Posted by Kirk in Discuss, Fantasy Cast | 169 comments
Fantasy Cast… Who should play Roland Deschain in a ‘The Dark Tower’ movie?
Oh, Stephen King, why are your novels so convoluted and bulky? Â I have this theory that years back King decided he was going to make his books so thick with plot that they would be virtually impossible to adapt to a feature film. Â This is particularly the case with “The Dark Tower”, the seven-book series that King began in 1970 and finished in 2004.
I love “The Dark Tower” series. Â I know many were turned off by the end, and, leading up to the end, the plot got a little too twisty for my taste. Â Nonetheless, I look back on these novels with a deep appreciation and a complete lack of faith that they will ever be turned into a feature film. Â For one thing, no one would finance it. Â Seven books equals seven movies, and these would be hard R-rated movies filled with sex and violence galore.
At the heart of “The Dark Tower” series is Roland Deschain of Gilead. Â He is the last of a long line of “gunslingers”, peacekeepers and diplomats of his world.
King based Roland’s appearance on Leone’s “The Man With No Name”, but Eastwood is clearly too old to play the part. Â In recent years, I thought Viggo Mortensen or Thomas Jane would make a good Roland.
What do you think? Â Let us know by shooting us some comments below as to who you think would make an ideal Roland if “The Dark Tower” ever got put to film.
Also, if you have any ideas for future Fantasy Casts, shoot us an email. Â Our addresses can be found right here!
Roland – Timothy olyphant
Eddie – Shia Labeouf
Susannah – Zoe Saldana
Jake – Nathan Gamble (was Thomas jane's boy in the mist)
Father Callahan – James Cromwell
Randle Flagg- Jackie Earle Haley
Young Roland – Logan Lerman ( 3:10 to Yuma)
Cuthbert Algood – i cant think of a decent actor to play him ?
Alain Jones – Spencer Breslin
Booooooo
Everyone you said was good. Especially the role of Roland. But if that moron Shia Labeouf was cast, I would put a bullet in my skull. He’s ruined enough movies.
now, your suggestions for Roland and Eddie for horrible. however, in the role of Eddie, Aaron Paul(Breaking Bad) would be a very good choice. and as some people have said Hugh Laurie as Roland would be good. in the role of Jake, nathan gamble is a good choice, but Kodi Smit-McPhee, wouldn’t be that bad either.
Roland should be an unknown. Roland should just be Roland not some famous face.
Eddie Dean – for some reason always pictured James McAvoy, though Eddie Dean needs to be funny so…
Susannah- I like Zoe Saldana a lot for that role.
Flagg/Marten/Walter/Walkin' Dude whoever – maybe should be played by different actors. And while I like a lot of the suggesstions and will probably get quite a lot of eye-rolling for this, but did anyone think of someone like Nicolas Cage?
thank you for finally being the first people when some sense in saying that roland should be an unknown.. there is absolutely no way that roland could be aragorn or wolverine like everyone seems to be saying
I’d have to say there is an exception to this notion.. Daniel Day Lewis to me is Roland. Different then Clint but would give this movie so much dimension. Watch the movie There Will Be Blood.. Take that character and make him the good guy.. perfect.
I totally agree that it should be Daniel Day Lewis. He’s also not one of those hot item actors that all the girls have been googling over recently. No girls should be googling over Roland without being scared of him first.
ok, maybe it’s crazy.. but i Just tought, what about Hugh Laurie for Roland? you should take that smile away from his face, but is the most closer that i could find….exept for Eastwood…i mean Eastwood is “Almost” Roland… but he’s too old now T_T, how I Hate you time!
i totally agree… hugh laurie is the perfect not eastwood…
Never thought of Hugh Laurie for this role, but I actually think that is a really good choice.
Love the Hugh Laurie angle! Had not thought of him but a much better fit than Bardem, who does not even come close to the description of Roland.
Hugh Laurie was the first person to pop into my head for Roland. he has the perfect look, he’s great at being a jerk which Roland is most of the time because he is bad with people, and he has those blue eyes, plus he looks good with scruff on his face. I’ll be upset with anyone but him in this part.
I think the only way to do Rolands character justice is to computer generate him.. i means hes like thousands of years old, you never really see his face, only really shawdows and in certain parts Stephen King describes him, and it would make his blue eyes brighter than putting fake contacts on a brown eyed actor.
they could create a sortof hazyness around him.. because i think Eddie, Sussanah, Jake would all look the same because there from the same place, where as Roland is from a world that moved on so his body clothes and aura would be different.
Stephen King even said Roland looks like him, so why would you get a big famous Hollywood actor to play him when you could generate a lookalike that would make the storyy more beleivable.
i strongly dislike this idea
i also strongly dilike this idea.
terrible
and its official you my friend are more likely to build a man out of dry sand, than pitch a roland who doesnt exist. Roland is more than real, he is unique across the towers many levels and all its worlds. He not it… does it understand my meaning? It is not ready to post absurd things, because it is not a real boy. Do you like it? niether does Roland.
My husband has said that he thought Josh Brolin would be awesome. I think both him and Viggo Mortensen would be a good choice. Though Mortensen is older and I believe that would be right.
Roland – Josh Holloway
Eddie- Giovanni Ribisi
Susannah/Odette/Detta -Rutina Wesley
Jake-Logah Lerman
Walter/Randall Flagg-Mark Strong
Josh Holloway as Roland?
… Yes.
I would not mind this, especially considering how heavily that Lost was influenced by the Dark Tower. There was also a possibly leaked/possibly fake outline of Season 6 that gave the show an ending very similar to that of the Dark Tower with Jack in Roland’s position.
That said, Josh Holloway would make an awesome Roland
Awsome suggestions!
Logan Lerman is to old, Jake is eleven years old…
THOMAS JANE — ROLAND
YES!! Thats what I was thinking!!!
Nah, doesn’t fit somehow :/
I wouldn’t even begin to know who should play Roland.. But for Eddie Dean – Jeffery Donovan would be a perfect pick.
And then for Suz – Kandyse McClure would be awesome.
like it..
I definately think Viggo Mortensen has the best resume: He has done a western – Appalooza or Hidalgo, an epic fantasy – LOTR… and a post apocalyptic – The Road. These are all major themes that are incorporated into the dark tower series. It would be crazy if he were not at least considered for it.
Roland- Does have to be Viggo and must wear lifts in his shoes.. no other actor i can think of will do… Josh Brolin would be cool but not quite right… of course Josh Holloway is a bad ass… but he’s 15-20 years too young.
Eddie- They need to put Casey Affleck on smack for 6 months or so then film him on his 2 week of detox.
Suz- is hard cause Thandie Newton would make an awesom Detta, but i don’t see here as Odetta or suz. Zoe Saldana would be good but i would like to se Marsha Thomason (from lost) because even with no legs i can still see falling inlove with her at first sight (like eddie does)
Jake- whoever they find to play Ender Wiggin (for enders game movie) must also play Jake Chambers.
Father Calllahan- Ideally would be Anthony Hopkins but that would never happen… he makes a better callahan than ted brautigan i think.
They are Twinners…Pere and Ted.
Roland- Danny devitto
Suzzanna- America Ferrera
Eddie- justin bieber
jake- dakoda fanning
Oy- Danny Devitto in a skunk suit miniturized via CG
Hmmm not sure DV could pull off Oy … I think his back might be too hairy …
LMFAO
Eddie Dean = Artie Lange….i always pictured him in this role the whole time i was reading the books…
I’m Stephen King and I approve this message.
How ’bout Liam Neeson as Roland
I think the guy who played Max in across the universe (Joe Anderson)
might do a good eddie if he dyed his hair
I’d be very interested to see this, but liam neeson is a bit to likable to play roland i think.
Is Lee Marvin too old for Roland
nevermind he died in 86 oops
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what about aaron paul (plays jesse in “breaking bad”) as eddie dean? i think he could pull off that kind of whiny,joke cracking smartass attitude, but he can also give off that serious urgency vibe which eddie gives off aswell.
That is the first decent Eddie suggestion I’ve seen. Don’t you folks remember how old Eddie is? Ewan McGregor? Johnny Depp? Come on!
I think Aaron Paul would be great as Eddie Dean.
I really think that James Franco would be a great Eddie. Rosario Dawson for Suzanna…may be too light skinned…idk.
Noooo Franco makes my skin crawl!
Aaron Paul is definitely one of the best suggestions out there.
o.k. even as i write this it doesnt really feel right but picture daniel craig with a full head of black hair and your not too far off a workable “roland”.he could definately play the mysterious,deeply emotional yet cold and heartless exterior of “roland”. i just think he has the perfect acting sensabilities for the character. but his features just might be too far off the mark. any thoughts?
o.k. scrap the whole daniel craig/roland idea. i was too tired to be thinkin straight when i thought of it.what about robert john burke as roland?
ya know, robert john burke does kinda have an eastwood look about him
oh,guy,it’i realy great!
WHAT IS WRONG WITH ALL OF YOU!? In the beginning of the first book Roland is described as a man with an ageless face. He looks young! but somehow you know that he has seen and been through so much. The guy has to be late twenties mid thirties tops! Or somebody who could pass for that. I cant believe any of you have ever read the books…..RoboCop…seriously???
would a guy in his twenties or thirties have already be getting bad arthritis? He may have been in his early thirties in the Gunslinger but he seems to have aged a lot by the end. He was a teenager when he and his friends went to Megas, i think that was the town’s name, and that was before the fall of Gilead which too place thousands of years ago. Someone can be in their thirties and not look really old, and maybe decendants of Arthur Eld age really well
and i’m sure he’d look older if he spent years wandering through the deserts and wastelands. He’s prety much on the trail most of his life
Someone who could pass from anywhere between 30 to 50. You can’t place how old he really is. It’s true that the effect his life has had on him make it so he can never look 20s. I mean come on… who’s going to take a Roland who looks 20-something seriously?
Adam Baldwin for Roland.
Adam Baldwin might be a good choice for Roland.
liar
Umm, no.
Leonardo DiCaprio for Eddie, maybe? Or he might be too old now… For the others, I have no ideas.
No, not Leonardo. I’m agreeing with the Aaron Paul suggestion above for Eddie.
o.k.granted, In the book roland isnt necessarily described as being physically old, but the fact is is that the books project his persona to be old.its kinda what you expect. your mind’s eye has the ability to ignore contradictions like that yet keep the credability in the story.thats the great thing bout books as opposed to film. alot of whats in the dark tower series can technically be classed as absurd,eddie dean naked in a shootout,giant lobsters,talking trains,it works in print because king writes it so well and your mind sets it in the seriousness of the context its written in. but on film, if its done wrong,or taken too litterally, it may just come off as silly.i think making roland a late twenties/early thirties ‘old man’,despite the fact that it may be accurate to the books,just wont work on film……but yeah fair enough maybe ‘robocop’ was a stretch for roland.
I think Kimberly Elise would be a great Susannah/Odetta/Detta.
I think she would be great as well… she can be strong and soft
Everybody should keep in mind that the actors chosen for the roles must be able to make long term commitments and be willing to star on the ‘small’ screen for the tv seasons. Also, we don’t want someone so old for Roland Deschain that they kick-off before the project is complete, and I doubt very much that individuals like Mortenson, Jackman, or Day-Lewis are looking to tie themselves to any television series in the near future.
actually thats a fair point,i was thinkin along the lines of someone who looks youthful enough in their early to mid forties, but by the end of filming that may very well put him in his fifties,its a tricky one.but i really dislike the idea of casting some hollywood blockbuster star in rolands role.i guess its gonna come down to how good a casting scout department ron howards got.would he be willing to spend time looking for Mr.Right,so to speak, or will he just go for a big name.plus,not to sound pervy,but has anyone seen emily browning with blonde hair in the upcoming new zack snyder film ‘sucker punch’.now granted,the outfits are kinda, ‘cyber babe’ slutty,if you’l forgive the term,but in approprietely innocent garb she may very well make a good ‘susan’. any thoughts?
if she was younger, they could cast Scarlett Johansson for Susan. It just needs to be a hot young blonde with a nice rack and good skin
She’s black you idiot!
He said Susan, not Susanna. They are two different women you idiot!!!!
How about Brad Dourif as Eddie
do you have a time machine? If you do, we’re casting CLint Eastwood as Roland
thought this the second i read the book
i assume the movie actors will be different than the seiries. this is almost always the case.
Roland- Guy Pearce
He has the talent, the range and the age.
I totally agree with this. He was the first guy that came to mind. He can looked run down and dignified at the same time.
Definitely can see Christian Bale being a solid Roland. He’s my pick for sure.
thats a good choice, I can see that
Russel Crowe to play Roland
Johnny Depp to play Eddy
it sounds like stephen moyer is tipped to be a good bet to play roland.when he’s not all ‘vamped’ up in true blood he definately has the look.i can really see him playin roland well.he has my vote. stephen moyer as roland, aaron paul as eddie dean.
Roland-Tom Jane, or maybe Gary Senise? Hugh Laurie? I think a no name would be best. Someone to BE Roland…
Eddie-Shia Lebouf…oh yeah, great!
Suze-Aisha Tyler, idk, that’s how i see her….
Jake-Hell, by the time they make the movie, you’d need a new face…
Flagg/Marten/blahblhablah- I think different actors would HAVE to be used….Just not Jamey Sheridan Yeeick!
Hmmm Gary Sinese! Like!!
I noticed someone mention Josh Brolin for Roland And I agree Take his look in Jonah Hex before he screwed up his face and you have Roland. Not too young but not too old. Hayden Christensen for Eddie
maybe Jimmy Bennett(young James T. Kirk for Jake
I agree, Roland is supposed to be ageless. But who is to say at what age he stopped aging? I think he needs to be portrayed by someone who is between 40 & 55. This will automatically give him weight in the subconscious of most viewers as well as providing an actor who has lived a little so they have the chops to pull off the character.
Now, I know I will get crucified for suggesting this, but, I think Jim Carrey would do an excellent job at this. He has a slightly weathered face with a youthfulness to it. He has done dramas before so he can give the character depth, and he is a master a comedy so when Roland says a quip, as he does occasionally, Jim could pull that off without thinking about it and coming off fake.
light blue eyes?
how about michael massee as ‘the man in black’? he was dead creepy in that bill pullman series ‘revelations’.
Roland – Clive Owen
Yall act like Halle Berry is the only black actress in Hollywood. For Susannah,
1st choice: Naomie Harris(Pirates of The Carribean 2/ Tia Dalma)
2nd choice: Rutina Wesley(True Blood, Tara)
3rd choice: Kerry Washington(Lakeview Terrace & I Think I Love My Wife)
4th choice: Zoe Saldana(Star Trek/Uhura & Avatar/Neytiri)
5th choice: Nicole Baharie(American Violet)
That “Tara” from true blood is thee worst! the reason i had to stop watching it!
Hmmm some interesting ideas.
What about Richard Armitage to play Roland?
Shia Labeouf as Eddie Dean
the rest i cant think of at the moment
Roland- Josh Holloway.. Or for some reason Nathan Fillion (from Firefly/Serenity) stands out as a good option.
Eddie- Dominic Monagham
Susannah- i can’t think of a solid actress for her yet.. I’m only on book 3 so…
Jake- I dunno too many young kid actors..
Just had another thought for Eddie… jake gyllenhaal..
And I still can’t dismiss Nathan Fillion as the gunslinger..
Imagine my suggestions with the little changes in hair color ect. to ajust their looks to the characters:
Roland- Stephen Lang
Eddie- Eddie Cahill or Adam Storke(played Larry Underwood in the Stand mini series- i know he is probably too old now but i always saw him in the part!)
Susannah- I like Rutina wesley or maybe Kerry washington?
Jake-i would like to see an unknown
martin- someone suggested mark strong and i love it
father callahan-should be the one from the salem’s lot movie.
Roland- Eric Bana has the look and ability. or maybe Willim Fichtner hes got the right look about him too!
Eddie- Sam Rockwell would be good ! gotta remember,Eddie was a high as a kite on drugs when we first met him. Though maybe a little old, Sam would be a great Eddie. If not, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, hes the right age and pretty good in most things.
Susan- yeah I’d go with Zoe Salanda, She could do the nasty/nice thing well.
Jake-Well, I dunno, too many annoying kid actors about !
Father Callahan- maybe Tommy lee Jones! Or John Lithgow, he just looks like a King character.
Walter/Martin/Flagg/- what obout Michael Emerson from Lost !He was nut job as ben in that !
I think since Stephen King modeled Roland after Clint Eastwood as the man with no name -Hugh Jackman reminds me of Eastwood the most – he is definitely a rugged tough guy -As Wolverine and can be a gentleman -Kate and Leopold. Roland needs to be tough AND noble!
Hugh Jackman’s my pick!
for some reason. He could were blue contacts -Tom Cruise did for Lestat(bad casting there BTW).
Hear me out on this, but I think its a good idea
Roland- Daniel Day-Lewis, Daniel Craig or Christian Bale… Josh Brolin could work too, i guess
Eddie – Justin Chatwin, Steve from “Shameless” on showtime
Suse/detta/odetta – idk… not Rosario… i love her but her look, to me, does’nt fit the part
Jake- Jake Cherry
Oi- CGI awesomeness
From what I am reading, this movie is heading downhill fast. I am not a casting director by all means, but the fact that Javier is even being considered for the role of Roland is heartbreaking. The only actor that comes to mind when reading the books, is Clint, yet sadly, he is too old to play the part. I don’t even think Viggo is right. At this point, it should be an unknown. I say this, because I read another comment elsewhere stating that it should be an unknown rather than a known actor as homage should be played to the story not the actor. Been thinking about who should play Detta/Odetta, and I think Taraji Henson could pull it off. She has the potential. Definitely not a caucasian. James McEvoy would be brilliant to play Eddie Dean. Possibly James Caviezel for Roland, with the piercing blue eyes. He would need makeup to make him more weathered though. Update to this post, just read that Javier Bardem has been offered the role. So wrong, so very wrong.
liamm neeson-roland
ryan reynolds-eddie
zoe saldana- suze
any kid for jake
ron perlman- callahan
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Okay this took a long time to come up with because it is very hard to cast characters that you picture in you head because no actor is going to match the vision in your head perfectly but, this is what I have so far.
Roland Deschain: Jeffery Dean Morgan
Eddie Dean: Jensen Ackles (Supernatural)
Detta/Odetta/Suzanna Dean: Jada Pinkett Smith or Christine Adams
Jake Chambers: Dakota Goyo (Real Steel)
Pere Callahan: James Cromwell (Salem’s Lot; come on he already played him once)
Walter O’Dim/Walter Flagg/The Man in Black: Gary Oldman
Cuthbert: Logan Lerman.
Susan Delgado: Amanda Seyfried
Jonas(Big Coffin Hunter): Steven Lang (Avatar and Terra Nova)
Roy Depape: Donhall Gleeson
I couldnt think of a good Alain, Cort, Clay Renolds or Sheemie.
Well, I may be a little late chining in, but I think my pick for Roland would be Cullen Bohannon from Hell on Wheels, can see no one better, he has the perfect look.. just my opinion though :)
oops, should say chiming
OK, I must be tired because I reread my post again, and realized I should have said Anson Mount, who plays Cullen Bohannon… sorry :)