Half-starts and production setbacks be damned, Warner Bros.’ long-long-gestating adaptation of The Dark Tower has displayed fleeting signs of progress in recent weeks, and today Deadline has unearthed arguably the most promising of the bunch: the casting of Abbey Lee as Tirana.
Best known for her role as The Dag in Mad Max: Fury Road, the outlet notes that the Australian actress has entered final negotiations to land the film’s female lead, starring opposite Idris Elba (Roland Deschain/The Gunslinger) and Matthew McConaughey as Randall Flag (AKA The Man in Black).
[zerg]Indeed, Elba and McConaughey have been attached to those two roles for an awful long time, and it was only when Stephen King himself confirmed the casting rumors that Warner Bros.’ rendition of the sprawling saga began to gain a renewed sense of momentum.
Tentatively slated for a release in January of next year, The Dark Tower is to be brought to the big screen by director Nikolaj Arcel, best known for helming the original Swedish version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Arcel’s latest task is a completely different kettle of fish, and as The Gunslinger stands as the first installment in King’s literary series, expect Warner Bros. to begin casting the net for young protege, Jake Chambers.
Behind the scenes, Akiva Goldsman, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Erica Huggins are among the producing talent, while it’s understood that, similarly to fellow King adaptation The Stand, a tie-in television series is also in the works.
The Dark Tower is currently set to hit theaters on January 13, 2017 – but don’t expect that date to stick for much longer. It’s small and star-studded roster currently boasts Lee, Elba and McConaughey.