Mike Flanagan Reveals How The Dark Tower Will Deviate from Stephen King’s Novels

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Warning! Spoilers for The Dark Tower novels!

Mike Flanagan offers a significant update on how closely his upcoming adaptation of “The Dark Tower” will align with Stephen King’s novels. Having been disappointed by the 2017 film, Flanagan is now focusing on developing “The Dark Tower” as a series. The captivating tale revolves around Roland Deschain’s journey towards The Dark Tower in this fantasy-western setting, spanning across eight books and sharing substantial links with King’s other works. Unfortunately, it may still be several years before production begins, as Flanagan is set to start work on another King adaptation, the upcoming “Carrie” series, and has a “The Exorcist” movie in progress.

In an interview for The Kingcast, Flanagan discusses some elements required in his series and the difficulties involved in adapting The Dark Tower. Flanagan points out that The Dark Tower is subject to numerous rights issues because various studios control the rights to diverse Stephen King works. Flanagan primarily focuses on Father Callahan from ‘Salem’s Lot, who plays a significant role and joins the story in Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla. Due to the multiple parts being owned by different companies, Flanagan admits that it won’t be a strict adaptation.

[Assistant] You need to meet Randal Flagg and discuss the matter of entering Father Callahan’s world. It’s non-negotiable. This means you’ll be visiting Warner Brothers, as they own ‘Salem’s Lot’, and you should negotiate with them about it. However, The Crimson King is a different story, as there has been past adaptation with ‘Hearts in Atlantis’. This has led to the inclusion of elements that shouldn’t have been incorporated because they aren’t part of the movie. Similarly, ‘Low Men in Yellow Coats’ also requires your attention at Warner Brothers, as they optioned the story, and whether or not it is used in the film, you should address this issue with them. Essentially, there are many details to consider.

I’m striving for something unique…it’s not feasible as depicted in the book due to logistical constraints. To the average moviegoer, they may not grasp ‘Insomnia’ as deeply as constant readers do. The character I envision requires psychic abilities, who will be introduced among the Breakers, and this aspect will play a crucial role. In the Stephen King universe, who else could fill such a role and excite the fans despite changes?

One possible candidate could be Eddie Dean from ‘It’. His empathic abilities and strong connection with the Losers Club make him an intriguing choice to take on this new role while still retaining fan favorites. Another option might be Nick Andros from ‘The Dark Tower’, whose unique bond with his steed, Jake Chambers, showcases his own psychic talents that could be adapted for this purpose.

In my opinion, if Father Callahan isn’t available, who could potentially step into his role, being a character from another Stephen King story presumed dead, and have a similar arc of redemption? Could Dick Hallorann be an option? I’m just throwing this out there as a possibility. What do you think about Abra Stone in this context?

How can we design this change to capture the interest and excitement of King’s fans, while also being easily recognizable for those new to this connected universe through their movie-watching experience? This is one of the challenges that makes this task particularly tricky.

The majority of these choices aren’t essential for the first few seasons. Fortunately, the beauty of The Dark Tower series lies in its execution: begin at the start, and you’ll follow one character chasing another across a desolate landscape with no distractions whatsoever. Essentially, it’s about one person pursuing another. It’s quite straightforward, yet everything is gradually built up.

It’s crucial to introduce new characters and broaden the world in a rhythmic manner, allowing the audience to engage with the narrative by the point where discussions about Father Callahan’s fate and the potential role of the Emerald City arise. This way, even if the viewers aren’t acquainted with the original material, they feel immersed in the storyline. That’s what makes the process so incredibly difficult to execute flawlessly.

What This Means For The Dark Tower

Flanagan Will Have To Make Some Changes

In the process of transforming “The Dark Tower” into a series, Flanagan might encounter significant hurdles if they decide to incorporate all the novels. Notably, Father Callahan holds a substantial part in the last three books. An earlier tale, “Low Men in Yellow Coats“, which initially appeared in “Hearts in Atlantis“, presents an unusual adaptation since it is actually a story from “The Dark Tower” series, yet all connections to “The Dark Tower” have been removed from it. A character named Ted Brautigan, who originates from this short story, makes an appearance in the final novel as a Breaker – a psychic compelled to attempt the destruction of The Tower.

In the story of “The Dark Tower,” there’s a significant character known as The Crimson King, who takes on the role of the main villain. Interestingly enough, this character was initially introduced in the novel “Insomnia” and has a part in “Low Men in Yellow Coats.” Despite being absent from the film “Hearts in Atlantis,” it’s worth noting that the rights to this character belong to Warner Bros.

In his discussion, Flanagan hints at a potential limitation where not every character might make it into The Dark Tower series due to its expansive references ranging from Wizard of Oz, The Beatles, Marvel comics, Star Wars, and more. Given the broad scope of The Dark Tower, encompassing Stephen King’s entire literary universe as well as popular culture, it is understandable that not every novel aspect can be incorporated into a single adaptation. However, he suggests that characters from his previous directed work, Doctor Sleep, such as Abra Stone and Dick Hallorann, could potentially be included in the storyline.

Our Take On Flanagan’s Comments

He Is Clearly Taking Great Care With The Material

Flanagan has gained recognition for adapting Stephen King’s works such as “Gerald’s Game,” “Doctor Sleep,” “The Life of Chuck,” “Carrie,” and potentially “The Dark Tower.” Initially, these stories begin modestly but gradually unfold into intricate narratives. Given the vast scope of King’s book series and their interconnected tales, Flanagan must cater to viewers who may not have read all the books. Adapting “The Dark Tower” is a complex task, but given Flanagan’s past success with King’s work and his enthusiasm for the project, it promises to be an exciting wait.

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2025-06-06 20:58