Apr 30 2009
Casting J. J. Abrams’ Dark Tower Movie
After learning yesterday that J. J. Abrams’ next project is most likely going to be an adaptation of Stephen King’s Dark Tower series, I got so excited, I sat down and cast the entire movie for him. Wasn’t that nice of me?
See below who I cast in the major roles, and a few minor ones just for fun. Feel free to shout out your own suggestions.
Roland Deschain – Hugh Jackman Viggo Mortenson
Update: I wrote this article a long while back, and upon revisiting it due to the number of comments, I’ve decided that I made a mistake with the lead role here. I originally said Hugh Jackman, but I don’t think he has the acting chops to pull it off. And because Clint Eastwood is too old (Roland IS Eastwood), I have to go with Viggo Mortenson.
I just watched A History of Violence again, and after that viewing I think he’s just perfect for the role. He’s got those blue bombardier eyes, and I can easily seem him spouting out High Speech with ease. He may be a bit on the soft-spoken side, but I think he’s got what it takes without question to kill the lead in this epic series.
Eddie Dean – James McAvoy
I’m picking McAvoy here because frankly I’ve loved him in almost everything I’ve seen him in. Sure Casey Affleck may look the part more, but I think McAvoy would make a much better Eddie Dean, mainly due to the fact that I don’t want to punch him in the face every time he talks (sorry Casey, but I’ll never forget The Assassination of Jesse James and the Way Too Long Title).
And as we learned in Wanted, McAvoy can certainly handle a gun. He’s right age, the right look for the part, and he’s got both the physical and acting chops to get the job done.
Odetta (Susannah) Holmes– Zoe Saldana
I haven’t seen Zoe Saldana in much to date, but assuming she doesn’t totally suck in Star Trek, I think she’d be right on for this role. She would have already worked with J. J. which is a plus, and provided she can hang with the more experienced actors, she should do just fine.
I’d have to hear her “crazy Odetta voice” to make sure, but I can see her throwing plates onscreen already.
Jake Chambers – Freddy Highmore
Yes, that’s the best picture you get of Jake Chambers, if you can find me a better one, please send it over. He looks like an 11 year-old kid, that’s all you need to know. There are few child actors that aren’t terribly annoying these days, and Jake needs to be just that.
Freddy Highmore is one of the only kids who comes to mind who is actually talented, but not someone you want to throw out of a moving train like Dakota Fanning or Anakin Skywalker. If he can get the American accent down, I think Highmore would be great for the part.
Alain Johns – Charlie Hunnam
I’m doing a few of the more minor characters just for fun, even if they only appearly scarcely throughout the series. Alain, Roland’s old pal, may be uglier and pudgier than Charlie Hunnam, but I can see it working, can’t you?
Cuthbert Allgood – Joseph Gordon Levitt
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is starting to move into more of a leading man role these days, but I think he’d be up for doing a guest spot in a series as epic as this. Here he would play young Roland’s right hand, Cuthbert.
Susan Delgado – Diane Krueger
Who’d you think I was going to say, Scarlett Johansson? I originally cast Charlize Theron here as Roland’s teenage love (I made a picture and everything!), but scrapped that when I realized she was 34. She looks so young! As a substitute I think Ms. Krueger would slide into the role quite nicely. If anyone says “Hayden Panettiere” you get punched in the face.
Randall Flagg (The Man in Black) – Jeremy Irons
Alright, this is kind of a copout, but I think Irons would actually be great in this role. I was half tempted to go with someone like Jackie Earle Haley, but I think Irons has more of a sinister presence.
Who should be cast as young Stephen King? Think I’m kidding? Read the books…
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Good Choices, but here are some of mine, using the characters you picked as well as some others
Deschain-Josh Brolin
Eddie Dean-Edward Norton
Susannah Dean- Rosario Dawson
Jake Chambers- Kodi Smit-McPhee, the little dude that’s gonna be in The Road w/ Viggo Mortensen. The Australian accent could work.
Alain Johns- Matt Damon
Cuthbert Allgood- I actually agree with Levitt. 500 Days of Summer looks godlike
Susan Delgado- Olivia Wilde
Randall Flagg- Christian Bale, although Irons could do it too
The Crimson King- Sir Ian McKellan
Dandelo- Gerard Butler
Eldred Jones- Kiefer Sutherland
The Big Coffin Hunters
Depape- Bruce Campbell
Reynolds- Paul Bettany
Thorin- Devon Aoki
Mordred Deschain- David Wenham (Dilios from 300)
Tick-Tock Man- Christopher Walken
I’m pretty sure a cast like this will destroy some part of the universe, but it’ll be well worth it. GET ON IT ABRAMS
Parker, STFU and GTFO. That would fuck the entire series over.
A cast like that and the series will suck. The studio will let it ride on the names of the cast instead of making it a quality series, and it damned sure better be high quality.
Zero, you’re pretty dead on with the known cast, we’ll see how Saldana does. I’m still not quite sure about Highmore, I’ll have to take another look at him.
Wow, I’m pretty sure the cast I predicted won’t get chosen in the first place. Relax. I was just mulling over the actors I think would be best for the part. I do not exactly agree with the studio letting it ride on the names, for all the aforementioned actors have proven they can sell a movie through their abilities and not their names over the years.
And, in the end, it’s not up to me. It’s up to Abrams. So calm down.
You gotta keep in mind the ages of the characters. In Wizard and Glass, Roland and his ka-tet were 15-16 years old. Everyone mentioned so far is too old.
Jackman is an inspired choice. Roland actually does sing and dance in Wolves of the Calla. I’d like to see someone grittier in the role, though. Jackman is too polished.
McAvoy is a good Eddie Dean, who was in his early twenties in the series. Norton is too old. I’d go with Ben Foster – who would play a great recovering junkie.
I’d like to see Abrams go the Star Trek route and cast relatively unknown and character actors in most of the roles.
When I read the books a few years ago, I couldn’t help imagining Zoe as Susannah. And of course, a slightly younger Clint Eastwood as Roland.
I’d actually agree with most of your pics. Interestingly, I was back and forth about Jackman and Daniel Day Lewis as well, but I actually came down on the side of Lewis. I think Jackman might look the part a bit more, but he’s used to playing action roles and, as far as I’m concerned, has trouble playing a dramatic role convincingly. Day Lewis, I believe, could pull off both action and drama. I like the choice of McAvoy…I think James Franco could pull off Eddie Dean as well. As far as Jake is concerned, I guess Highmore could work, but I feel like he might be a bit too…dainty? The way Jake is portrayed in the book, you almost forget he’s a kid most of the time, with the exception of Wolves of the Calla. I don’t really know who’d be better though. And, even though I’ll admit he doesn’t look the part, Kevin Spacey I think plays a great villain, and would probably make a great Flagg. Good choices though.
I agree that Jackman may be a bit too polished i’d like to see a slighty older and weathered Roland, David Carodine (Kill Bill), Ed harris types.
I do hope it is an almost all unkown cast though as it will put the pressure on the movie to actually be a quality movie to draw viewers rather than big names
Eddie dean should be played by Ryan Renolds, he can do action and he is very good at being sarcastic and a bit of a smart @$$. How about Clive Owens for roland and Hally Beary for Susannah?
John Hamm for Roland. That man can contemplate!
I think another obvious choice for Roland is Hugh Laurie (House). I also agree with the comment that chose Ryan Reynolds as Eddie Dean.
Hahahaha Hugh Laurie. That’s awesome.
I think the first list is pretty spot on…i would try to find a few more alternatives for jake but otherwise, well done sir…as for u parker, if ur gonna make a list, at least put some thought into it…this is a serious matter we are dealing with here =P
Ryan Reynolds as Eddie? Yeah, he’s good at the comedy, but Eddie is also very serious. I disagree. And as much as it dismays, popular speculation points to Christian Bale as being the prime contender for Roland. We need fewer superstars and more actors. My list of mains is not as extensive, but here it is:
Roland Deschain: Viggo Mortensen or Kurt Russell. Both men have the acting chops, and both are the rugged types with the bombardier eyes. Mortensen would be a much younger take, though I’d prefer to see him to Jackman. Russell fits the age a bit better, but I don’t think he’d handle the High Speech as well as Mortensen could.
Eddie Dean: in my mind, Nicholas Brendon, though aging, is almost perfect for Eddie Dean. After seeing him for seven seasons in Buffy, I know that he’s got the talent for balancing the comedy and the tragedy found in Eddie. Paul Rudd might be able to pull it off, but he’s a far, far second.
Susannah Dean: Gina Torres of Firefly fame is my initial thought. She’s certainly got the ability to be the badass that Susannah becomes, but I also think she’d do well with the split personalities. I was not blown away by Zoe Saldana in Star Trek, and Halle Berry is just wrong for the part.
Jake Chambers: nobody has really seen what Kodi Smit-McPhee can do. I did like Nathan Gamble in The Mist, so I’ll list him as my number one. Highmore is also quite good. I’m hoping they pick an amazing unknown for this part, though, since Jake is far and away my favorite character.
Randall Flagg: here’s where my casting gets weird and many will disagree with me (as if they don’t already). Before the controversy, consider Terry O’Quinn of Lost fame as an alternate. Though Jeremy Irons needs a comeback role and I’d love to see what he did with Flagg, I’d be more interested in seeing what Jim Carrey could do with this. I’ll leave that to marinate.
Eldred Jonas: Sam Elliott. No other.
Stephen Deschain: If Clint Eastwood doesn’t come out of retirement to cameo as the father of the legend that was based on him, I will cry. I know he’s old, but he simply MUST be a part of this series.
That’s what I’ve got so far. Fire at will.
Okay everybodies cat pick for Rolan were good but in reality there is only one man alive right now that could play him. Daniel Craig. Think about he has the natural weathered look and the natural faded blue bombadiered eyes. Also Roland spoke in High Speech which was a mix of proper english with western slang.
My friends and I were just talking this over the other night, and I think that DDL and Jackman are both good choices for Roland, but my first thought (after Clint Eastwood, of course) was Josh Holloway who plays Sawyer on Lost.
I have to disagree wholeheartedly, rezareketer. Daniel Craig is too much of a Hollywood action hero. He’s good at what he does, but I’ve not been too impressed by his deeper acting capability. Roland does have to be a badass, true, but he also embodies so much more than badassery. He’s a very romantic and deeply tragic character, and while Craig would be a great physical match and perfect for he rough-and-tumble, I don’t honestly think he’s got it in him to portray all sides of the character.
just throwing this out there. Eddie Dean…..Sam Rockwell
Are you kidding me? Hugh Jackman?
Okay here’s a shot:
Roland- Daniel Day Lewis. He’s got the chops and he’s not that old. We ask for greatness, not f-ing wolverine.
Eddie- Jim Sturgess (yeah that kid from 21) If they put ryan reynolds in this part i will personally drop horse poop on the premiere.
Susannah- Angela Bassett
Jake- Who cares? Honestly a kid actor’s a kid actor. Whoever gets the part is in for some life-ruining anyway.
Father Callahan- I’d love to see donald sutherland come back for that. He’s supposed to be old, and we know he can play the part.
Walter/Marten/Flagg- Christian Bale. He’s got the intensity.
The Crimson King- Ron Perlman
Blaine- John Malkovich
Stephen Deschain- Clint Eastwood
As for the others, i could really care less. But seriously, if Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds get into this movie, i’m giving sai king a wedgie.
I just want to know when auditions are, so i can try out for Gasher.
Or Oy.
Roland – Joaquin Phoenix
Man in Black – Jack Black
Eddie Dean – Steven Buscemi
Odetta/Susannah – Foxy Brown
Jake chambers – Will Henly
Steven Deschain – Donald Sutherland
Young Roland – Jake Gyllenhaal
The Wicked Witch – Diane Keaton
Cuthbert – Mike Myers
Alain – Dana Carvey
Oy – Roy Orbison
Blaine – David Carrigan
The Crimson King – Robert Fripp
Sheb, The piano player – Tom Waits
Susan, the girl in the window – Reese Witherspoon
I think the cat from True Blood- the vampire that Sookie is hot for should play Roland
First of all:
Justin A+ for moxie and I say eff-um (i like you
And B: you all need to stop fantasizing; and those of you who read the books need to keep an open mind. Which i totally shouldn’t have to remind you about.
Most of you are thinking way too old! (Aside from Roland)
Granted, I had not considered Bale as Roland, but now that I consider it, Roland is sort of timeless. He’s world-wearied, young in a sense, but old in another; make-up works wonders;
but I very much agree with all of you who say that most of the cast should be made of unknowns.
If anyone cares, this is my pick:
Roland; Gary Cole ( just look it up; he IS Roland 20 years ago)but since that would never go over, I’m gonna have to go with Viggo Mortinson or with Christian Bale as back up; they can do amazing things these days.
Suzy ; Thandie Newton all the way; she’s supposed to be in her early 30′s and she would fit the bill perfectly!
Eddie: that’s a toughy; who said the fawn should be the junkie?
McAvoy? I can see that one. Descent call i’d say.
Also JGL is absolutelty perfect for Cuthbert.
Freddie is fine for Jake. And the kid from the Mist was my first pick BTW.
Susan has gotta be a young virginal flower; if you will; 14, 15-ish. I’m not sure yet.
Even whilst reading the books, she was the one character that I never associated an actress with. Someone will have to surprise me with that one.
OY: I’m supposing that the poor little critter is doomed to be CG’d. I named my own dog after him; though I don’t suppose a doxie-chahuahua looks anything like an Oy
Martin: I like the idea of Jeremy Irons but that seems a little obvious doesn’t it? What with all the Die Hard 3 and all?
Unfortunately, I always saw Flagg as Alan Rickman; but then he emerged as Snape and well…there’s only so much evil one man can convey. Adding Die Hard into the mix, just makes it too easy-peasy?
I love seeing all ya’s ideas for the movie cast, but if I see one more suggestion for something stupid ( I’m looking at whoever suggested Ryan Reynolds as Eddie or Angela Bassett as Suzey; Both too old for their parts.) Eddie should be in his early 20′s and Suze shoul be in her early 30′s. Done and done!
So excited and so scared to see this become reality. Fingers are crossed!!
“Fate doesn’t hang on a wrong or right choice; fortune depends on the tone of your voice.”
You speak true Jenny… ; )
Unfortunate news has come. For many of us David Carradine was a hero to us even before Roland the Gunslinger, in the hit TV show Kung Fu. As many of you may know David recently passed away, in rather odd way, that I’ll leave out. I noticed at least one of mentioned David Carridine as a possible charter in The Dark Tower Series, and I just wanted to give a remembrance for everything he’s done in the past.
i don’t know why but i have always pictured
kirk acevedo from oz and band of brothers as
eddy dean let me know if anyone else has
The instant i saw the trailer for Australia, i thought of Hugh Jackman as an absolutely PERFECT Roland. So good call on that and on Zoe Saldana as well. she is completely lovely, and i like her MUCH better than rosario dawson.
I’m still unsure on who should play Eddie. I’m not really feeling Mcavoy, but i don’t really have a better suggestion for that either.
I absolutely cannot stand ryan reynolds.
I think Sam Elliot (think “Big Lebowski”, or “Ghost Rider” – not “Hulk”) would be fantastic as Roland. The character is just too old and serious for a younger actor to handle correctly.
As for Eddie, I always pictured him as Adam Storke (Larry from “The Stand”), but that might just be me. Probably plenty of other young current actors would be just fine. Eddie’s transformation from the Prisoner to a real hero has got to be done right, though, and it takes him most of the series to fully realize his true strength.
Speaking of The Stand, I guess I’m just a sucker for that mini-series, as I always saw Walter (and Flagg as well, I guess) as Jamey Sheridan (Flagg from The Stand).
eddie dean – jared leto
walter – crispin glover
susannah – Tamala Jones
Whoever is going to be in the cast is going to have to be relatively young due to how many books there are ….andwell I’m pretty sure they will milk the rights for as much as they can (depending on how long many years they hold the rights that is)
I love the idea of Hugh Jackman as Roland….Here’s my idea….
Eddie- This would be perfect- Shia Labeouf. Just think about it when you go watch Transformers 2, and you’ll catch my drift.
Susannah- Gabriel Union
Jake- The kid the first guy picked…Im not up to par on my kid actors.
Steven Deschain- Clint Eastwood…PERFECT
Man In Black- Val Kilmer
Susan Delgado- Malin Ackerman
Eldred Jonas- Sam Neil
Shemie- Adrian Brody
Father Callahan- Donald Sutherland
Blain The Mono- I liked the guys idea earlier- John Malkovich. NICE
Tick Tock- Dolph Lundgren
Just a few supporting characters in the mix too. What do you guys think
i like ur casting ideas. I agree with ur choices and espesialy like who u picked for eddie. that just sums him up perfectly. The only thing i want to point out (and im not trying to be a jackass here) is that the picture for eddie is actually a younger version of roland and not eddie at all.
Roland – Ben Affleck
Eddie – David Spade
Susannah – Jessica Tandy (her corpse)
Jake – Michael Clarke Duncan
Oy – Clint Eastwood
Cuthbert – John Lithgow
Alain – Jackie Chan
Jonas – Reese Witherspoon
Stephen King – Stephen King
Flagg – A squid.
i agree with ryan reynolds as eddie because even when he’s mad he’s still sarcastic and jokeing around. Hugh jackman wouldnt make a good choice he smiles to much so even when he isn’t smilling you still have the ghost of a smile on his face
only one i have an issure with is flagg
if any of you saw the stand
id choose
Jamey Sheridan
Well Jamey Sheridan would be perfect, but william dafoe or ray liotta can play characters you can love to hate
Alright, I’m a little surprised here that nobody thought of the ULTIMATE actor to play Roland:
Adam Sandler.
The raw talent this guy has… unbelievable!
Heath Ledger would have been awesome as Cuthbert Allgood.
I also agree with Daniel Craig as Deschain.
How about Holland Taylor as Rhea of the coos?
OK. Two words to end all discussion on who should play Roland: STEPHEN MOYER.
I’m not too concerned with who would play any of the other characters, all I am concerned about is who would play Roland.
Some of the suggestions here about who should play Roland have ranged from excellent to ludicrous to down right hilarious (Bobscratch)…
I, for one, have pondered this question for many years and have always seen Roland played by Clint Eastwoood of course (how could you not?) but after seeing the movie Shoot ‘Em Up I don’t think you can go past Clive Owen… he has the right balance and combination of strength, masculinity, menace, heroism and physical presence… and “bombadier’s eyes”.
So, Clive Owen as Roland!
Roland – Josh Holloway from LOST. By the time this film gets rolling I think he will be age appropriate for the role. It will be a star making performance for him.
Eddie Dean – Seann William Scott. I think he is PERFECT for the role. He can play a wise ass and also play serious.
Susannah – Kerry Washington. Up and coming actress, got the looks, and not a bad actress. Could be her breakthrough.
I think your Eddie, Susannah, Jake, and Man in Black are dead on. But I’d have to go with Hugh Laurie (House) to play Roland. He has the haggard, look. And he’s proven he can be cynical and jaded in his role as Doctor House. Plus he has the signature “ice blue” eyes we’ve come to associate with Roland.
But I don’t agree with Levitt on playing Cuthbert either. Cuthbert was blonde in the books, and I don’t think Levitt could pull off the blonde boy look.
I very much doubt Susan would be in the first movie, except maybe in a flashback.
Who would you get to play Cort though? I was thinking someone like Goldberg (the wrestler)
Roland – Daniel Day Lewis or Gerard Butler
Eddie – Giovanni Ribisi
Susannah – Taraji Henson or Sanaa Lathan
Jake – Freddy Highmore
Flagg – Hugo Weaving
Cort – Harvey Kietel
you forgot one important thing…hugh jackman doesnt make good movies, and dont bring x-men (which was an ensemble cast with a great director) or the prestige (great cast/director) into this. also, im pretty sure thats not even a picture of eddie dean, being that its from the marvel comics series which takes pplace before dean was brought into continuity. yes, i am being a nit-picking fanboy douche.
I would like to see Jack Black play Calvin Tower’s role.
(If he ever was in the movie)
I could see Hugh Jackman as Roland. If you combine some of the sensitivity that you see in Australia and the badassness that you see as Wolverine and Van Helsing you could get a Roland. Also, I think that Christian Bale comes across as a prick that lacks heart. He might have the acting ability, but I don’t think that he has the heart that Roland should have.
I could also see Quentin Tarantino as Eddie. However, I haven’t seen him in any dramatic roles. So, I don’t know if he could show the more serious side of Eddie. I could totally see him going up against Blain the Mono in a riddle war.
Has no one else noticed the obvious resemblance between the artist’s rendition of Flagg in the last book and the actor Charles Dance?
My short list for Roland:
Josh Brolin (practically hand-picked by Eastwood; looks the most like Roland)
Dylan McDemott (bombardier blue eyes)
Viggo Mortensen (would get the western/high speech thing down)
Christian Bale
Hugh Jackman (ditto like Viggo)
Daniel-Day Lewis(big spaghetti western fan)
Eddie Dean: (deep breath) – Frankie Muniz. Sure, shoot me but I think he’d be great. Born in NJ, comedic, high-strung. Plus love to see him swear like a sailor. Him or Joseph Gordon Levitt. James McAvoy could be good too.
Susannah/Odetta/Detta: Zoe Saldana. Already working with Abrams, plus her looks and age – if she’s got the acting chops she could adapt well to the personality switch.
Jake – yeh, that Freddie Highmore kid could be good.
There could be only one Jack Mort – David Caruso.
I wouldn’t even worry about Cuthbert or Alain or even Steven Deschain (although I’m seeing Day-Lewis as Deschain, esp. the way he rocks the handlebar mustache) yet. They haven’t even made the first movie yet.
I like the idea of keeping Jamey Sheridan as Flagg. Or maybe Dennis Hopper. Malkovich as Blaine the Mono? Maybe. Thinking maybe more like Patrick Wharburton.
But probably, the best actors for these roles are probably out there as unknowns, and that’s probably the best, athough a known name or two would probably help sell it.
The first list was actually pretty awesome. Here are my choices…
Roland – Viggo Mortensen or Christian Bale – he’s kind of a pretty boy I guess, but he could be roughed up a bit. I like the
idea of Hugh Jackman too, I’m not a big fan, but he just might be
able to do it
Randall Flagg – Jeff Bridges, cause he’s so good at being an evil
bastard. Or, Alan Rickman. Eh? Anyone?
Sylvia Pittston – Kathy Bates. Classic King right there.
Eddie – Bang on for James McAvoy
Ted – Anthony Hopkins. Obviously.
Father Callahan – Clint Eastwood, Donald Sutherland
Susannah – Are you ready for this? Wanda Sykes. Don’t laugh.
I’m serious. Just imagine her as Detta Walker. Amazing.
Jake – Owen Best or Nathan Gamble. Although truth be told, it
would probably be best left to an unknown.
Cort – Gary Oldman? I don’t know, but seeing as how he is the best actor of all time, he should be in it.
And to whoever suggested Nicholas Brendon – I love him, but he’s too fat and old now. Sorry.
PS – If Shia LeBoeuf, Joaquin Phoenix, Ryan Reynolds or Ben Affleck show up in this movie, it’ll barf on itself
That’s too funny Michelle! Shia was actually the first thing in my mind for Eddie…but it just seemed TOO obvious after a while. Plus his availability would be a problem, since everybody and their brother want him (same with Sai Bale.) I heartily agree with you on the last two.
I DID want to include Jada Pinkett Smith on my short list for Susannah…seems like she could get both(all three?) personalities right and distinct…plus I could SO see her spewing the hateful ebonics that is Detta Walker. Besides, (waiting to get smacked for this) she’s the right height where she wouldn’t have to have her legs green-screened out (ok, maybe that’s an exaggeration)…
Some other thoughts:
Patrick Danville – Paul Dano
Joe Collins/Dandelo – Brendan Gleeson (I think SK was thinking Mad-Eye Moody when he described him)
Mia – Monica Bellucci
Jake – one of the kids from Zac and Cody on Disney (assuming they’ll want to keep him blond as some art depicts)
Gasher – Simon Pegg
Andrew Quick – somebody on another board said Triple H (from WWE), I totally agree
Cort – Michael Chiklis
Marten – Gary Oldman
Wow, and NOBODY fried me for suggesting Frankie Muniz as Eddie!
I love Jada Pinkett Smith, but she seems almost too clean and
pretty to be susannah. I was also sort of thinking of Viola Davis (the lady from doubt) for as well, but only because she looks almost exactly how I pictured Odetta Holmes in my head.
And there’s the thing… do you think they would go so far
as to have three different women play Detta/Odetta/Susannah?
Because that would be kind of crazy, but also a little a propos
at the same time. Wanda (Detta) Odetta (Viola) and Susannah (Jada Pinkett Smith) Could be interesting…
Here’s who I’d like to see:
Roland: Jeff Fahey (The dude has the perfect eyes)
Eddie: Giovanni Ribisi (Props to butterfoot for being the only other person I’ve found so far to also think so.)
Susannah: Angela Bassett
Jake: Any random kid actor
Walter: Willem Dafoe
Blaine: John Malkovich (Yes! That would be so f-in’ awesome!)
Tick Tock Man: Paul Michael Levesque (or Triple H as he’s called)
Rhea of the Coos: Cloris Leachman
Father Callahan: James Cromwell
Roland Deschain-Hugh Laurie for sure, he has the elongated face, the proper eyes (with the help of bright blue contacts for sure, though his eyes are already blue)
Eddie Dean-Jared Leto (I know, I know, he’s a little old, but he did play a rather convincing heroin addict in Requiem for a Dream, and he already has that crisp, sarcastic new york accent.)
Second runner up-Justin Long (He’d have to do some serious buffing up later on in the series, but I think he could really portray a lot of Eddie’s smartassedness and quite possible some of his bad ass traits and tendencies.)
Susannah/Detta/Odetta Holmes/Dean-Rutina Wesley (she plays the Tara in the show True Blood. She has the proper range of sweet, bitch and somewhere in the middle.)
John/Jake Chambers-Agreeing with the random child actor, Haley Joel is too old at this point.
Randall Flagg/Walter o’ Dim/The Walkin’ Dude-Alan Rickman or Jeremy Irons
Father Donald Callahan-James Cromwell
Steven Deschain-Sam Elliot or Clint Eastwood
Eldred Jonas-Sam Elliot if he didn’t get Steven Deschain
Henry Dean-Sam Rockwell
A Young Steven King-Joseph Hillstrom King
Cort-R. Lee Ermey
Jack Mort-Christopher Masterson
Here our my choices
Roland Deschain= Clive Owen, Roland is descended from King Arthur, so I think he could do a great high speech.
Marten-Jim Carrey, think of how he titters,
Eddie Dean-Mc avoy, Eddie was strung out on heroin, than becomes Rolands equal with the gun.
Suzy/Odetta=the chick from true blood, hot and a bitch perfect.
Stephen Deschain= Daniel Day Lewis
Blaine- great for John Malchovic
John Farson- John Cusack
Father Callahan- Hugh Laurie
Crimson King-Hugo Weaving
Jake- the kid from August Rush
Roland- Hugh Laurie… It has to be him. He would do an amazing job. He’s a great actor and he would do Roland right.
Eddie- James McAvoy… I’m not sold on him. I could actually see Ashton Kutcher. But he’s too tall and too much of a superstar
Sussanah- Zoe Saldana… There is no one else. It’s her. And whoever says Halle Berry is absolutely retarted
Cuthbert- Joseph Gordon-Levitt… I never thought about him but i love this choise
Alain- Channing Tatum… he looks like him but i don’t know if he could pull off being smart
Ted- Sir Anthony Hopkins… Mainly because he did a wonderful job in Hearts in Atlantis
Henry Dean- Christain Slater… He just really looks the part
Rhea of Coos- Betty Buckley… She was extremely creepy in The Happening
Steven Deschain- Clint Eastwood… I doubt it will happen and he’s too old but i would still love to see it
Cort- Michael Chiklis… Gain a little weight and he’s perfect
Sheemie Ruiz- Adrian Brody… Whoever said this was dead on
Randall Flagg- Hugo Weaving… Again, good call whoever brought Elrond up
I would also love to see a few people like Willem Defoe, Harvey Keitel, Christopher Walken, of course Johnny Depp and a few others play a part in this amazing and epic tale. But perhaps it would be better if the cast was rounded out by relatively unknowns. It would allow them to completely engulf the character and the audience wouldn’t be blinded by their previous acting jobs.
I can’t see these stories as seven movies. They wouldn’t turn out good at all. If they have any chance at being succesful (which, lets face it, is a long shot) then it has to be an HBO series. It HAS to.
Also one idea i have come up with is that maybe instead of chunking all of Rolands flashbacks into three or four scenes like it was in the book they could be spread out throughtout the entire story. Sort of like in LOST. That way the audience wouldn’t be lost when the story backtracks. It wouldn’t slow the story down and instead it would be used as a character building technique.
Lastly i just wanted to say that i love J.J. Abrams being involved in this story. I feel alot more comfortable with him having something to with it. Obviously i would love for Peter Jackson to help adapt this into a screenplay and direct. He did a perfect job with Lord of the Rings. Yeah i said “perfect”… it was an absolute masterpiece and i would be on cloud nine if The Dark Tower (my favorite story of all time) was even half as good as LOTR. And Stephen King needs to take a hands on approach with this story. It can easily be ruined and he cannot allow that to happen. It would break my heart.
If I may have my two cent’s worth
I read the first twenty comments, but then got too impatient to post mine to read the 32 that were left, say sorry.
Since watching True Blood, my idea of casting for the eventual movie/sequel franchise has been somewhat shaken and stirred.. And I’m sure I’m not the only one! That sexy, cuss-riddled grimy Southern feel of the series has sure influenced my imagination, and has proved a terrific feeding ground for how I experience many of the landscapes King describes in his books.
-Susannah; Rutina Wesley. I name Suze her first, because she’s my favourite character(s) from the books, and after seeing the badass performances the TB actress puts down portraying Tara, I definately would put her as my first choice. Plus, I see no-one else going at it like the impish, crazed and foul Detta Walker, especially after you see how Tara slowly loses her bearings and pushes everyone who cares for her away in the episodes leading up to her exorcism. Plus, she has that whole white-boy hating going on, and the disgust for plantations and anything having to do with colonialism.. Ok, enough on her :p
Eddie; James Macavoy isn’t actually a face I had in mind for him, but the more I think about it, the more I like it.. And if Adam Brody wasn’t so lightweight, I’d like to see him try it too. Actually, thinking about it; his looks almost exactly match that of the Eddie Dean I see in my mind’s eye when reading the books. And I DO hear Xander’s voice when Eddie speaks.. They just have that same kind of nervous, awkward humour and sense of self-deprecation.
Roland; Viggo Mortensen and then Daniel Day-Lewis. Those two actors have just enough retenue to play the silent, at times severe and ruthless gunslinger. I just think Hugh Jackman is wayy too popcorn, and much too broad. Roland is in my eyes lean, and sinewy. Almost leathery :p
Jake; Freddie Highmore. It’s scary how much he resembles my idea of Jake, even though I didn’t know mistuh Highmore when I first started reading The Dark Tower.
Randall Flagg; Alan Rickman. Oh yes. Please. Mmmm *savours* And gosh-darned! That picture of him in one of the last books so looks like him, don’t you think?
Susan Delgado; Imogen Poots. 28 Weeks later. Look her up. Thank me later.
Patrick Danville; Jared Leto. An emaciated, make-upless, ruffle-haired, wide-eyed Jared Leto. With cream and a cherry on top.
Father Calahan; Donald Sutherland is an EXCELLENT choice. I vote yes.
Jack Mort; Wayne Knight. You know, the guy from Jurassic Park that gets sprayed on by the vicious little fan-dinosaur. And then eaten.
What d’yall think?
OMG, I’m such a PRICK! Just decided to scroll through some of those 32 leftover comments after all and found like 90 per cent of people suggesting the same actors! I am SO thrilled not to be the only one to see Rutina Wesley and Alan Rickman! I really didn’t expect that to be honest…
Also, I must say; yes to Wanda Sykes (especially for the Detta part) and Taraji P. Henderson for Susannah. Stephen Moyer for Roland, also very good. And maybe, just maybe, Sean William-Scott for Eddie. Maybe.
Roland= Guy Pearce
Otherwise, nice choices, but the Gunslinger can be no other than Viggo Mortensen. That’s who popped in my head the very first time I started reading the book ^^
John C. McGinley (Dr. Cox on Scrubs) as Father Callahan….?
Oh, and Larry David as Roland Deschain
This would be the best thing to ever happen to the big or little screen! Unfortunately, if tried, I think it would fail. Abrams would have to cut so much out that it would leave a shell of the story. I agree with one of the earlier posts that HBO or something along that line would be the best fit if done at all. And the everyone that posted…not to be rude at all, but even if this happens, it’s not going to happen for most likely a couple of years. It won’t happen over night so almost all of the actors you’ve decided on will be too old for the parts you’ve picked for them for the most part. And I realize that these are just wish lists. but c’mon. There’s no way in hell that all of these great/expensive actors and actresses will sign on to this.
That being said, the only thing I agree with is all of those that suggested Josh Brolin as Roland. Everyone else should be nobodies. It would need one “kind of” star and that’s it. My apologies if I’ve offended. Great ideas from everyone in the now, but they just won’t work in 5 years when this thing possibly gets started.
I think one of the main problems for me is that I always (always!) imagined Roland as being Clint Eastwood. The part was actually based off of him. It even sort of says so in the book and the bookcover for the last in the series made it painfully obvious. Unfortunately, Clint Eastwood is now too old to play the character. Even though we all know that Roland is pretty old; he’s not quite that old.
That being said, I saw someone mention Hugh Laurie for the part. While I think he’s one of the best actors I’ve ever seen and while I can actually see him doing the part, I doubt he would be cast as it. Especially since it would be mucho hard to get away from his role of House and since he would be even older than he is now. Viggo seems like a good choice as well, but I just can’t see him or Hugh Jackman letting Jake plummet to his death. And again, it will probably be at least 12-13 years before the full series could be complete.
As for Eddie, I never thought of that guy from Wanted as playing him…but damn, he looks a LOT like the Eddie I see in my head.
*As a sidenote, if this movie had come out five or six years ago, I would have put Nicholas Brendon in the spot of Eddie Dean, but I just don’t think it’d work anymore.
roland- sure hugh laurie or stephen moyer but consider timothy olyphant (with contacts)
eddie dean- steve moyer
susannah-dana davis
jake- (whoever is of age at production)
walter- eh jim carrey or if you want the alternative…brad pitt.
henry dean- ryan reynolds
just the ones i can think of off the top of my head here but gotta reread the books to consider the other characters
I would like to vote for Christopher Walkin as Walter. Hes proven he can do some pretty intense rolls and has a great sense of humor. If you’ve ever seen “The Prophecy” , you’d agree he can be very dark and sarcasticly funny.
I agree that Clint Eastwood should be apart of it…pay him whatever he wants , just get him in the movie !!!
Ok….so heres a crazy thought to throw into the mix for Roland….Sean Penn maybe? Why not throw him in, theres alot of different takes and ideas already. And, I’d love to see John Cusack in the movie somewhere. Sheemy..as far as im concearned belongs to Adrian Brody.
So far…as much as i’d hate to say it (only because id like to keep things open), i think Viggo Mortenson would be a really good Roland.
Regardless of who plays what roles, i really feel the whole movie will really depand on how good the casting is. One miss cast for just one character could really throw things way off. Just look at what happend with the last three Star Wars that were made. They could have been soo much better then they were. It would kill me if after the movies are finish, to say “they were ok, but i think they could have been better if “so and so” would have played the part of ………., or “so and so didnt play a good eddie or jake” etc.
I feel Stephan King should be majorly involved with the movie. It would be interesting to hear his ideas of what actors should be in it.
Heres another crazy thought….Clint Eastwood as Father Callahan. He could totally pull that off.
I’ve read all of these posts, and so far I’ve only seen two that to me are dead spot on.
Susannah – Gabrielle Union
And the P-E-R-F-E-C-T suggestion
Rhea of the Coos – Cloris Leachman. Yes, sorry everyone else, but that suggestion ends it all for that character. Take the rest of your ideas for the witch and go home with them. Leachman IS Rhea of the Coos.
Also, I’ll throw out my idea for Roland based on ALL factors:
Age – 40-ish
Look – from somber & emotionless to cold & sinister
Body Build – lean and wiry, but athletic
Tone of voice – see the Look category
Acting – ability and experience to pull this off
My pick, who satisfies all of those requirements?
James Caviezel
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3381370112/nm0001029
Roland- Sawyer from “Lost”
Jack Nicholson, Clint Eastwood or Steven King Himself as Flagg( Or Anthony Hopkins . Of course I agree Jeromy Irons is pretty creepy too.
Halle Berry
Hey Crimson DUHHHHH! The books and characters were not based on Clint Eastwood. They were based on a famous poem/sonnett, “Roland to the Dark Tower He Cometh” HMMMMM Written a long time ago. Although I can see Clint in his younger days being a fine Roland!
Here’s even a movie poster with Caviezel that looks like part of it could be transplanted directly into a poster for The Dark Tower.
http://www.moviewallpaper.net/wpp/James_Caviezel_in_I_am_David_Wallpaper_1_1024.jpg
what about kevin spacey as flagg?
OMG @steelerbuckeye!!! That is seriously one of the closest approximations to the Roland in my mind I have ever seen!!
BUT Caviezel needs to be OLDER (at least ten years) and MEANER (ya know, less like Jesus :s). He would be perfect, then!
Yeah, he’s just one suggestion, but he’s 41 now, so he’d likely be in his mid to late 40s for most/all of the filming. Plus, as far as the “meanness” goes, he’s got that down, which is why I suggested him. Check out some of his such roles, like as the villains in Deja Vu and the end of High Crimes, or his character in Highwaymen. He also really looks the part of the cowboy, which you can see in Ride with the Devil (a movie that also contains some good portrayals of cowboys and “gunslingers” by other actors, as well).
Roland – Thomas Jane. A little too young and pretty, but nothing that a little makeup can’t fix.
Great castings sequence!! I was shocked and amazed at how close your choices are!! Nice job!
Regardless who you get you have to make 7 movies and not on TV. There was only one man who could play Roland and that was Clint Eastwood. So don’t even bother it will just get RUINED.
First off, congrats, I really like this list. I wouldn’t have thought of Diane Kruger as Susan, very impressed! And spot on with Gordon-Levitt as Cuthbert.
Now I need to rant a little…
@ Parker – have you ever actually READ any of the books in the series? Honestly, reading your list made me question my sanity. Devon Aoki as Thorin. If you haven’t read the books, Mayor Thorin is a MAN, and an aging one at that. If you are, somehow, referring to Coral Thorin, you’re far off once again. She’s far older than Aoki and actually requires some acting talent to play. But hey, everyone’s entitled to their own opinions. Just question your knowledge of the books, especially Wizard and Glass.
@ Lee – the Robert Browning poem is entitled “Childe Roland To The Dark Tower Came” and is one of MANY influences on the books.
@ (Anyone who mentioned Jim Carrey, Ryan Reynolds or Sean William-Scott) – NO NO NO!
I really like the suggestion of Allan Rickman as Flagg.
Here are a few of my suggestions (in no particular order or importance), if anyone cares to read and criticise:
Roland: I’m not even going to try, he’s just too hard to cast.
Eddie Dean: I like the suggestion of McAvoy. If he lost weight and then buffed up a bit for later films, I reckon Giovanni Ribisi could pull off both sensitive guy and whacked out junkie.
Walter/Flagg: Other than Weaving, Rickman and Irons, the only other man I can see playing this convincingly is John Malcovich
Eldred Jonas: Sam Elliott is and will always be the only man able to pull off this role.
Blaine the Mono/Little Blaine: without a doubt, ol’ Pennywise himself, Tim Curry.
The Crimson King: Christopher Lee
Hax: Michael Clarke Duncan
Cort: Robert Duval
Sylvia Pittson: Kathy Bates. No question.
Brown: Eric Stoltz
Enrico Balazar: Hector Elizondo
“Fat Johnny” Holden, the gunstore clerk: Philip Seymour Hoffman
Gasher: Billy Bob Thornton
I’ll add more names when I have time
@ Parker Jammstein
I was going to leave it, but your apparent ignorance of ANYTHING in the Dark Tower series, clearly displayed in your post, has me so frustrated I have to do this in order to clear my conscience.
First off, you are a moron. Not because your taste differs from mine, but because you came here and gave a list of characters from one of the greatest works of fiction by one of the greatest authors of our time and added to it a random assortment of actors’ names which have no relevance whatsoever.
Secondly, I feel I cannot sit here and criticise you without at least explaining myself, so here goes something…
Deschain-Josh Brolin.
Not old enough, not haggard enough and certainly not imposing. Roland is the hardest man on earth. This guy nearly made Cimi Dretto crap himself on first sight. Roland is, like Jules Winnfield’s wallet declares, one bad MF.
Eddie Dean-Edward Norton.
Sadly too old, by a long shot. Eddie is in his twenties. In his younger days I may have agreed with you, not a completely terrible choice
Susannah Dean- Rosario Dawson.
Eh, not too sure on this one. Can’t say she has the fire Suze shows in the books. That, and she’s still too young.
Jake Chambers- Kodi Smit-McPhee, the little dude that’s gonna be in The Road w/ Viggo Mortensen. The Australian accent could work.
Please tell me that was a joke. Please. I think that last comment was possibly even more moronic than the suggestion of Devon Aoki. “The Australian accent could work” could it? You want the epitome of confused, dysfunctional AMERICAN kid to have an Australian accent. Wow, you’re an idiot.
Alain Johns- Matt Damon.
Yeah… Despite the fact that Alain is around 14 years old, sure. Read the books, please and get your facts straight.
Cuthbert Allgood- I actually agree with Levitt.
And I actually agree with you (although technically we both agree with the author of this very good list)
Susan Delgado- Olivia Wilde
No. Flat out NO! Susan is merely a year older than Roland, who has barely entered his teens. 13 could never pull that off. Are your neurons… You know what, never mind.
Randall Flagg- Christian Bale, although Irons could do it too
Bale? As one of the most evil men in the multiverse? Unless he pulls a Ledger/Joker I just don’t see this happening. There are plenty of actors far better suited to the task, but only a few who could pull it off. Christian Bale is not one of them.
The Crimson King- Sir Ian McKellan
Not a terrible suggestion, but, despite a good turn as Gandalf, Christopher Lee is more imposing and better suited to the task.
Dandelo- Gerard Butler
To play the psychic vampire who claims to have been a standup comedian, you’re suggesting the king of the Spartans? Really? Dandelo does not appear intimidating or dangerous, which is why he is able to lure Roland and Susannah into his lair. Steve Buscemi would be a far more obvious choice.
Eldred Jones- Kiefer Sutherland
Um, yes… If you ignore the fact that Jonas is at least 20 years older and that Sam Ellliot is still alive.
The Big Coffin Hunters
Depape- Bruce Campbell
Other than the fact that Depape is in his late twenties, sure, a perfect casting. Once again, have you actually read the books?
Reynolds- Paul Bettany. Dye his hair red and take 20 years off him and he might pass as a Coffin Hunter who is described as incredibly handsome (Bettany does NOT fill this category).
Thorin- Devon Aoki
As I asked in my previous post, to which Thorin are you referring? Seeing as both of them are at least in their forties or fifties, Caucasian and actually require a measure of acting talent to play, I somehow can’t see this working.
Mordred Deschain- David Wenham (Dilios from 300)
The bastard son of Roland of Gilead needs to be far more intimidating and at least a decade younger.
Tick-Tock Man- Christopher Walken
You couldn’t be further off the mark if you tried to cast Gerard Butler as Harry Potter (I think the Scottish accent could work). Ticky is the size of Arnold in his bodybuilding heyday and most likely in his thirties. Did you just pick random actors’ names out of a hat for this list?
“I’m pretty sure a cast like this will destroy some part of the universe, but it’ll be well worth it.”
How? In what universe would butchering Stephen King’s life’s work be “worth it”?
I LOVE the idea of Tim Curry doing Blaine’s voice. That one is inspired.
OK, I have to register a disagreement here (OK, two disagreements).
First, can we stop with the thoughts of casting roles in the Dark Tower story with the same actors that played the somewhat corresponding characters in the Lord of the Rings movies? I mean, I love watching Mortenson’s acting as much as anyone, but having the guy who played Aragorn also play Roland would be just plain weird, not to mention seen as a major, MAJOR copycat move by King and the Dark Tower producers. I mean, despite being completely different stories, they do have enough similarities already. Casting Lord of the Rings actors in similar Dark Tower roles just simply would not work.
Second, for all the complaints here (and even insults thrown at other posters for “not actually reading the books”), do those suggesting Diane Kruger as Susan Delgado not realize that Susan was only around 16 years old in the story, and Diane Kruger just turned 33? She’ll likely be in her late 30s by the time this is filmed. I mean, she already looked quite a bit older in the last National Treasure movie, for crying out loud. How anyone thinks she would be even remotely believable as a 16 year old is beyond me. Not to mention whatever 14/15 year old looking actor they get to play the teenage Roland having sex with her. It would look like Roland was doinking his mom or something, and that is DEFINITELY not the route I want to see these movies take.
Now i’ll admit that i’m a noob when it comes to the dark tower story. I’m only about half way through the 2nd book, and I’m giddy like a little boy at the fact that there is going to be a movie made. I’ve read through most of the recommendations for the actors and wanna leave my two cents on the table.
Roland – If Clint Eastwood isn’t going to play him, then going on my own gut and other artists’ rendering i would say Hugh Jackman or Dylan Mc Dermot (sp) Jackman, i think is the best of the two because of what i saw in the fountain. **Half Jokingly What about George Clooney?*** Half Jokingly. what about guy pearce?
Eddie Dean – I was thinking edward norton most of the time, but one of the folks on here mentioned Sam Rockwell, while another mentioned Jared Leto. either one would be better than norton for the part. Jeremy davies may be able to play him to
Detta/Odetta/Susannah – I’m not really sure. Angela bassett, rosario dawson, vivica fox, even (I know) Whoopi Goldberg crossed my mind. Who Knows.
Cort – This is where i’m pretty sure i know whoo should play him and that’s Billy Drago from Briscoe county Junior. He’s a stark, evil looking man that could play a cruel teacher. willem dafoe could do this also
henry dean – the perfect actor for him would be a machinist-era christian bale, but that won’t happen possibly this could be edward norton, i dunno.
The Man In Black – Malcom McDowell??? Bill Nighy?? Gary Oldman??? *I’ll get it for this one….Nick Cage???
Roland’s Dad – Eastwood, nuff said
not sure about the rest, honestly roland’s ka-tet in wizard and glass will probably be played by unknowns.
I think the obvious choice for Roland is Christopher Walken. He presents both age and a kind of other worldly presence and has piercing blue eyes. ~
I like what everone has here. Only changes would be, Liam Neson for Randell Flagg, if he could drop the accent and be more like Briar, Jake actor dye his hair dirty blonde, and big change, when Roland walks out the highest door of the tower and still has some sort of memory of what just happened, he’s Clint Eastwood, and fades back to Veggo ,or whom ever, as the memory fades!?!? Other big one, Make it all mini-serius on HBO, except Wizard in Glass. WIG should be a full feature film incompassing WIG, Gun Slinger Born, The Long Journey Home, and Trethory!!! We all (constent readers) know them all as the whole story! Maybe even through Clint in there as Steven’s “face of the father”? If not Steven’s part!?! There’s my 2 bitts. Regardless, JJ and King will make it happen!!!
I take it back. The “whom ever” I refered to, would be Berry Pepper. He’s got all of the acting chopps to play Roland, young Roland, and any other Roland you want! Pepper!!
Oh yeah, through Avenged Sevenfold’s, Strenght Of The World somewere into the credits. Google the lyrics and listen to it at the same time and you’ll see what I mean!
The original list is amazing. Parker was way off in the first post, to many big stars. However, I think that Alan Rickman would be an amazing Randall Flagg.
The only suggestion that Parker made that I did like was the casting of Bruce Campbell. That would be a nice little nod to the silly side of horror which SK has divulged in from time to time.
I love what Abrams did with Star Trek, but the Dark Tower series is something that you have to put serious thought into before putting it to the screen. The best King adaptations so far have been dramas with very little fantasy/horror (Green Mile/Shawshank/Stand By Me).
The Dark Tower is King’s masterpiece…I just hope Abrams knows that, and treats it as such.
anyone here who picked actors who are known and have big names or have been in about a thousand movies… youre all a bunch of fucking morons who, im glad will never pick actors for any movie that will ever be made.
any series this good needs no name actors who, A: either have never been seen in big name US films or B: have just never been seen.
such minor roles as susan, it doesnt matter who gets picked. throw in some hot girl(all she did was fuck roland and act a priss) and wham. perfect.
i cant stand seeing the same god damn actors in films. Hollywood is a sham. pick big names and put them in any/every movie they can just to make a dime. story? plot? substance? who the fuck wants that! i want flash and sparkle!
JJ abrams does make good material.. and thats the only thing going for the series right now, and he knows how to pick actors for characters, but i guess we’ll see how much hes sold out now that hes got some weight under his belt.
i could go on forever, but i suppose ill let you trolls gripe and waste on this for a while.
To an extent, I agree cp. Like I said before, having Aragorn also be Roland would make the entire thing a big, fat waste of a joke. However, I wouldn’t say that the “approach” needs to be locked into all no name actors. I think it needs to be the actor who will best portray all of the qualities of the character. And a few of those choices will likely be fairly well known actors. But you’re right, it shouldn’t be locked into that, either.
Roland= Hugh Laurie
Roland: Daniel Lewis
Eddie: James McAvoy
Jake: Unkown actor be best
Susanna : Rosario Dawsom
Flagg: Tom Cruise
But imagine if Jack Nicholson was young now…. oh how awsome would that be to have him as Flagg??
The rest is just filler and I so hope they do not dwell on the Mejis story though Levitt would be awsome as Cuthbert it’s just not needed for series. Keep it at a 5 minute flashback at the most…
Roland Deschain
- Jim Caviezel
- Daniel Day Lewis
I’m listening to the audiobooks and I am about 4 hours into wizard and glass, and whoever it is that reads the book for these audiobooks (he does all the steven king audiobooks that iI’ve listened to) needs to be the narrator for the movie. But as i listen to this movie. I really think that Hugh Jackman is the best bet to play roland. Daniel Day Lewis is a great choice and he needs to be in this movie.
I’m gonna get made fun of for this, but whenever i pictured the man in black, i got a picture of the man in black from disney’s meet the robinsons. And i think that the closest human equivalent to that is either Daniel day lewis or terry o’quinn, and terry o’quinn isn’t lanky enough. Lewis has proved he can be a very VERY Bad Guy in Gangs of new york. Just picturing in my head Jackman and Lewis holding palaver in the Golgotha makes me break out in gooseflesh…lol
Viggo Mortenson IS Roland hands down!! If you look at his past work, his style, his acting ability, and his age, he was born for this role. Hugh Jackman could probably pull it off in the first couple of scenes, but half way into to the the very FIRST movie it would be a stretch for him to come off believable. Also I think Shia Lebeouf would be a good Eddie Dean. He’s the right age and he seems to have a comical side to his acting which anyone playing Eddie needs to have. Also Justin Long (from Live Free Die Hard) would also be an excellent choice for Eddie Dean. As for the rest of the cast I really don’t have any favorites although I think Taraji P. Henson ( from Curious Case of Benjamin Button) would be one helluva of a Odetta/Detta Walker (the woman can ACT!!)
The only one who can really cast for this Is Stephen King..
Who knows about the caracters better than him??
My advice well I think Viggo Mortensen seems to be the best guy to play our dear Roland..!
Daniel Day-Lewis as Roland.
I swear to God this needs to happen.
John D its funny cuz I wanted Daniel Day Lewis 2 play the man in black. For Roland I thought Bill from true blood would b an excellent choice. He has that stern strong face with those blue eyes. He cant b that pale of course and he’d have 2 taket hat painful southern drull out of his voice. but oh yes I believe its possible. For Eddie dean I was thinking either Ed Norton or hands down ryan renolds. For Susannah id pick Angela Basset although she may b 2 old now. U cant just put ne old actress for that roll. Has 2 b one who could carry on a powerful performances. Halley Berry cooooooooooooould do it but…that just such an obvious choice. idk who could play Jake. I saw w.e u posted and he may look the part(kinda) Jake is very mature. idk who could play him. If Halley Joel Osmand was still younger it would b great. Id have no doubt he could do it. but hes old and strange looking now. Hmmmmmmmmmm. idk who else would play who.
Roland – Viggo Mortenson – I see him and it looks good, skinny for the starving part, and just good part for westerns
Eddie – Ben Foster or emile hirsch – I think they both would look good as Eddie. Emile Hirsch would have to lose a lil weight at first but other than that good. And Ben Foster isn’t in enough movies, and hardly a starring role, this could be his brake out.
Susannah – Halle Berry – Halle hasn’t been in any movies lately and just looks like the part. But in alot of her movies (besides monster ball for the obvious reasons) just ruined some movies.
Jake – Josh Hutcherson – He just looks like a regular kid that would go to school now a day and would just fit in fine.
Man In Black – Jim Carrey – Someone mentioned his name and I thought what are you thinking than I look toward 23 and Jim looked so dark and not his regular crappy family comedy. If he still has his grays it would be good. Than when they are talking about Rolands past they could make him young looking again.
Hell, I never considered Jim Carrey as Flagg, but the more I think about it, the more i can see it work. The hysteria, the dark humor, the constant undertone of amusement, and then the sudden shift to cruelty. He could pull it off!
For Roland, I’d say Christian Bale would be good. Some people call his acting “bland”, but I think his style is perfect for Roland, introverted, stoïc and somewhat arrogant.
Sam Elliott IS Eldred Jonas, of course. No doubt about it.
James McAvoy as Eddie would definitely work, i’m good for that.
And oh man, if only Clint Eastwood would be willing to play Steven Deschain, that rugged and engraved face looking down upon 14-year-old Roland as he shivers in the lower city of Gilead, can you imagine it?
Overall, i’d say OP’s list is great
)
I don’t know if he could still look like a guy in his early 20s by the time they film these movies, but if he could, Tru Calling’s Shawn Reaves would be the PERFECT Eddie Dean. I mean, his Harrison Davies character in Tru Calling IS Eddie Dean. To a “T”.
Much like all of you, when I learned that there was talk of a Dark Tower movie, I was at first extremely excited. That was about a year ago now.
Now, I just can’t see it happening, no way in Hell no thanks. Someone needs to talk Mr. King out of handing over his life’s work to the likes of hollywood. I have seen too many movies which had really good acclaim completely bomb, many of them adapted from books.
Also, the way some of you are thinking too outisde the box for lead and side roles is a little disturbing and too much like what hollywood would ultimately do to Mr. King’s Magna Opus. However, the rest of you people have a few good choices no matter how well known or largely unknown the actor/actress may be. I’m sorry people, but many of you need to agree with me.
In the end, the big wigs in tinseltown will rip through this work of art, gut it out and rebuild on it’s foundation until we can’t recognize it anymore. Some stories are just too good or too beautiful (or both) to have their insides hollowed out and filled with something lighter rather than staying heavy with deep meaning and feeling.
Maybe that’s just me, but I’m sure people are going to start agreeing with the idea that this story is just too precious and epic to be torn open, pulled inside out and thrown onto a screen. In the event that The Dark Tower is made and released to theaters or, god unwilling, television then I’ll have to go and see it.
Contradictive to my point, I know. But God help me, I want nothing more than to see the ‘territories’ I want to explore Mid-World and End-World. In Eddie Dean’s words in The Waste Lands Book 3 of The Dark Tower
“I want to see it Roland. Can you dig what I’m telling you? I want to see the Tower.”
Or in Jake Chambers’ words
“And that’s the truth”
What I mean to say is, isn’t reading the books and now graphic novels enough? What are our imaginations for anyway if we never use them?
If you fellow fans care enough even one iota about The Dark Tower, then we can all speak out against it being adapted to film. We can’t let hollywood have it’s way with a story as epic or masterful as this. We mustn’t allow hollywood to reach The Dark Tower.
Stumbled on this and I just had to add that I completely agree about Viggo Mortenson being Roland. My own vision of Roland is that he’s quiet but a stern sort of quiet (quiet, not out of being meek but just not being a small talker). Viggo can also shirk the soft spoken aspect too and be strong. Great choice!
Emile Hirsch as Eddie
Shia Labeouf=Eddie Dean
End of discussion.
<~~~Throws down microphone and walks away.
as far as a musical score, I’m all for some titanic orchestrated cacophony of sorts. but if nothing else I would have really loved to see the opening scene(s) play out to NIN’s “The day the world went away”….like some faded and ghostly time elapsed horror of Roland’s world collapsing in on itself until we are left watching the gunslinger’s pursuit of the man in black across the Mohaine desert.
I’ve pictured this for quite some time now,and unfortunately that dream was shattered when they released the recent Terminator piece of shit Goddamn it.
Well, maybe “Hurt” will be in there somewhere. Even the ol’ Man In Black’s version. That makes sense I suppose.
Screw the casting. There will be water if god wills it.
josh halloway should be roland. (sawyer from lost) without the hick accent.
as for eddie, i was thinking jared leto. think of requiem for a dream.
This is an extremely difficult film to cast. Jake has to stay the same age over the course of seven movies which would, realistically, take at least 10 to 12 years to film. Roland has to be timeless as said by a post above. Then you have the younger Roland who has to bear some resemblence. I like a lot of this articles picks but I would scramble some of them. Viggo would be great but he’d never do it. He’s done his epic, although he fits the role. Joseph Gordon Levitt is the perfect Eddie. This was confirmed when you picked him for Cuthbert a role he’s too old for. Cuthberts 15 folks. But since Cuthbert and Eddie are supposed to be similar in a lot of ways and appearance being one of them I think you picking JGL for Cuthbert only confirms my idea to have Eddie be played by JGL. I can’t disagree with any of your other picks. I just can’t wait to see these. And now that I’ve written this and posted nothing new that wasn’t already said before I’ll sign off.
You are correct about the difficulty in filming 7 movies with the same actor playing a same-aged Jake throughout. That is why I’m guessing they will try to film all of his parts, across all the movies, in a very short amount of time. Of course, that means they’d have to have the scripts of all the movies done within that same short time span. A difficult task, and possibly one of the things they are having to work out as we speak, before they can even consider moving forward with the project.
hi…
i just saw the movie “Firecracker”, and let me tell you, Mike Patton is not only a great actor… he is also perfect for the Man in black role
Some of you are retarded! I’ll admit I hadn’t thought of McAvoy for Eddie, and that might work. But if it was up to me. Eddie would be played by Jared Leto. Requiem For a Dream anyone? We know the Leto can play Brooklyn/Bronx, we definitely know he play a junkie (heroin junkie no less), and he’s even got the look I think. I haven’t thought about the others as much though, so I’m willing to entertain some of these other’s ideas.
I’m sure the cast will be brilliant whomever they choose, but as Roland, I’d really like to see Ed Harris or Daniel Craig, who both are accomplished actors who’d suit the anti hero perfectly.
Oooh forgot to say, DD Lewis would be insparational, as the fines actor in a long time, however I think the producers would struggle getting him….
Roland Deschain= Thomas Kretschmann…… rugged good looks…and gorgeous blue eyes…..
the one thing that i hate is everyone is always looking at the “popular” actors or actresses….. Halle Berry. Yeah she is beautiful but I don’t think she fits the part of susannah. if you want someone popular why not jada pinkett smith. although i don’t really like her for the part either.
We all have our opinions Mia and I respect yours, but Kretschmann seems too girly for the role to me.
I was thinking Guy Pierce as Roland. His look in the Time Machine is similar and I think he could pull it off.
Also for Roland, Viggo would be great, if anyone has seen Apaloosa, they’ll know. Or even Ed Harris…but he’d probably fit better into Steven Deschain
Ok…final post…thought of another possibility for Roland: Javier Bardem (Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men). Great actor and has the right facial structure for the role, though he may be too dark.
Josh Brolin was another thought, but I think he may be too small or skinny for the role.
Yes…Javier Bardem would be perfect!
Roland – Stephen Moyer would make a perfect roland as he’s not overly hollywood and he has the blue eyes and a gritty look.
eddie dean – if they could get james mcavoy would be good, but his american accent in wanted was a bit crap. but hes somebody who fits that role perfectly for me.
susannah dean – thandi newton, cant think of anyone else, where i always thought of suze as being darker skinned and a bit chunkier. haha but she’d probably still be good.
jake – i cant think of anyone good for jake, if they went back in time and got that lad from the 6th sense i think he would’ve been good.
man in black – jeremy irons
cort – just throwing this one out there but i think ray winstone would make a wicked cort
I would tend to agree with Viggo as Roland and Zoe Saldana as Susannah, but, I don’t like James McAvoy as Eddie. I think Chris Evans. McAvoy’s too much of a priss. Like many others here have said, some kid for Jake, just not some kid like the one that played Anakin. As far as Flagg goes, he is the villain in most of King’s novels, whether by the same name or others, (Faraday, Legion), and he is epic. Even though I love Jeremy Irons, he is typecast and become a bit of a joke. Christian Bale…not quite evil enough. Ben Shepherd, I like.
Great job about choosing the character of Roland D.Viggo Mortenson is the best choice ever.Congratulations.I am delighted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh how I wish that Clint Eastwood were still at age 30-40 because he’d be perfect as Roland. But because it’s impossible, I’d say that for me there’s no other Roland than Viggo Mortensen. Too sad that to people who haven’t read The Dark Tower books the role of Roland and Mortensen’s other character Aragorn would seem almost the same.
I mean, Roland’s role needs someone very talented and also handsome looking to act it. Is there anyone who could ever act somebody so amazing that I’ve imagined Roland ..
But what would you think about Adrien Brody as Eddie Dean ?
And I agree that Zoe Saldana could be Susannah.
But Freddy Highmore as Jake ? I think he’s too childish for that part, because Jake grows so much mentally.
I can see Hugh Laurie as Father Callahan but also as Roland. He just has to play one of them ! And Clint Eastwood as Steven Deschain would be great.
roland = liam neeson
Roland- Viggo Mortensen … Stephen Moyer
Flagg- Jamey Sheridan … Marton Csokas
Voice of Blaine- Bruce Campbell… Patrick Warburton
Stephen Deschain- Only Clint will do
OY- Hugh Laurie
Crimson King- Elmo
Eddie- Hes too old but Mark Walberg
Stephen King- Dean Koontz
I really have no idea who I would cast as Roland or Eddie or any one else for that matter but from the moment I saw her she has been Susannah in my head. “she” is Gina Torres, she played Zoe on the short lived show “Firefly” and in the 2005 adaptation “Serenity.”
She is SMOKIN hot and looks badass with a gun!
If Hugh Jackman plays Roland I will never go to another JJ Abrams movie for the rest of my life. The “shower” scene in Australia was hideous and his constant comments about how his wife couldn’t keep her hands off him when he was training for the latest Wolverine project was overkill….like he was trying to squash rumours that he could be gay. Who cares.
Has anyone thought about Jared Leto as Eddie Dean? He seems unlikely, but honestly, look at him in requiem for a dream. He played a junkie from Brooklyn, so I figure it wouldn’t be too much a stretch.
As Roland, I heard they were going to cast Christian Bale, which… no sir. I don’t think I’d give the project a chance if he got the part. I would agree that maaaaaybe, Vigo, or possibly Kurt Russel. Other than an obvious fantasy choice like Eastwood ( which even if he still looked the part, I doubt he’d do it…) I’m not sure. If he weren’t a wash out, maybe Val Kilmer… however, I wouldn’t risk it as the parts he plays or either lame or dead on.
I don’t know about Susan/Odetta/Detta because you’d have to dig up an actress who could switch gears between moods smoothly enough to do it. It’s a shitty suggestion but, Rosario Dawson?
I agree with the Jake choice, but… I mean, any decent child actor around at the time it’s filmed who fits the description would do, really.
As for Flagg, though he may not seem like he’d look the part, Gary Oldman…from Fifth Element and True Romance, Bram Stoker’s Dracula… He’s a good method actor. He plays a good bad guy, and Flagg deserves that.
Other than that… the other choices are good, especially Cuthbert. Some asshole told me to consider Shia Labuff (sp???), but … no sir, again. no deal. I liked the kid in Brick, so excellent choice.
The rest… I’ll repost if I think up anything.
wow, so I just read all the responses and realize not a one of mine were completely original. but I still hold that Jared Leto should be Eddie.
Clive Owen couldn’t be roland. Listening to him in Sin City was… ok for a bit, but then, that stuffy american accent he put off made me want to blow my nose. Sure, action guy, but let’s not forget roland is a tortured guy. a deep thinker ( though apparently not so imaginative), so I’d say Daniel Day Lewis would be good ( thoug also mentioned) simply because he was the only reason worth watching Gangs of New York. Though… he could do a number of roles in the movie, so he wouldn’t be my top choice.
if it wasn’t for his shitty acting and bad delivery and heavy mexican accent, I’d say Eldred Jonas would be played by a limping, white haired Danny Trujo… but like I said, dude’s only good at looking hard. Maybe Kris Kristoferson? Tommy Lee Jones?
As for Roy Reynolds, I was thinkin, Bill Moseley.
I wish there were a part I could cast Jeremy Piven in. I know this is off track but if they did the Talisman, I’d opt him for Morgan Sloat.
John Malkovich… as Blaine? I’d shoot myself. He’s so fucking nasally. I was thinking more of a creepy voice. I mean He’s a robot, which might be up John Malko’s alley, but eh… I wish I could do my impression of him and how he sounds in every movie he does… it’s dead on, hand to god. Suggestion? none yet.
I think the young Stephen King should be played by none other than Joe Hill. He looks so much like his dad it’s scary! I see Viggo for Roland honestly but heard rumors that they’ve cast Christian Bale. With Jakes character you have to be careful, kids change so fast at that age. We would be talking at least 7 movies that would probably take about 7 years to complete. I’ve seen some good choices among the responses. Fun to read through.
oh and Thandie Newton would be a perfect Susannah!
Jessica, WHERE have you heard those rumours ? If it’s Christian Bale as Roland I think the movie will be just disaster. He’s just not good ebough and not roland-ish at all.
http://www.agonybooth.com/forum.aspx?g=posts&t=3024
http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/news/a154951/bale-to-star-in-abramss-dark-tower.html
Here’s a couple links that I’ve seen it in. I suppose it isn’t set in stone but still out there. Also with the recent comments from JJ Abrams & Damon Lindelof, this project might be put on the back burner for a while unfortunately.
I think Bale is a decent enough actor but I don’t see him as a Roland character at all.
I think the character that were chosen fit the characters in the book were awesome.. Had a little doubt for Bale as Roland at first.. but I think that he would be able to pull him off.. He just needs that older, wiser look to him
I just can’t buy Bale as Roland. Honestly, I didn’t like him as batman. I mean he made a killer bruce wayne, however, that husky lisp he put on sucked. He was great in American Psycho. It’s just… you need a weather beaten type. Roland isn’t exactly a playboy. Viggo might do nice, I think because he can look rough around the edges. I mean unless Bale really has it buried in him somewhere that no one else can see, I dont see it.
And as far as a TV series, I am just afraid it’ll end up cheesy… unless they gave it a Band of Brothers kind of budget.
ok this is for JJ Abrams, realizing it’s going to take a while to make this movie, even if he starts work on the scrip in 2010, the casting might be tricky, here is a list of up and coming actors who I BELIEVE can be these parts, now or in a couple years, the first name for each character is my first choice, the other names are extra thoughts
most of these guys are picked for acting chops, not too many big names
Roland Deschain: Jon Hamm-i know i know, thats crazzzyyyy! and all that, but I see something in what he is, I think he can do it with distinction.
Stephen Deschain: CLINT
Randall Flagg: Christian Bale, because he can be downright EVIL
Martin: Mike Patton, seriously.
Susannah: Naomie Harris, then next pick, Sanaa Lathan, then kerry washington..close to the right age group, odetta had class, detta had kickass
Eddie: Joseph Gordon Levitt, yeah he’s scrawny, but he’s a smart ass who could do it, if he just COULD NOT do it, i guess i’d try cillian murphy?
Jake? depends on when the movie is being cast, can’t say right now, dont know when it’s going to happen, hope they get a kid who can act
Alain: lee pace, has the right spirit, or charlie hunam
Cuthbert: Ben Foster i guess, haven’t been able to find the right one
Jamie:Emile Hirsch,,,,maybe?
Cort: Ray Winstone, the voice of beowulf c’mon
Vanney the Wise: Guy Pearce, total educational counterpart to Cort
Tick Tock: Alexander Skarsgaard
Jack Andolini: James Gandolfini, (and it rythmes)
Balthazar: Jon Stewart, I think of The Faculty death scene
Jack Mort (the Pusher): maybe Tim Roth
Father Callahan: Owen Best
Sheemie: Adrien Brody
Dandelo: Javier Bardem or if it cant happen then Gerard Butler
The Crimson King: dang, this is almost as hard as choosing Roland, he’s got to be completely off his rocker and imposing maybe Clancy Brown? off the top of my head, watch the Carnivale show he did for hbo
Roland Deschain – Viggo Mortensen, it really isn’t even a contest. King himself admitted that he had Clint Eastwood in mind as he wrote the character, but I think that Mortensen can fill the roll in a way that Clint could never have hoped to. Clint would have pulled off the hard-assed qualities of Roland with no trouble, but I think that Mortensen is the one who will be able to do that AND portray Roland’s more introspective side.
Susan Delgado – Nothing irritates the hell out of me more than 20+ year old actors portraying middle teens. Diane Krueger is 33 years old, who the hell thinks that would be a good idea?? I’m going to go in a different direction with this and I ask you all to bear with me for a moment and think about this… Every choice I make is considering that Wizard and Glass couldn’t possibly be made within the next four years, so any casting done will mean the actor/actress will have aged at least four years between now and then. Because of this… i’m making an unusual choice for Susan: Dakota Fanning.
Now, think about it for a moment. She’s like fourteen years old now, only a year short of the age that Susan was in Wizard and Glass. I had always written her off as a hopelessly typecasted child actress up until I watched her holding a gun in “Push”. That was proof that she could play a more adult role, and play it well. In four years time, I could very easily see her combining the young girl archetype that susan requires along with a more self-sufficient edginess that she gains as the book plays itself out.
Randall Flagg/Marten – God please, anyone but Jamey Sheridan. Seriously, I think there’s any number of different people that would lend their own brand of creepiness to the role, but I’m going to have to say David Thewlis would be perfect. If you notice, the RF of the Dark Tower is considerably different from the RF of The Stand. The Dark Tower’s Flagg is considerably more flawed as personalities go. He’s a narcissist and he’s very concieted, I think that Thewlis can had has done well in portraying that type of character in the past.
Eldred Jonas – Sam Elliot. I mean really… can you get more perfect?
Reynolds – Once upon a time, Robert Redford would have played the hell out of this part. But now that Redford’s too old, I’m going to go off the beaten path a little bit and suggest Richard Roxburgh.
Crimson King – I like the idea of the voice of the Crimson King being Tim Curry, just because he’s one of the creepiest people ever to walk the Earth.
Hart Thorin – When reading the books, I always pictured Oliver Reed in the role, and were he still alive I think he would be perfect for it. Without him, I’m going to have to go with Jim Broadbent. He played a greasy enough character in Moulin Rouge to make me think he could pull it off fantastically.
Stephen Deschain – Daniel Day Lewis. No explanation is needed.
Father Callahan – As much as I loved James Cromwell in the TNT version of Salem’s Lot, I think the perfect person for this role would be Lance Henriksen.
Calvin Tower – John Goodman, and I’m not joking. I think he would be incredible in the role.
Jack Mort – Phillip Seymour Hoffman, end of story. If you have seen him in Mission Impossible 3, you know what I’m talking about.
Sylvia Pittson – As has been said before, Kathy Bates. She has done plenty of cameos in King movies before, I’m sure she will be game for it.
Enrico Balazar – I know that his role as Hagrid has warped his image for most people, but I propose Robbie Coltrane. If you are having a hard time with it, watch his recurring role as Valentin in the James Bond movies.
Hugh Laurie cast as Roland Deschain.
:):)
…’nuf said…beyond that…..?
You have forgotten the face of your father, Eddie dean played by none other than Ed Norton.
You’ve all gone mad, and have forgotten the face of your maggot fathers! This tale shan’t be skewed into film, RUINED by such. I’d likely tear out my own eyes and deafen myself to this!
I think Viggo would make a good Roland,but I also agree with the comment that it would be best to have a cast of unknowns.And im assuming that the people who want Hugh ‘House’ Laurie to play a part cant be English!Hugh has been on our screens here in Britain for best part of 20years..and always played dopey upperclass twits,the first cool character he has played is House..I would hate to see him cast as Roland!I could see Ed Norton playing Eddie Dean..good choice j.robbins!
None of this matters a bit. JJ Abrams as director? He doesn’t do deep thoughtful movies. He does cheap thrills and chintzy cliff hangers. He does schmaltz.
I’ve read the books. JJ Abrams can not do the least bit of justice to this epic level story.
If I turn out to be wrong I’ll join the clergy because then a benign deity MUST exist.
Can’t believe no one has suggested Willem Dafoe as the Man in Black (see Last Temptation of Christ for a visual). Roland needs a grittiness such as Guy Pearce or Christian Bale (also needs to be yaoung enough to be in multiple sequels).
I just don’t get how half of you see Eastwood as Steven Deschain… Dude’s pushing 80. Father of a 13 year old boy? Wife sleeping around with Marten? Who do you want to play Roland’s mom… Betty White? I could see Daniel Craig as Steven.
That being said- Viggo would be great as Roland, if casting in a void. But considering he’s Aragorn, and also in The Road and A History of Violence, he’s tainted. Daniel Day Lewis could pull it off. Hugh Laurie is too old. This is the key role- most of the younger parts will be flavor of the month actors/actresses.
Possibles: Sean Bean. Nathan Fillion. Javier Bardem… Brad Pitt?
Eddie: Ian Sommerhalder. Timothy Olyphant.
Okay, I think Viggo Mortenson is pretty much perfect for Roland, but after already dedicating seven years to making Lord of the Rings, who knows if he’d be up for a seven book series. Honestly, I think Josh Halloway is a fantastic choice for Roland, he has the perfect face, the piercing blue eyes, and growling voice, and he’s worked with JJ Abrams and Damon Lindleof on Lost for the past six or seven years. But I don’t know how many people would be willing to give him a chance. Just think about it =)
Also, thank you to everyone who said James McAvoy as Eddie Dean, I’d been trying to think of the perfect actor for him ever since I read the books, and you nailed it. I just love him.
And as for Susannah, I like Rosario Dawson better than Zoe Saldana. I think she is such an earnest and balls out actress, and would be great in this role. But really, Zoe isn’t a bad runner up, and she’s worked with JJ too, so I wouldn’t be surprised if she gets the role.
For Jake, I agree with people who said it will probably be an unknown kid actor, and I’m sure whoever is cast will be great, because Abrams knows what the hell he’s doing.
I’m just so excited that these movies are happening. I think the creators of Lost are the perfect producers for it. I’ve always said that watching that show is like watching a Stephen King book. You can tell that they’re huge fans of his, and he of them. It’s ka, wouldn’t you say? =)
There is a divergence here that is hilarious…Deschain Angel–you are suffering an overindulgance of media…concerning Hugh Laurie. The same happens here in the Americas with Viggo Mortenson..LOTR, and The Road….
We see too much of his face, and he’s been typecast in an unreal way with most people. I am NA thru and thru…Hugh Laurie, has a versatility that maybe only a new veiwer of his can appreciate. As long as they could (maybe–hopefully!?!) get Thandie Newton as Susannah….and if they would ever want to produce this in the first place…LOL!!
hey is this actually gona happen. i hope but i pray they dont fuck it up. love these books
Think about that: it’s not that hopeless those movies to work out when you remember how Peter Jackson, after making those such bad splatter movies, made three really amazing movies out of three difficult LOTR books. J.J Abrahams is not someone I would hope to direct The Dark Tower movies but .. we’ll see. Water if God wills it, thankee-sai.
Roland – Matthew Fox (Lost)
Eddie – Jared Leto (Requim For A Dream)
Susannah – Zoe Saldana (Star Trek)
Jake – Troye Sivan (Wolverine)
Flagg – Tobin Bell (Saw)
Young Roland – Nathan Kress (iCarly)
Cuthbert – Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson)
Alain – Randy Shelly (Beowulf)
Susan – Hayden Panettiere (Heroes)
Eldred Jonas – Daniel Day Lewis (I Drink Your Milkshake)
Roy Depape – Clifton Collins Jr (Extract)
Clay Reynolds – Josh Holloway (Lost)
Jack Mort – Kevin Bacon (Woodsman)
Tick Tock Man – Matthew McConaughey (Dazed & Confused)
Gasher – Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen)
ifeelyrpain6:
Could Jorge Garcia (Hurley) play Oy? Because that would be awesome.
ok micheal c hall as the man in black i mean look at dexter email me what u think of this
Roland:Viggo Mortenson Eddie:Johnny Depp Suzannah:Zoe Saldana Give the other parts to new actors&actresses. I,m sure there is great talent that,s just waiting for a chance. Whatever you do GET IT RIGHT.There were people in the book that didn,t get it right ROLAND (everone know,s this is CLINT) could come looking for you if you don,t.
Viggo Mortensen? Too small, too smart.He will never be a Roland.
I think that Christian Bale is a good choice.
And there is no better Susan Delgado than Sienna Miller.
roland (Viggo Mortenson) eddie(Johnny Depp) suzannah(Zoe Saldana) rest of the cast should be made up with fresh new talent make sure this does not turn into a B-MOVIE with the 3 best scenes on the DVD cover you would hate for ROLAND aka CLINT to open a door to your world. In other words GET THE DAMM THING RIGHT.
What in the world is okay about have a 45 year old playing a 23 year old?? I like Johnny Depp and Ed Norton just fine but come people……their age shows on screen now, it would be too noticeable…
IF– these producers would ever want to take this on I agree with six-gun
Get the damn thing right. This is my literary hero’s magna opus, and I’d be a little more than pissed if I was that *** Josh Holloway as Roland.
I’m no expert, but I love the books and watch some movies, and here’s some ideas i thought of:
Roland – Roland’s been the hardest charecter for me to place, and i’d be willing to be you’ll all call me crazy for it, but what about Sylvester Stalone? He’s got the salome, no joke ready to open a can of whupp-ass on the next guy who looks at me funny style, then can back it up with his acting.
Eddie – Michael Imperoli. He’s got the acting experience, the brooklyn accent, he can be extreamly witty as well as dead serious then stoned or furious the next minute.
Susanna – I had a harder time thinking of an actress for Susanna, but one of the foremost that came to mind was Jada Pinkette-Smith.
Jake – I’ve got absolutely no idea. pretty much the same as what everyone else says, some random Kid actor, but make sure he fits the part.
Flagg – what about the same guy who played The Dark Man, Randal Flagg, in The Stand, is he still around and in condition to play Falgg again?
Callahan – This would be the part for Clint Eastwood to pop in for awhile. Callahan’s old, white-haired, but still has some life in the old bones. Sounds like a fit to me.
Susan Delago – If she could kick the British accent for the movies, I think Emma Watson wold be great here.
Eldred Jonas – Sam Elliott. Not much to say there. Think about his acting career and some of the movies that he’s played in.
Calvin Tower – I know he’s a bit of a random charecter to put in here now, but what about Joe Peshi?
Well, what do you all think?
Sorry about the Johnny Depp pick HBLAIS (Even though EDDIE was so messed up when ROLAND found him. He would have looked much older than his 23 years.) But who else could pull it off as Eddie. Tell me- WHO WHO WHO- sorry started to sound like an OWL there for a moment Do they even know how many real CRITICS will be watching.
WHO WHO WHO!?!…–r.e. six-gun Unfortunately, I only have a bunch of ‘NOT’S’ for this one. Eddie Dean is my favorite character in this series, beyond Roland–that I have a hard time invisioning who could play such a complex character. Of all of the Dark Tower characters Eddie becomes a vastly different persona throughout the story than from his drawing. I really do like Johnny Depp, though, just bummer it wasn’t made 20 years ago, then we could have him as Eddie and Clint for Roland-(awesome, huh)
With the tender age that Eddie is maybe an up-and-comer?? Any young mid-20′s actor that I can think of sucks(james franco/shia lecowface), –would like you thoughts back–
Hmmmmm- JAMES FRANCO as EDDIE???. I have to admit that,s not a bad choice HBLAIS. Wait do you hear that ( Its the sound of all the I hate J. FRANCO people punching their keypads ). FRANCO is a good actor not quiet as good as DEPP but a good choice indeed. Without EDDIE in the book the story would not have been as good as it was. Let,s see 20 years ago- DEPP as EDDIE- CLINT as ROLAND- yeah it would have been awesome. I have to stick with VIGGO MORTENSON as ROLAND though, you don,t want to overload this movie with a bunch of big time actors so give the rest of part,s to fresh new faces. I,ll be off now (have to get back in the jungle and track down Jong-Ku Kim he has something of great importance to me) LATER.
Now back to the task at hand. If and when ROLAND and his KA-TET step onto the Big Screen the special effects must be DAZZLING*** this is more than a story. I,ts an astonishing adventure that will not only blow your mind but take you on an ODYSSEY that will be deeply felt by all who watch. As for Mike E (Sly Stone as ROLAND) you must have had a BRAIN FART on that one. Not to worry even SIX-GUN has those listen here,s one now (Kurt Russell as Roland) they could make him look taller then he is couldn,t they. WOW??? that kind of hurt having one of those. Just please don,t mess this up the way so many before it have been MESSED UP. EXAMPLE: CUJO: Book kid dies-Flim kid lives. Everone knows that on this one point i,m right. Knootz,s book Watchers at least 3 film,s on this one none of them were right. So do yourself and all the fan,s of this book a favor and put your heart and soul into it. Oh Oh started to rant ther for a minute- wait think i here Jong-Ku Kim sneaking about. Gota go go go no rest for me places to be be be.
Of course we all have our choices for casting if the movie(s) are ever made…
But my reason for commenting is that I actually created the Susannah Throwing Rizas image the author used in the article…and I’m amazed at where some of my stuff ends up!
I have done a few other scenes from the series as well.
*The model I used is K.D. Aubert…but it was more for her pose in the picture than her playing the role. I would be fine with Zoe playing it after Star Trek and Avatar.
Rhea Of The Coos – Helena Bonham Carter
Okay….What is with the Zoe-mania!?! Being semi-hot with okay talent does not an actress make. These characters are well beyond the scope of ANY Star Trek character (and all you needed to do Avatar was be willing to be made up everyday and follow the formula)
Deeply cynical and VERY wary of any of Mr.King’s books being put to screen (yes Cujo was a cop-out)…what are they going to do to Ol’ Long Tall and Ugly? Example #2…The Shining–The most basic element of the story-the breakdown of a family through it’s weaknesses–wasn’t even touched; I shudder to think. All splash and gore does not a great movie make, either. Although if ol’ Jackie wanted to play Cort I don’t think I would object. Cheers!
What about the kid that played Billy in The Mist (Nathan Gamble) is he to old to play Jake??. Look i know i said not to overload this with to many actors but Jake is a very important part also. Let,s forget about actors and such and consider the director amoment. Have they made the right choice in Abrams. Know those Mind-Farts I was telling Mike E about (mind-farts sound alot better I think thats what I shall call them now). What say ye to Ron Howard as the director (He puts forth alot of effort in his movies) this next one might be to painful to take- but here it goes- Quentin Tarantino he could get it right or screw it up BIG TIME. Remember as you lash out with your remarks that I just had a Massive Mind-FART so don,t be to harsh. Yes hblais the Shining didn,t do the book justice and Jack could pull CORT off. Got to go (By the way-does anyone out there know what a woopie-stick is- its got ridges in it and a propellar on the end- you rub it with a stick and it turns you say woopie it stops and turns other way).
I’m in the middle of reading Robin Furth’s Complete Concordance. Finding out all all the secrets and having everything explained is furthering my obsession! I’d like to take a go at it (i second some other people’s choices but think the cast should contain a bunch of unknown/lesser known actors mixed in)
Directors: I don’t think you could only have one. A mix of Quentin Tarantino, Ron Howard, and….James Cameron. (he could get the love scenes with Roland and Susan done.)
Roland: Daniel Day Lewis, hands down. He’s totally bad-ass. I would love to see Joaquin Pheonix because he has the depth but I don’t think he’s bad-ass.
Eddie Dean: Jared Leto – he plays a great junkie and did an amazing job in Requiem. James Franco has the comedy down. I think he could be coached by the right director to bring out the depth of this character.
Susannah Dean: Thandie Newton or Taraji P. Henson. I think both women can pull off the crazy-beautiful character from Odetta to Susannah-Mio.
sidenote: Speaking of Mia, Daughter of None, I always envision Angelina Jolie. Long hair, sexy demon-elemental, and a mother-type. Maybe she would do a cameo? Or, if they want to save $$ – Megan Fox. Ok, I’m gonna barf now. She should just do the part with a voice over or something because she could pull off Mia’s looks.
Jake Chambers: I’ll leave that to everyone else because I have no idea when it comes to child actors.
Steven Deschain: He was about 40 when he was murdered. Clint Eastwood is too old for this part. I think you can get away with a lesser known actor.
Susan Delgado: I think she should be a young, unknown actor. It could be a breakout role for this girl who should be no older than 20-22.
Marten/Randall Flagg: Johnny Depp has the “tittering” crazy laugh
Voice of Blaine: Jim Carrey
Father Callahan: Donald Sutherland
Sheemie: Giovanni Ribisi
Rhea of the Coos: Ellen Burstyn
Ted Brautigan: Anthony Hopkins (bravo Michelle for that idea, it’s genius!)
roland; heath ledger
eddie; heath ledger
suzanna; heath ledger
steven king; himself
everyone else; heath ledger
with this cast its sure to win an oscar
Joe, i think that is the best idea that anyone, (myself included) has come up so far!! Kudos bud lol
I agree, that cast joe chose is definitely the best cast EVER
good luck resurecting him…
i am 67 years old and have read THE DARK TOWER series twice and will probably do so again.
There are some great choices everyone has picked for all the parts but my concern is that they hurry and get busy as I would love to be around to see whatever the final will be. lol
As has been said Roland IS Eastwood. No getting around this for me. Since Eastwood can not play Roland then no matter who plays him this movie series will fall short.
How can you have a movie about the Gunslinger without him being Eastwood? I think I will just re-read the series for the 6th time and leave the rest to my imagination.
Roland – Please NO Viggo Mortenson and I am getting sick of
seeing Christian Bale taking all of the iconic roles.
Stephen Moyer ALL THE WAY!!! Other acceptable
choices : Aaron Eckhart? Dennis Quaid? Matthew Fox
(if he looked older)???
Eddie – Joseph Gordon-Levitt or Michael Imperioli would either do
justice to the role. The more I think about it Jared Leto
would be too old for the role especially next to Stephen
Moyer, who would be on the border age-wise for Roland,
but by the time this ever gets made (or if it does)…..
roland- could have and should have been Sam Elliot (only 15 yrs ago)
say, has anyone heard anything new about the making of the movie? anything at all, like when the real casting is to begin or even the begining of filming?
Please for God’s sake get someone who can actually act to play Roland. If anyone is going to make this movie (and by this movie I mean these movies) I hope they don’t half ass it and cast some mediocre TV or HBO star as the main character. I’m a fan of True Blood, I’ve seen every episode, but just because Stephen Moyer looks the part of Roland doesn’t mean he can play the part. In fact it would serve in the movie’s best interest to make sure that ALL of the main characters can act.
Christian Bale is a pretty good actor, I mean most of the movies he’s in are good ones, but Bale is simply too young to play Roland.
Viggo Mortensen would be good to, but he already did the Lord of the Rings movies in a pretty similar role.
Yeah, Danieal Craig has blue eyes. He also has blonde hair, so no fucking way.
Hugh Jackman looks the part, but he already did the X-Men movies so he is too easily recognizable.
Even though Roland is a descendant of King Arthur, Stephen King created the character in the image of the “Man with No Name”(Clint Eastwood’s character in “The Dollars Trilogy”), so he needs to speak in an American accent. Of course, this doesn’t rule out actors from outside the states, it just rules out accents.
Daniel Day-Lewis would make an excellent Roland. He’s a great actor. He’s old enough to play the part. He looks the part, and he isn’t recognizable because he plays very different characters in all of his movies (like most good actors do).
The actor who would play Eddie Dean needs to be someone who can pull of the New York accent and is the right age. Edward Norton would be a good cast if the movie was made ten years ago. Leonardo DiCaprio is my favorite, but I don’t think he would agree to do the movie. James McAvoy isn’t a bad choice either.
Rutina Wesley from True Blood was a great suggestion for Susannah. I think of her playing Detta every time I watch that show. Zoe Saldana from the Star Trek movie would be good as well. Let’s face it, Halle Berry wouldn’t do this movie.
I honestly can’t think of a kid to play Jake.
Now lets start with my favorite character, The Man in Black. If any character in this movie needs to be played by someone who can act its him. He is the primary antagonist, not the Crimson King who appeared for like ten pages in the entire seven book series.
The best actor for Walter/ Randal Flagg/ Marten/ The Man in Black is Johnny Depp. Depp is the best there is at playing crazy, unique, and memorable characters. Plus who wouldn’t see this movie if Depp was in it?
Now if they were going make these movies they would need to make them all at the same time like they did the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. That way when parts of Roland’s past are revealed to us in the first and fourth books the actors playing younger Roland, Cuthbert, Alain, and Susan Delgado wouldn’t age dramatically.
Finally I would like to close on who should be the movie’s director. J.J. Abrams is a good choice, but no one would do a better job at capturing the wild west aspect of the novels like Quentin Tarrantino. He’s also the only director who could assemble the A-list group of actors that I’ve named.
I agree with Patrick. After seeing a few Daniel Day-Lewis films I know he could really play Roland better than any other actor I can think of even though before seeing DDL in movies I would have chosen Viggo Mortensen. And if I did the cast I’d chose Dominic Monaghan to play Eddie.
I agree with almost everything Patrick said, except these parts:
Leonardo DiCaprio doesn’t seem quite like the right eddie Dean to me… He’s too soft spoken, clean cut, ect for the the part, or so far as i saw him (I’ll be honest, that’s not much. I saw him in Titanic and in some documentary on global warming…)
And then there’s Johnny Depp as the man in black… I don’t know exactly what it is, but he doen’t seem right either, maybe it’s just his repeted (but excallent) roles as a loveable scumbag. Like in The Nineth Gate or The Liberatine. Plus he had such a large roll as the same idea in Pirates of the Carribean. a loveable piece of shit. He’s good at the role, but he’s played it too many times to be the right guy for this again.
—
And great enounceation on the s on movies. there has to be no less than six (maybe combining the first two since the first was so slow paced for most of the first half of the book or so. I don’t think we all want shots of sand for half an hour straight…).
to Patrick….I love your choice of Daniel Day Lewis as Roland, but also think Daniel Craig is a damn good choice. Hair color can be changed, and really, when you think of Roland, does the HAIR COLOR really strike you as the first thing? What strikes me is the baddass, win at all cost attitude, and the bombadier eyes. Hell, even those can be done via contact lense. Have you seen the beginning of Casino Royale where Daniel Craig as Bond drowns the bad dude (fine line there) in a men’s room sink? Pure Roland.
Tomasco: you said about haricolor not being so important? While it might not be, I know it drives me nuts when someone takes a great book and changes the charecters up alot, even if it’s just somthing little that takes about 30 seconds, let alone somthing that’d be for all the, 4-7 movies (depending on how the directer(s) decide to do it).
Absolutely right with Daniel Day Lewis, although if they dont start filming like yesterday he may be a bit to old to do a lengthy shoot.
In which case & I know this sounds strange but Kevin Costner. I think he would surprise us all as the Roland
Eddie Dean-Ben Foster
Odetta/Susannah-
Jake-???
& Didnt Depp say he was interested in playing Eldred Jonas? Would be a great fit.
All of the original choices are great bar Jackman which you’ve now changed to Mortensen, a great choice. Someone mentioned Sam Elliot, again he’d be amazing. Like Clint he has to get in on this somewhere. Someone mentioned aswell Sam Rockwell as Eddie, YES. Perfect. Also, anyone else see Chrisother Walken as Father Callahan?
Oh and the point Mike E was making about changing the physical characteristics when adapting a book to a film. Generally it doesn’t work and I think it’s better to stick close to the basics of how the book describes them ie. hair, skin, weight etc. The only exception to this rule I’ve seen is Mos Def cast as Ford Prefect in the adaptation of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Pure sytroke of genius. Otherwise it rarely works
Some of these ideas are genius; Jake Gyllenhaal for young Roland, JGL for Cuthbert and right on the money for Mortenson, but I always had Wanda Sykes down in my head for Susannah. She has “crazy black woman mad at honkys” down pat.
Roland – Daniel Day Lewis (Should have been Sam Elliot… too bad for age)
Susannah – Zoe Saldana
Eddie – Billy Crudup (maybe….)
Father Callaghan – Donald Sutherland
Ted Brautigan – Anthony Hopkins
Man in Black – Christian Bale/Johnny Depp (i wish Heath Ledger)
Steven Deschian – Clint Eastwood
Voice of Blaine – I hate to say this… i hate this guy…. John Malcovich….
Sorry if i spelled anything incorrectly…. spelling has never been my strong suit…..
I’ve seen alot of people saying Eastwood for Steven Deschain, bu I don’t thik that’sd work… think of the age people have kids: 20′s or 30′s, right? Roland was 14 when he left Gliead for Mejis after defeating his old mentor, Cort. that makes Steven Deschain only in his mid 30′s or fourties… Eastwood on the other hand… well, he’s a bit more seasoned than that, no?
Viggo mortenson is an awsome actor and he’s fanatical enough to take the part as seriously as it should be.
As for the others I think Oddetta would be perfectly played by Rutina Wesley who plays Tara in True Blood, and as for Susan, Emma Watson anyone????:P
i thought the same, and she’d be awesome for it, as long as she can drop her english accent for the movie.
Just looking over the origional ideas up top, did anyone else pick up on the idea that Charlie Hunam was thought of to play a teenager? Again, actor’s age/apparent age conflicts with the caharecters…
Roland- I think the guy who played the villian in No Country For Old Men- Javier Bardem. Good actor, badass, and looks the part
Eddie- My first thought was Shia Labeouf. I love his range (he’s done more than Transformers guys, so dont knock me) and he’s a quick witted smartass, Would be perfect! But after watching Justified on FX, I could see James Olyphant playing Eddie. He’s a quick witted smartass too, and he really makes it look like he has a ridiculously fast draw and aim.
Susannah- Zoe Zaldana or Gabriel Union- nice
Jake- I’m not into child actors, so I dunno
Man in Black- Val Kilmer
Father Callahan- Christopher Walken
What’s the consensus?
does anyone read this anymore except me???
dead forum
Some good choices but heres some who I’d pick. the Dark Tower
1.Roland -Hugh Jackman(wolverine)
2. Eddie Dean-James Franco(Spiderman)
3. Susannah-Zoe Saldana(uhra Startrek 2009)
4. Jake????(Dont settle kid must be able to act)
5.The man in black-(Peter Stormare Constantine)
6. Steven Deschain-(Jeff Bridges Wild Bill)
7. The Tick-Tock man-(Mickey Rourke the wrestler)
Ever since Trueblood started, I always thought Stephen Moyer would be perfect to play Roland.
They need someone who’s not well known..
Someone who looks old enough to play the ageless Roland (remember, throughout the series..Roland appears to be different ages a at different times.)
The high speech should be no problem for an brit who’s currently doing a rich revolutionary war era Louisiana accent perfectly…
And he just looks the part… Like most people I always envisioned Eastwood as Roland…Tall, Thin nose, blue eyes, sunken cheeks, long faced and gaunt….As a vamp, that’s Moyer.
Others i liked as Roland are Clive Owen, Viggo.
Christian Bale???!! Really? I’ve had enough of him and his silly moving mouth… besides he’s Batman.. and John Connor.
Daniel Day would probably sneeze at the idea of being Roland..as he is picky with his movie choices. Stephen Deschain maybe?
Josh Brolin just played Hexx so that would be wierd ..I think.
as far as the rest of the cast goes here are some ideas
Eddie-James Mac Avoy, James Franco
Susannah-Gabrielle Union
Man in Black-Jamie Sheridan should reprise his role as Flagg (as age doesn’t really matter.) how cool would that be!! He was soo creepy in The Stand.. Jeremy Irons has been typecast as a bad guy in the last decade so I wouldn’t like to see him as Martin.. John Malkovich maybe??
Jake- yrs ago I’da said -Josh Hutchinson, but now who knows prefferably an unknown breakout star to be.. even Highmore is too old.. right.
Oy-CGI/MC
Tick Tock Man- I love the Mickey Rourke suggestion… someone who looks like they exited a meat grinder.
Jack Mort- Chris Bauer… BAM!
Blaine- Micheal Caine… BAM! also like Hugo Weaving, Hugh Laurie.
Voice of demon in the way station- Mike Patton.. Ka-Bam!
That’s all I got..
I knew someone would eventually make this movie and honestly I glad Abrams passed on it.. it would be too slick in his hands… fans of the series want something honest and true, I think Ron Howard and Brian Grazer can do that.. I wonder though.. what will these movies be rated?
The Gunslinger kills a whole town in the opening of the 1st book…how do you fit genocide (albeit in self-defense) into a pg13 movie? I guess we’ll see..
wow, i guess this place isn’t dead, but i don’t think there’s any point of discussion here any more… i don’t know if you all know it, but i just read that Abrams and his partner dropped the Dark Tower project before it even got started…
Yeah but Ron Howard and Brian Grazer picked it up with Imagine. So it is soo not dead!! 2012 baby!! Read my post again. Check out Ron Howard’s IMDB page.
Some of these choices I agree with, some I don’t. Sincerely, I hope the Dark Tower is never made into a movie. But if the worst were to happen, and Stephen King, whom I look up to, were to forget that The Dark Tower no longer belongs to him, then I would be okay with Vigo Mortensen as Roland. But that’s the problem isn’t it? I would be okay with it. But many other people would not. It’s a way of insisting “this is what Roland Deschain looks like, moves like and breathes like.” I for instance would hate Freddie Highmore as Jake Chambers. I think Freddie Highmore represents the exact opposite of who Jake Chambers is. Brave, humble and alive, not annoying, annoying, and annoying. But that’s personal opinion again. Jeremy Irons would work as The Man in Black for me. (For me). He would also work as Roland for me. But that would ruin The Dark Tower for so many people who don’t share my opinion.
7 books. Each book 2 or 3 movies long? I wish. At best we would be given a trilogy.
I guess, like Roland, I’ll just have to watch as the love of my life is burned before my eyes.
Charyou Tree.
roland- no man on heaven or earth can play roland deschain, your two choices are a.) get some clint eastwood dna and start growing him in a vat. or b.) send out an expedition into the wilderness to find the f’n door and go get the real thing.
eddie dean. if anyone has ever seen the show tru calling, shawn reaves IS eddie, that is more or less his part and who i always pictured him to be. 2nd i would go with jerry o’connell (he’s even got stephen king experience!)
susannah- whoever, i never liked her anyway
jake- someone who can look 10 for the 6 years it will take to finish this
oy- a racoon on steroids
c.k. i saw a hobo one day that i swore was the crimson king, if they can’t get that guy…im thinking throw some cgi and go with the comic version and not the book 7 version
flagg. jamie sherridan, most deffinatley, he was the only good thing about that mini series, but he has got issues with bells paulsy and i heard he retired from acting, if thats the case id go with johhny depp, or brad pitt.
marten/walter. walken
stephen moyer
Caviziel? i think he’s too good looking, honestly, I imagine Roland as an old broken, dirty cowpoke, you seen any of those lately? i mean, come on, Roland is a weathered man, he’s traveled through the apotheosis of all deserts for god knows how long, he is tired and dryed, practically dies, and, oh yeah, seeking cold vengeance, that tends to eat up stamina and that affects how your body will react to the elements, Caviziel, an amazing actor in his own right, has not aged enough.
I’m on the Viggo Wagon here, mainly because i’ve seen history of violence and Appaloosa, both films seem to define the alternate sides of Roland Deschain.
Daniel Day Lewis, for those of you who say he is ‘little known’ is quite an actor but every bit as famous as Viggo is, mainly due to
There Will Be Blood.
Both are my only two choices, there are no other men who can play this part, at all.
Daniel Craig? Really? Roland is weathered, thin and tall, Craig is none of those.
Hugh Laurie, at first yes, after watching house, yes, then i decided to watch Black Adder, and then i said no.
Clive Owen is too much of a pretty boy, many actors put up here are. GET OVER IT PEOPLE! Roland is ugly!
you wouldn’t look so good after what he’s gone through either. Also the little matter that he nearly dies in the continuity, FROM A BULLET TO THE HEAD! Roland is Scarred, tired-looking, and mean.
NO TRUE BLOOD STUFF! NONE!!!!
Jared Leto for Eddie? i can see that
Jake=?
I like Pinkett-smith for Sussanah, never seen her act though
Walter O’Dim I really enjoyed The Stand mini-series, AND Jamey Sheriden. for you nay sayers, Sheriden nailed the Dark Man’s little quirks, the writhing, never-stand-still attitude, fidgety, seemingly nervous at times, the hand clapping, pseudo dark-humor and even Flagg’s ability for sudden and disastrous anger (Read THE STAND if you doubt this stuff.) Jim Carrey? uggghhh maybe if he wasn’t so well-known.
Eastwood as Father Callahan, hands down, Can’t you see old Clint with the skoldpadda and that gun, staring down the old ones, the glint in his eye as he looks into death, the hammer clicking as he loads them full of holes? Excellent.
He can also cameo as one of the villagers in Wolves, maybe even the man who never agrees to the plan.
Please folks, think before you put up all these crazed ideas, the characters here beg for more. This is one of the foremost ‘legends’ of our time, if they make a movie (and they will, believe me) it must be crafted with love and authority. There is no room here for AV7X or NIN. The books ask for the music that they contain, that King spelled out in his writing. A song of the Times,
I’d like to see what Harry Gregson-Williams could do with this, his sound selections for MGS and gladiator are magnificent. As for the end credits? Someone should read the original Poem before any music takes over, after all, without Browning’s genius, we would not be discussing this.
Long Days and Pleasant Nights,
Camuss111
p.s. if anyone likes metal on this forum, check out Touched by the Crimson King from Demons and Wizards. The whole CD is based on this series.
Alot of these picks show these people do not know The Dark Tower in their heart.As for me,This stuff MATTERS to me.The Dark Tower is my Bible and Ka is my religion,and Roland is my Din Father…
Roland-Viggo Mortensen/Daniel Day Lewis
Eddie Dean/Cuthbert-Dean winters/James Mcavoy
Jake-Alex Ferris/freddie highmore
Susannah-Paula j parker/Zoe saldana
Eldred Jonas-Josh Brolin
Father Callahan-James Cromwell
Sheemie-Tim Blake Nelson
Alaine-Charlie Hunnam
Cort-Stephen Lang
Krimson king-Gary oldman
Stephen Deschain-Clint eastwood
Susan delgado
Man in Black-Daniel Craig
zac efron as eddie
Roland: Jim Caveizel
Jake: Open Audition
Eddie: James McEvoy
Susannah: Angela Basset? Too old?
Alain: Open Audition
Cuthburt: Joseph Levitt is too old, they need to be teenagers
Young Roland: Open Audition
Susan Delgado: Maybe Evan Rachel Wood, but she seems too old. Diane Krueger is beautiful, but she is no teenager.
I think it’s important that the characters in Roland’s youth are actually young. Matt Damon as Alain? He’s 40. They’ve got to have some appearance of childhood or else it wouldn’t work. They are in over their heads and yet shockingly formidable. Their youth underscores both points.
Yall act like Halle Berry is the only black actress in Hollywood. For Susannah,
1st choice: Naomie Harris(Pirates of The Carribean 2/ Tia Dalma)
2nd choice: Rutina Wesley(True Blood, Tara)
3rd choice: Kerry Washington(Lakeview Terrace & I Think I Love My Wife)
4th choice: Zoe Saldana(Star Trek/Uhura & Avatar/Neytiri)
5th choice: Nicole Baharie(American Violet)
has anyone thought willem defoe as the Man in Black? Anything he has acted in he has been able to portray so well (loosely meaning once upon a time in mexico too)
P.S. I like Rutina Wesley as Sussannah. She has the Southern accent on lock, and I almost know a Detta voice is in her somewhere.
I feel like Susan Delgado could be played by any up and comer same as Jake.
Sam Elliot is Jonas and if you dont think so, got to Bing and look for his name, if the first picture that shows up is the same one eye saw you’d quit questioning
young Roland and friends should be young up and comers.
CHILD ACTOR JAKE MILLER FROM NYC SHOULD PLAY THE PART OF JAKE!
Roland: Viggo, but I hear Javier Bardem has it. Hope he wears blue contacts.
Eddie: James Franco, McAvoy, or Emile Hirsch. Eddie is 23 and has to have chemistry with Susannah. Some choices above are WAY TOO OLD.
Susannah: Teraji Henson or Naeomi Harris. Remember, she’s only a few years older than Eddie, not twice his age (Wanda Sykes, really?)
Jake: New kid or the Nathan Gamble kid. Has to possess that gift.
Man in Black: Christopher Walken
Susan Delgado: I looked up Imogen Poots. Perfect.
Blaine: Tim Curry is a pain.
Too tired to list the rest.
Roland-javiar bardem..He will be amazing
Eddie-Jared leto
susan-The neighbor in HBO seris shameless(i know,perfect)
jake(hes likee 8 now.no idea)
Cort-randy coture
Steve deschain-eastwood
Man in black-jim carey
susan delgado..the chick from mama mia
Roland – Hugh Laurie (Daniel Day Lewis could do it but seeing as he stays in role for the entire filming, which would take many years, there is no chance of this happening)
Susannah – Rutina Wesley
Susan – Mia Wasikowska
Walter – Ian McShane
Gasher – Clint Howard
Eddie Dean – James McAvoy
Eldred Jonas – Should have been David Carradine, but since he’s dead, his brother Keith Carradine would also work (see Deadwood)
Father Callahan – Kris Kristofferson
I’m impressed Dave, a large number of the deadwood cast would be ideal for this project. Quite a few previous posters with some good choices as well
My fantasy picks:
Roland – Timothy Olyphant
Eddie – Ben Foster or Jeremy Renner (I can’t decide which)
Jake – Charlie Tahan
Susannah – Kerry Washington
Father Callahan – Brad Dourif (Lord of the Rings, Deadwood)
Susan – would like to see Chloe Moretz depending on age at time of shooting but someone like India Eisley is more probable
Young Roland – Logan Lerman (3:10 to Yuma, Percy Jackson)
Walter – Ian McShane
Cuthbert – Callan McAuliffe
Alain – Sterling Knight
Jamie – Cole/Dylan Sprouse
John Cullum – Clint Eastwood (never happen but it would be nice)
Jack Mort – Titus Welliver
Ted Brautigan – I wonder if Anthony Hopkins would reprise his role?
Moses – How can it not be Morgan Freeman?
Tick Tock – Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Enrico Balazar – Giovanni Ribisi
Jack Andolini – Micky Rourke
Gasher – Jonathan Banks (Breaking Bad)
Coral Thorin – Carla Gallo
Rhea – Alice Krige (Silent Hill, Sleepwalkers)
Jonas – Keith Carradine
Depape – Benecio Del Toro
Reynolds – Clive Owen
Richard Sayre – Rufus Sewell
Crimson King – Gary Oldman
Four words, Roland – even C L I N T E A S T W O O D. That’s all.