As a fan and admirer of Stephen King’s work, it’s always fascinating to see how his stories continue to captivate audiences and inspire creative minds. In this case, it’s quite amusing to witness the unexpected crossover between Mario and The Shining. It’s like peanut butter and jelly, but with a dash of psychological horror – a combination that leaves me both puzzled and intrigued!
Mike Flanagan has expressed the need for patience regarding his adaptation of Stephen King’s ‘The Dark Tower‘. With a variety of other projects on his plate such as the upcoming ‘Exorcist’ movie and a new ‘Carrie’ miniseries for Amazon, the intricate process of creating this western/fantasy/sci-fi masterpiece demands careful planning and development. Despite the wait, we can hardly contain our anticipation for what he is working on, making each update incredibly captivating.
This week’s issue of The King Beat is heavily focused on the Dark Tower series, featuring fresh insights from its creator about his casting choices for the upcoming Stephen King adaptation and his rationale for starting the series with events from the initial book, The Gunslinger. Additionally, a surprising video showcases Mario interacting with The Shining adds even more intrigue to this column. So, let’s dive right in!
Mike Flanagan Has Clear Ideas About Casting The Dark Tower…But He’s Not Ready To Tell Any Of His Favorite Actors Yet
Mike Flanagan often works with a group of recurring actors, and it’s usual to spot familiar faces like Kate Siegel (his spouse), Henry Thomas, Carla Gugino, Robert Longstreet, Samantha Sloyan, and Rahul Kohli in his films or series. This pattern led me to speculate about casting Flanagan’s regulars for The Dark Tower adaptation earlier this year, but has the writer/director officially decided on key roles in the adaptation?
As a gaming enthusiast myself, I recently came across an intriguing tidbit: TopMob’s Mike Reyes grilled filmmaker Mike Flanagan about potential actors for ‘The Dark Tower’ adaptation during an interview. Now, here’s the twist – while Flanagan has thoughtfully pondered over which of his favorite actors would suit specific roles in the series, the project is still in its infant stages, so he hasn’t shared any details yet. In his own words, “Though I’ve contemplated which of my preferred actors might fit certain roles for ‘The Dark Tower,’ I haven’t discussed it with anyone as the adaptation is very much in its early phases.
I keep my plans secret as I prefer not to create unnecessary anticipation or expectations among actors until I can confirm that it’s… My preference is to approach an actor with a clear vision and an offer, saying, “This is what I envision for you, and here’s the opportunity to make it happen.” If I can’t do that, then I usually stay quiet.
In this context, what’s said can be rephrased as follows: This is not only sensible but also considerate. Working within the film and TV sector often involves repeated setbacks and letdowns, so why raise unrealistic expectations? Mike Flanagan must strike a balance between sharing good opportunities with his actor friends while being mindful of potential disappointments.
As a devoted admirer, I’d like to share an insight: The masterful storyteller occasionally acknowledges his own fallibility, revealing details that perhaps shouldn’t be shared. This is especially challenging for him when working alongside his cherished partner in creative endeavors.
I may not always get it right in that area, as I can occasionally make mistakes, particularly with Kate who is deeply involved in the entire situation. In essence, she seems to understand my thoughts for everyone, so it’s safe to say that Kate Siegel is privy to my plans. She perceives things as they are and witnesses the changes and shifts. Essentially, she remains aware of everything that happens.
Beyond being married, Kate Siegel has worked with Mike Flanagan on nine of his movies and shows so far, including their upcoming project “The Life Of Chuck“. They have also collaborated significantly behind the scenes. Notably, Siegel co-wrote the script for “Hush” alongside Flanagan at the famous Room 217 of The Stanley Hotel. Additionally, Flanagan wrote the script for her directorial debut, which was the segment “Stowaway” in the 2024 horror anthology “V/H/S/Beyond“.
Flanagan mentioned that on occasion, he’s hinted to some gifted peers about potential roles in future productions. However, he emphasizes that he never gives absolute assurances.
At times, I’ve told Sam Sloyan and Rahul Kohli something like, “I’d be thrilled if this role were yours, but I can’t promise it will happen.” In general, I strive not to make promises I can’t keep. I maintain a list of potential actors for The Exorcist, Carrie, and Dark Tower, which is quite exciting. However, I prefer not to reveal the list too soon.
As a devoted fan, just knowing that Mike Flanagan plans to work with his preferred actors for The Dark Tower adds an unprecedented sense of reality to the project – yet, my anticipation for the adaptation often leads me to harbor anxiety. Therefore, the key is staying patient as I eagerly await further updates.
Past Dark Tower Adaptation Attempts Have Skipped The Gunslinger. Mike Flanagan Promises He Won’t Be Doing That
As a devoted fan, I’ve been eagerly waiting for a truly authentic adaptation of The Dark Tower series, but so far, Hollywood hasn’t quite hit the mark. The 2017 film directed by Nikolaj Arcel was a disappointing miss, and even the pilot script penned by Glen Mazzara for the proposed Amazon Prime Video series fell short. Unfortunately, this script didn’t begin at the right point in the storyline as it focused more on a young Roland Deschain from the significant flashback in Wizard And Glass (the fourth book), rather than starting from the beginning of the series as the books did.
It’s clear that the progress has been disheartening, but be confident that Mike Flanagan understands that a suitable adaptation of “The Dark Tower” should commence with “The Gunslinger“.
In the most recent episode of Happy Sad Confused podcast (held at New York Comic-Con), Mike Flanagan, Kate Siegel, Carla Gugino, and Rahul Kohli were guests. During their discussion, Flanagan emphasized the importance of starting the story of The Dark Tower from its genuine origin and being as true to Stephen King’s work as possible. As he put it,
The queries that frequently trouble me during my sleepless nights are these: I believe the solution lies in simply tackling the assigned readings. What makes Stephen King’s Dark Tower series so remarkable is his ability to construct an awe-inspiring universe filled with depth and variety, on such a grand scale. However, he initiates this tale with a single individual pursuing another in a desolate desert. It’s one of the most powerful opening lines of any novel ever written. This is the approach I admire.
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but marvel at that captivating opening line: “The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.” It certainly sets the stage for the straightforward yet profound tale that is The Gunslinger. In contrast to the second book, The Drawing Of The Three, where Roland Deschain encounters the individuals who would eventually become his cherished kin, the foundational novel in this series revolves around Roland himself. He embarks on a solitary journey across a desolate expanse, relentlessly pursuing the malevolent Walter O’Dim, also known as Marten Broadcloak and Randall Flagg. Alas, young Jake Chambers does cross his path within the story, but their encounter doesn’t end on a hopeful note.
Mike Flanagan expressed that he recognizes the urge in Hollywood to begin adapting “The Dark Tower” when the story becomes chaotic with sci-fi and fantasy aspects. However, Flanagan believes this approach isn’t ideal for crafting a suitable adaptation.
You start with two people in a simple story: one is trying to catch the other. That’s it. And everything else is gradually added to it. And I think that’s how you do The Dark Tower. You build it one brick at a time. I can understand the gravity that has pulled people into being like, ‘Oh, we’ll jump in in the middle,’ or ‘We’ll jump in over here,’ or ‘We’ll try to jump ahead to show the big scale of this thing.’ You can’t start like that. You can’t.
Pondering over Stephen King’s “The Dark Tower” as a whole, Mike Flanagan emphasized a crucial aspect regarding the sequence of the series, explaining why beginning from the beginning is indispensable.
Luckily, Stephen King is an exceptional storyteller who has crafted a grand work that starts and ends in a very personal way. Along the journey, this narrative unfolds into a vast universe. I believe this approach is necessary, and it seems to be the direction we’re heading. However, progress is slow, so I apologize for any delays.
As Flanagan’s “Exorcist” movie is set to hit theaters on March 13, 2026, it’s a project he’ll focus on in the near future. Here’s hoping that “Dark Tower” will serve as his grand sequel.
And Now For Something Completely Different: Mario Crossing Over With The Shining Is Stupendously Odd
The internet abounds with individuals experiencing unusual creative sparks. Here’s an illustrative instance. If one were to construct a Venn Diagram encompassing “Mario” and “The Shining,” it would be quite a task to find common elements, yet that didn’t deter filmmaker Mark Cannataro from crafting a truly bizarre crossover video in which Mario embarks on a journey through the Overlook Hotel.
This wraps up today’s episode of The King Beat, but join me again next Thursday for an exciting recap of the latest headlines in the realm of Stephen King, right here on TopMob!
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2024-11-14 20:07