Will Sony finally open the door to the Dark Tower for Ron Howard?

Much like the Dark Tower itself, the on screen adaptation of Stephen King's bestselling fantasy series always seems just out of reach. Ron Howard, along with production partners Brian Grazer, and Akiva Goldsman, have been trying to get there for years, seeking deals with everyone from HBO to Warner Bros. Their plans to bring the series to life via a series of connected movies and television series proved a mite too ambitious (read: expensive) for most studios, however, and the project was shelved multiple times.

Now, a new contender is throwing its battered cowboy hat into the ring: Sony Pictures. Along with MRC, Sony has committed to a pared-down Dark Tower, comprised of a lone film and TV series. Reportedly, Goldsman and Jeff Pinkner have redrawn their original script, and are now on the lookout for a potential director.

Speaking about the project, Tom Rothman, Sony Pictures' new chairman, said: “There are few projects out there that compare with the scope, vision, complex characters and fully drawn world that Stephen King has created with The Dark Tower. I am a giant fan. And, as Stephen himself does, we love the direction that Akiva and Jeff have taken. This is a great opportunity for a director to put his or her stamp on a cool global franchise."

The first entry in the Dark Tower saga, titled The Gunslinger, is the most straightforward of the bunch, focussing on a lone gunfighter struggling through a warped fantasy world that's part Sergio Leone and part Lord of the Rings. 

The books' author, Stephen King, couldn't be happier with this latest development, stating: "I’m excited that The Dark Tower is finally going to appear on the screen. Those who have traveled with Roland and his friends in their search for the Dark Tower are going to have their long-held hopes fully realized. This is a brilliant and creative approach to my books."

In honour of this great news, we'll be putting together an article exploring which actors and actresses we'd like to see strap on their ponchos and step into Midworld. If you've got any suggestions, let us know in the comments below.