Is Idris Elba The Dark Tower’s Gunslinger?

Idris Elba is being lined up to star in “The Dark Tower”.

Just a few weeks after it was revealed Matthew McConaughey was in talks to play the Man in Black in The Dark Tower film series, it looks like the series might also have its Roland Deschain. This comes nearly a month after a report came out that Sony was trying to get Matthew McConaughey for the role of The Man In Black/Randall Flagg, an (almost) immortal villain who pops up in a ton of different King books, not to mention the endless internet arguments about whether or not Elba should play the next James Bond. It’d be the first time the actor – to be seen again next week when Luther returns for a brief fourth series – has headlined a major blockbuster movie.

“Skyfall” actor Javier Bardem is also said to be on the radar of Sony Pictures – who took the project over following a number of failed attempts to launch the franchise at Universal and Warner Bros.

The film will be directed by Nikolaj Arcel, best known for 2012’s acclaimed drama A Royal Affair.

Releasing on January 13, 2017, The Dark Tower screenplay has been scripted by Akiva Goldsman and Jeff Pinkner. Jensen is a prolific writer-director who won the Oscar for his short film Election Night. Deadline adds, “First installment of The Dark Tower focuses on the first book in the series, The Gunslinger, establishing the relationship between Roland and young protege Jake Chambers”. Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Erica Huggins are producing for the company along with Goldsman and his Weed Road banner.

Elba is repped by WME, The Artists Partnership and Headshell Management.