The upcoming TV adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower isn’t like his normal stories, as it could become one of the best Western shows of all time. The list of the best Western shows of all time has a lot of overlap with the list of the best TV shows of all time in general. From Deadwood to Yellowstone and Gunsmoke, the Western genre has a rich history of fantastic television.
It would be no easy feat for a new series to be considered one of the best Westerns of all time with such great shows setting the bar so high. The Western genre has also gone through a revival in the past decade thanks to shows like Yellowstone and Longmire, so there’s even more competition than there has been in years. One upcoming project, however, has all the right ingredients to become an amazing series.
Mike Flanagan Is Developing A TV Adaptation Of The Dark Tower
Mike Flanagan is developing a TV adaptation of The Dark Tower, Stephen King’s self-declared magnum opus. The Dark Tower follows Roland, a gunslinger from Mid-World, who is on a quest to defeat the Man in Black and save the Dark Tower, which serves as the linchpin keeping the entire multiverse together. Roland’s quest brings him to several fantastical places, from The Wizard of Oz to the real world, all in search of the Tower.
The Dark Tower is primarily a Western, as evidenced by Roland’s role as a gunslinger and the massive revolvers he carries. Roland also trains his companions to be gunslingers as well. This story is so much more than just a Western, though; it has magic and fantasy elements, Stephen King’s patented brand of eerie horror, and much more. It’s a truly mind-bending story, and one that will be difficult to put to screen.
The sheer scale of The Dark Tower makes it hard to adapt at all, a fact best evidenced by the 2017 movie starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey. That film was simply awful. It achieved a paltry 16% from critics and 44% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes, and it’s often cited as one of the worst Stephen King adaptations. A big reason that adaptation failed is because it tried to cram seven and a half books into a single movie.
Luckily for the series, it has Mike Flanagan. Flanagan has already proved himself to be the single best creator to adapt King’s work. He’s adapted Gerald’s Game, Doctor Sleep, and The Life of Chuck already, and Flanagan is also set to adapt Carrie into a television series. There’s no one better than Flanagan to bring King’s writing to life faithfully, which is a very good sign for The Dark Tower series.
The Dark Tower Could Be One Of The Best Westerns Ever Made If Done Right
Mike Flangan’s adaptation of The Dark Tower may be able to live up to Stephen King’s own expectations for the story. King has publicly said that The Dark Tower is his magnum opus (via Stephen King) and the series connects everything King has ever written through its multiverse. The books are also heavily praised as some of King’s best, which is very high praise.
If Flanagan can manage to make his series as celebrated as The Dark Tower books, this show could easily be one of the best Western shows ever made. The Dark Tower truly has it all: it has magic and multiverse shenanigans for fantasy fans, more than a few shootouts for Western fans, a modern setting that will appeal to fans of neo-Westerns, and one of the most lovely romances I’ve ever read, all backed by King’s horror writing. This story has something for anyone who could possibly watch it.
Stephen King Shares Update On Mike Flanagan’s Dark Tower Adaptation (& It’s A Huge Relief For Fans)
Stephen King shares a positive update on Mike Flanagan’s Dark Tower adaptation after a disastrous 2017 movie first tackled the property.
The Dark Tower isn’t just propped up by its wide appeal, though. The series also has some of the most compelling characters in King’s oeuvre. Roland is a classic gunslinger ala Clint Eastwood’s Man with No Name. Eddie starts out as a drug addict who quickly becomes Roland’s best friend and genuine equal. Susannah is one of the most complex and spine-tingling horror characters King has written, and Jake is endlessly lovable and tragic.
If Mike Flanagan can simply translate all the beauty and excitement The Dark Tower already has baked into it, the show will be a smash hit without a doubt. It has the grittiness of Deadwood, the supernatural elements of Wynonna Earp, the interpersonal drama of Yellowstone, and the tense rivalries and exciting shootouts of Justified. If you like Westerns at all, keep an eye out for Mike Flanagan’s The Dark Tower adaptation.
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The Dark Tower
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The Dark Tower
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Roland Deschain, The Man in Black, Jake Chambers, Eddie Dean, Susannah Dean, Oy, The Crimson King, Stephen Deschain, Sayre, Tirana