Back in ’07, I wrote about my cautious desire for seeing The Dark Tower adapted to the big screen. Yet, even though I had that desire, I was cynical, saying that I could see it “made as a standalone film, as this first novel in the series works well as a standalone story. If they tried to adapt the entire seven novels in the series, that’s when I’d have to put my hand up and say ‘I cry your pardon, but no thankee, sai,’ because I’m not convinced that it could be done right, not in anyone’s hands. And some things are better left alone anyway.”

Over the years it has gone through the hands of many, most notably Frank Darabont and JJ Abrams, before finally a few months ago being handed off to Ron Howard who was expected to get the ball rolling – and rolling is just what the ball has done. Deadline has the scoop, announcing that “Universal Pictures and NBC Universal Television Entertainment have closed a deal to turn Stephen King’s mammoth novel series The Dark Tower into a feature film trilogy and a network TV series.”

Howard has committed to directing the first film in the trilogy, with Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man) writing it as well as the first season of the TV series. This may indeed be something entirely unseen before, and Howard describes the project as “using a major studio’s film and TV platforms simultaneously to tell a story.” He then went on to say:

“What Peter [Jackson] did [with Lord of the Rings] was a feat, cinematic history. The approach we’re taking also stands on its own, but it’s driven by the material. I love both, and like what’s going on in TV. With this story, if you dedicated to one medium or another, there’s the horrible risk of cheating material. The scope and scale call for a big screen budget. But if you committed only to films, you’d deny the audience the intimacy and nuance of some of these characters and a lot of cool twists and turns that make for jaw-dropping, compelling television. We’ve put some real time and deep thought into this, and a lot of conversations and analysis from a business standpoint, to get people to believe in this and take this leap with us. I hope audiences respond to it in a way that compels us to keep going after the first year or two of work. It’s fresh territory for me, as a filmmaker.”

The plan is to start with the feature film, and then create a bridge to the second feature with a season of TV episodes. That means the feature cast—and the big star who’ll play Deschain—also has to appear in the TV series before returning to the second film. After that sequel is done, the TV series picks up again, this time focusing on Deschain as a young gunslinger. Those storylines will be informed by a prequel comic book series that King was heavily involved in plotting. The third film would pick up the mature Deshain as he completes his journey. They will benefit from being able to use the same sets cast and crew for the movie and TV, which could help contain costs on what will be a financially ambitious undertaking. …

I’ll be damned if I don’t admit that – Ron Howard aside – my interest is piqued by this completely unique approach… even if it seems risky, as many who would be willing to watch the movies may not have interest (or the time) to watch an entire show. The huge skeptic from the beginning that I have been, this seems like a very interesting way to tackle such an intricate and character-driven tale that is so epic in scale. Seriously, the scale of this seven-book is so huge, I’ll be in awe if they pull it off.

Leave your thoughts, concerns, and ideas in the comments.