*After numerous false starts, Stephen King confirmed that the big screen adaptation of his fantasy series The Dark Tower has finally secured its leading men in Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey.
His reveal came in a familiar form for fans of the series, which launched with 1982’s The Dark Tower; the tweet quoted the first line of that first book, referencing the novel’s antagonist Randall Flagg (the man in black) and hero, Roland Deschain, the gunslinger in question. Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey then responded to King’s tweet, confirming their roles in the process.
It’s official: The man in black fled across the desert and the gunslinger followed. #DarkTowerMovie @McConaughey @IdrisElba
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) March 1, 2016
.@McConaughey you have one new follower. #DarkTowerMovie https://t.co/5fSKF02C7I
— Idris Elba (@idriselba) March 1, 2016
.@idriselba come and get me, I look forward to it. #DarkTowerMovie https://t.co/4gxqm2GPo3
— Matthew McConaughey (@McConaughey) March 1, 2016
Both Elba and McConaughey have been mentioned for the project for some months. The film will be directed by Nikolaj Arcel and produced by Akiva Goldsman, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Erica Huggins. Sony, which picked up the project following original studio Universal pulling out in 2011.
“The Dark Tower” is scheduled for release in January 2017.
