Mike Flanagan and Trevor Macy are planning an epic adaptation of Stephen King's epic story, The Midnight Club, have announced that they've acquired the rights to Stephen King's The Dark Tower series. In addition to a new deal with Amazon Studios, director Mike Flanagan has unveiled plans for a new emerging dynasty, which could spell good news for The Dark Tower and for King adaptations as a whole.
New updates for production of The Dark Tower come following a couple of failed attempts at bringing the series to life. A 2017 film adaptation from Sony Pictures received a very negative reception from critics and audiences alike and flopping at the worldwide box office. Even so, there were talks of a sequel, though no talk of a sequel has gone quiet since. Amazon bought the rights to The Dark Tower in 2018, with the hopes of turning it into a series that would act as a new reboot. However, in 2020, this plan fell apart before Intrepid Pictures eventually picked up the rights.
The Dark Tower Can Properly Be Told Instead Of Cut Short
Multiple previous adaptations of Stephen King's work have often come under scrutiny for trying to do too much in too little time, which was one of the biggest criticisms of 2017's The Dark Tower. The novel series includes eight novels, a short story, and a children's book, but the 2017 film tried to cram all of these stories into a 95-minute-long film. Stephen King has a talent for weaving some of the most intricate and detailed stories, so when they get adapted for the screen, they often feel short-changed, as if there's never enough time to tell the stories that need to be told.
In an interview with Gerald's Game and Doctor Sleep, so he already has a knowledge of King's work that most other directors won't.
The Dark Tower Could Become Another Amazon Franchise
Though Flanagan's acquisition of The Dark Tower rights is exciting, it's important to note that it happened before his Amazon deal. He added that Amazon Studios could still potentially be behind his Dark Tower adaptation, which could be a major benefit for all involved. Amazon Studios have been seeing more and more success with franchise projects in recent years, with projects such as The Dark Tower, so there could be many more years of Stephen King's epic story to come.