Mike Flanagan provided an update on the adaptation of Stephen King’s epic series The Dark Tower. After years of saying “It will be, right?” he has already made it clear that he has multiple scripts in place and is framing it as a true priority, not wanting the 2017 film to be this story’s lasting cinematic legacy.
In an interview with Empire (quoted by Deadline), Flanagan likened the project’s slow construction to operating an “oil tanker.” It’s not turning fast, but it’s definitely moving. “It’s moving,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of scripts completed for that. That’s the priority.”
Reflecting on Nicolai Arcel’s 2017 feature film starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey, Flanagan didn’t mince words: “I can’t let this be my last word. I really can’t do that.”
Why The Dark Tower remains important to Flanagan
This is more than just a title on Stephen King’s resume. Director Flanagan has been outspoken about his desire for a properly released screen version, especially given how divisive previous big screen efforts were.
This is also the kind of story that would benefit from a breather. King’s Dark Tower series, which ran from 1982 to 2012, spans a variety of genres and tones, including dark fantasy, horror, westerns, and science fiction, and packs a dense, intertwined mythology that’s difficult to compress.
Plans for 5 seasons and 2 movies
Flanagan has previously revealed the scale of what he wants to build. In a 2022 interview with Deadline, he confirmed that a pilot script was completed and said he envisions the adaptation lasting five seasons, followed by two standalone films. “You’re the first person we’ve ever said that to, but yeah,” he said at the time, calling it his “holy grail.”
He also noted that he and producing partner Trevor Macy secured rights outside of the broader Amazon agreement. “We actually carve out those rights in our contract with Amazon,” Flanagan said, adding that while Amazon may still cooperate, the project is not automatically bound to that contract.
Current situation
Despite this momentum, the series is still in development. There is no confirmed cast and no release date yet. Amazon Studios previously passed on another Dark Tower series, the Glen Mazzara project, in 2020, which speaks to how difficult it was to get this property off the ground.
Still, Flanagan’s latest comments paint the clearest picture in a while. The wheels are turning, the script is piling up, and he seems determined to keep Tower from being decided on one last try.
