Mike Flanagan Says ‘The Dark Tower’ Will Take a Long Time to Make

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Mike Flanagan recently shared an update about his planned adaptation of The Dark Tower, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag. Although he’s currently working on a Carrie adaptation, fans are much more excited about The Dark Tower. The news is disappointing for those eager to see it soon, but it’s also good news for anyone who disliked the 2017 film version.

When The Dark Tower adaptation was first announced, it was ahead of its time with plans for a connected universe of movies and TV shows. Ron Howard led the effort to bring Roland of Gilead’s story to life across different platforms. However, studio executives thought the idea was too bold, and they doubted audiences would follow the narrative from the big screen to television.

Instead of a faithful adaptation, audiences received a shortened movie with Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey that only hinted at the depth of Stephen King’s vast and interconnected stories – including his Dark Tower series and decades of other novels. The film was critically and commercially unsuccessful, essentially ending any hopes of a proper Dark Tower adaptation.

Mike Flanagan is committed to creating a more accurate adaptation of the story, but recently told ScreenRant that it will be a while before his plans come together. While some fans were disappointed to hear this, they were reassured to learn the delay is because he’s working to obtain the rights to include all the essential characters.

Why Mike Flanagan’s New Update Is Great News for Stephen King Fans

If you’re familiar with Stephen King’s books, the idea that everything connects feels especially true when looking at his complete collection. What begins in The Dark Tower as a straightforward story about a gunslinger seeking revenge gradually expands to incorporate elements from almost all of King’s other works, creating a vast and interconnected narrative.

Stephen King often connects characters across his stories, and Roland’s journey is no exception. We see familiar faces like Father Callaghan, who first appeared in ‘Salem’s Lot,’ and Ted Brautigan from ‘Hearts in Atlantis.’ Interestingly, many of these characters have also been featured in films produced by different studios.

Similar to how Marvel had to wait to get the rights to characters like Daredevil and the X-Men, and currently shares rights to Spider-Man and the Hulk, Amazon MGM Studios will need to secure the rights to certain characters to properly adapt The Dark Tower. According to director Mike Flanagan, these characters are essential to telling the story accurately. While some roles could be changed, Flanagan’s adaptation seems committed to faithfully bringing Stephen King’s vision to the screen.

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2025-11-16 22:17