NationStates Jolt Archive

This thread inspired by some of the threads on a Dark Tower fansite.

Imagine they are creating a Stephen King's Dark Tower series that will comprehensively tell the whole story from The Gunslinger to The Dark Tower. You have been hired as the casting director. Who would you cast?

A few of mine would be:

**Starring**
Hugh Laurie as Roland Deschain
Dylan/Cole Sprouse as Jake Chambers
Edward Norton as Eddie Dean
Kandyse McClure as Susannah Dean

**With**
Jim Carrey as Walter
Jessica Alba as Susan Delgado
Neil Patrick Harris as young Alain Johns
Shia LaBeouf as Cuthbert Allgood
Wes Bentley as young Roland Deschain
Sam Elliot as Eldred Jonas

Peter Cullen as the voice of Blaine the Mono
Harrison Ford as Father Callahan

What about you?

This thread inspired by some of the threads on a Dark Tower fansite.

Imagine they are creating a Stephen King's Dark Tower series that will comprehensively tell the whole story from The Gunslinger to The Dark Tower. You have been hired as the casting director. Who would you cast?

A few of mine would be:

**Starring**
Hugh Laurie as Roland Deschain
Dylan/Cole Sprouse as Jake Chambers
Edward Norton as Eddie Dean
Kandyse McClure as Susannah Dean

**With**
Jim Carrey as Walter
Jessica Alba as Susan Delgado
Neil Patrick Harris as young Alain Johns
Shia LaBeouf as Cuthbert Allgood
Wes Bentley as young Roland Deschain
Sam Elliot as Eldred Jonas

Peter Cullen as the voice of Blaine the Mono
Harrison Ford as Father Callahan

What about you?

Cut those ones out, and you sort of have a movie. :p

As to who I'd pick - I haven't read the series. So I'm not sure.

This thread inspired by some of the threads on a Dark Tower fansite.

Imagine they are creating a Stephen King's Dark Tower series that will comprehensively tell the whole story from The Gunslinger to The Dark Tower. You have been hired as the casting director. Who would you cast?

A few of mine would be:

**Starring**
Hugh Laurie as Roland Deschain
Dylan/Cole Sprouse as Jake Chambers
Edward Norton as Eddie Dean
Kandyse McClure as Susannah Dean

**With**
Jim Carrey as Walter
Jessica Alba as Susan Delgado
Neil Patrick Harris as young Alain Johns
Shia LaBeouf as Cuthbert Allgood
Wes Bentley as young Roland Deschain
Sam Elliot as Eldred Jonas

Peter Cullen as the voice of Blaine the Mono
Harrison Ford as Father Callahan

What about you?
haven't read the books... but I know who I won't hire to write the screenplay... Stephen King!

I'm in agreement with Thumbless: I really don't see Hugh Laurie as Roland or Edward Norton as Eddie. Though Jim Carrey can play serious roles, I don't think he could do Walter justice.

I'm in agreement with Thumbless: I really don't see Hugh Laurie as Roland or Edward Norton as Eddie. Though Jim Carrey can play serious roles, I don't think he could do Walter justice.

I picked Hugh Laurie because he can come off as so emotionless and his eyes are exactly as Roland's are described. Edward Norton has that range that can go from silly to scay that Eddie would be.

haven't read the books... but I know who I won't hire to write the screenplay... Stephen King!

Good call. :p His stories do tend to produce decent movies. Though I didn't really like that one where they're on the plane, whatever it was called. Langoliers, I think. I kinda liked the one with Jose Ferrer.

Good call. :p His stories do tend to produce decent movies. Though I didn't really like that one where they're on the plane, whatever it was called. Langoliers, I think. I kinda liked the one with Jose Ferrer.

or IT, or the re-release of the Shining or Maximum Overdrive...

King writes great novels, but terrible movies.

his movies have great buildup but a totally anticlimatic ending.

Why not Sean Connery as Father Callahan.

Of course I don't read Stephen King.

Why not Sean Connery as Father Callahan.

Of course I don't read Stephen King.

I don't think he acts anymore. :( Though I hope I'm wrong.

I picked Hugh Laurie because he can come off as so emotionless and his eyes are exactly as Roland's are described. Edward Norton has that range that can go from silly to scay that Eddie would be.

hmm, you have a point, I'm just having a hard time imagining House as Roland the Gunslinger. Probably because I've only ever seen him as either House or Simon (or was he Wooster?).

If you're looking for someone that could go from silly to serious, why not Carrey? He looks more like I imagined Eddie to look.

I wonder if the guy that played Father Callahan in the Salem's Lot movie still acts?

i'd cast myself in all roles and be done with it. didn't i just see a trailer for a film called the dark tower at the cinema this evening? dark something anyway. looked like the sort of derivative fantasy pap that seems to be getting churned out a lot these days.

This thread inspired by some of the threads on a Dark Tower fansite.

Imagine they are creating a Stephen King's Dark Tower series that will comprehensively tell the whole story from The Gunslinger to The Dark Tower. You have been hired as the casting director. Who would you cast?

A few of mine would be:

**Starring**
Hugh Laurie as Roland Deschain

As much as I want to like this choice, I just don't see it.

I actually think Edward Norton might be a better choice...I can't think of anyone else off of the top of my head who might do better.

Dylan/Cole Sprouse as Jake Chambers

Twins need to be avoided in this role at all costs.

With seven films, and the fluid nature of time in the plot, you're probably going to have to recast this role every couple of films to keep it consistent. Probably the toughest role to cast, and I have no ideas myself.

I would try to cast young-looking 18 year olds...child actors tend to suck. :p

Edward Norton as Eddie Dean

Too old...Eddie Dean is in his early 20's, not his late 30's.

I can't think of an actor that age off of the top of my head who might fit the role...

Kandyse McClure as Susannah Dean

I'd prefer Claire-Hope Ashitey (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1715135/)

**With**
Jim Carrey as Walter
Jessica Alba as Susan Delgado
Neil Patrick Harris as young Alain Johns
Shia LaBeouf as Cuthbert Allgood
Wes Bentley as young Roland Deschain
Sam Elliot as Eldred Jonas

Peter Cullen as the voice of Blaine the Mono
Harrison Ford as Father Callahan

Sam Elliot is the only one I agree with...a big fat NO on Jim Carrey and Jessica Alba.

King writes great novels, but terrible movies.

his movies have great buildup but a totally anticlimatic ending.

This suspect a Dark Tower movie will be no different, no matter who writes the screenplay.

I personally found the ending to Book 7 to be quite a bit of a letdown, especially considering how much time I had invested in reading the whole series.

I don't know what I expected, but what I got sure wasn't it.

This thread inspired by some of the threads on a Dark Tower fansite.

Imagine they are creating a Stephen King's Dark Tower series that will comprehensively tell the whole story from The Gunslinger to The Dark Tower.

Rewrite it completely as comic in DORK Tower style. :p

Ah, such a cool question. Another reason why it's too bad that I so far stopped reading after Wizard & Glass about, what, a decade ago? I really have get on that again.

As for your picks: Apart from loving your inclusion of Shia LaBeouf and Sam Elliott and, hello, Wes Bentley (!) just because, I don't remember the characters all that well, obviously.

Hugh Laurie seems like an excellent pick for Roland, though. He totally has the coldness and hardness in his features.
I don't remember how old Roland is, but if fits age-wise, Heath Ledger could also pull it off, I think.

Edward Norton would have been perfect for Eddie about 10 or 15 years ago, I think he'd look too old and "grown-up" now.

Hugh Laurie seems like an excellent pick for Roland, though.I always kind of pictured him as a Yul Brenner lookalike. And Hugh Laurie looks about as tough as a roll of toilet paper, if you ask me, creepy stare none withstanding.Edward Norton would have been perfect for Eddie about 10 or 15 years ago, I think he'd look too old and "grown-up" now.Eddie's supposedly a junkie in recovery. A cuddly little guy with baby fat is hardly the right person for the role, eh?

I always kind of pictured him as a Yul Brenner lookalike. Yul Brynner? Really? Nahhhh.

And Hugh Laurie looks about as tough as a roll of toilet paper, if you ask me, creepy stare none withstanding.Hehe. I disagree, though. I really think there's a very distinct hardness and coldness to him.

But eh, this is why people argue over casting decisions in RL movies, too...

Eddie's supposedly a junkie in recovery. A cuddly little guy with baby fat is hardly the right person for the role, eh?Oh, certainly, not cuddly and soft. But Edward Norton doesn't look "young but hard-living" he just looks "38". Clicky. (http://www.imdb.com/gallery/granitz/5892/Events/5892/EdwardNort_Wargo_13199827_400.jpg.html?hint=group)
He actually is 38! Ha. :p

Yul Brynner? Really? Nahhhh.You never saw Westworld, did you?

That aside, King went out of his way to describe some really messed up individuals. Pretty Hollowwood people with friendly faces and fit bodies just wouldn't work.

You never saw Westworld, did you?
Yes, I did. Doesn't mean I have to imagine Roland like Yul Brynner, does it?

That aside, King went out of his way to describe some really messed up individuals. Pretty Hollowwood people with friendly faces and fit bodies just wouldn't work.Exactly. Good thing I didn't suggest any of those, then, eh?

Who was the actor who played Randal Flagg in The Stand? I'd say he'd be ideal for Walter since, technically they're the same character and the continuity would be cool...

So I remove Jim Carrey from consideration for that role.

Dunno about the actor who played Father Callahan in the 'Salem's Lot movie, but if he's still up for it he might be able to reprise for DT. After all, several hard years did pass for the character between the two stories.

I was also thinking of Miley Cyrus for Susan Delgado but she comes off as a little TOO young, and so I picked Jessica Alba because I think she can pull off the 16 year old look.

Hugh Jackman could also do Roland, but he'd need color contacts. He's good at looking pissed off all the time.

hugh laurie? you have got to be kidding. his horrendous fake american accent is enough to ban him from acting for life.(think stuart little)

Hugh Jackmam is definitely more like it. Edward Norton is a good choice though

that dude who played aragorn would be perfect or johnny depp because he wouldnt just play a conventional straightfoward roland of gilead

Id make susannah not a cripple.

Every role: John C. McGinley