Viking Winnick Heads to THE DARK TOWER
Variety reports that Katheryn Winnick (Vikings) will join Idris Elba in the cast of The Dark Tower,
Citing “sources” for their information, the mag doesn’t include Winnick’s character. Could she be playing the succubus encountered by Elba’s gunslinger? She’s probably not playing Roland’s mother or Susannah Dean.
Also in the cast are Matthew McConaughey as the Man in Black and Tom Taylor as young Jake Chambers.
The first installment is based on the first novel, The Gunslinger, with Elba’s Roland Deschain meeting Jake. Akiva Goldsman and Jeff Pinkner adapted the book, and the project is being produced by Goldsman along with Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, and Erica Huggins for Imagine Entertainment.
The project has been in development for what feels like decades, but it dates back to 2007 when J.J. Abrams first was set to produce and direct. Abrams’ Lost co-creators Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof optioned the rights to the Stephen King book series, but the adaptation foundered because Abrams and company were focused on Lost at the time.
When their option expired in 2009, Ron Howard was the next to take up the cause. Universal Pictures announced plans for both film and television projects built around the books, with Goldsman on script duties. But the project stalled a number of times, and Universal passed in 2011 because of concerns over the budget.
Now under the production auspices of Sony Pictures and MRC, the project looks to be moving forward. Nikolaj Arcel will direct. The cast also includes Jackie Earle Haley, Abbie Lee, and Fran Kranz.
The Dark Tower arrives in theaters February 17, 2017.
