Javier Bardem is going to be a busy guy. It was just announced that he will be taking the lead role, that of “gunslinger” Roland Deschain, in Ron Howard‘s adaptation of The Dark Tower series. Written by Stephen King, it is a series of seven books that King has called his “magnum opus,” and it is described as a mixture of horror, western, fantasy, and science fiction. Not only that, but in addition to the main seven books, there are other King books that refer to the characters and storylines as well as a prequel comic. That translates into three movies and TV projects, maybe a series. So, don’t try to hire Javier Bardem for a while.
Bardem seems to be perfectly suited for the role of Roland Deschain, who takes a King Arthur-like journey to the Dark Tower through a land resembling the Old West:
His deal will also include options for two sequels (the TV program that runs between the second and third films will be a prequel). I’m told it will add up to a career-best payday for Bardem. Howard and [Akiva] Goldsman have told me they see the trilogy as their answer to the Peter Jackson-directed adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. While Middle Earth had a mystical medieval feel, The Dark Tower vibe is one that Goldsman described as “an alternate Americana, one part post-apocalyptic, one part Sergio Leone.”
Wow, that sounds gigantic in every way! No pressure guys, but anything less than totally, amazingly awesome will be seen as a let-down.
