue for the Paramount+ The Stand miniseries. The possibilities for enriching the Dark Tower mythology are immense.
Exploring King's Dark Tower Multiverse
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Flanagan's dedication to accuracy is reassuring after the 2017 film's less-than-successful attempt at adapting the sprawling narrative. He previously stated in a 2022 IGN interview that his adaptation "would look like the books," emphasizing the importance of staying true to King's vision. He further clarified, "the way not to do The Dark Tower is to try to turn it into something else, to try to make it Star Wars or make it Lord of the Rings."
Flanagan's vision focuses on the core narrative: "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."
While the release date and format remain undisclosed, Flanagan's commitment to King's work, coupled with King's direct involvement, suggests a promising adaptation. In the meantime, Flanagan is busy with other King-related projects, including the upcoming film adaptation of The Life of Chuck and a Carrie series for Amazon.
