Deadline brings word that director Nikolaj Arcel, who co-wrote the Swedish version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and directed the Academy Award-nominated A Royal Affair, is in talks to direct The Dark Tower for Sony Pictures. Arcel will also re-write the script for the project, the previous draft having been penned by Academy Award winner Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind) and Jeff Pinker (The Amazing Spider-Man 2) and based primarily on the first book in the series, “The Gunslinger.”
Earlier this year, it was revealed that Sony Pictures and MRC were teaming to make a live-action version of Stephen King’s epic tale a reality, co-financing the franchise with Sony developing the first feature film and MRC beginning work on a tie-in television series. King’s books weave the saga of Roland Deschain, the Gunslinger, a sobriquet that also happens to be the title of the first book in the series.
“I’m excited that ‘The Dark Tower’ is finally going to appear on the screen,” King previously said. “Those who have traveled with Roland and his friends in their search for the Dark Tower are going to have their long-held hopes fully realized. This is a brilliant and creative approach to my books.”
Ron Howard was initially planning to direct the first film in the series. He is now involved in producing the series through his Imagine Entertainment alongside Brian Grazer and Erica Huggins. Goldsman is also producing through Weed Road with Pinker set to serve as executive producer.
