Stephen King’s The Dark Tower is being adapted (what else is new?), and we might see Matthew McConaughey as main villain Randall Flagg.
It was recently revealed that Hollywood’s hot property Matthew McConaughey turned down the lead villain role in Guardians of the Galaxy 2. Is he keeping his schedule open for another, more literary highbrow adaptation?
Variety reports that Sony, whose persistent efforts to adapt The Dark Tower seem to finally be paying off, is courting McConaughey for the role of the story’s main antagonist, Randall Flagg.
Related: Nikolaj Arcel in talks to direct Stephen King’s The Dark Tower
Flagg is a demonic sorcerer, and a recurring character by many names in King’s works. He is also known as Padick and the Man in Black.
The first book in Stephen King’s Dark Tower series is titled The Gunslinger, and this is (logically) also the first story which Sony is adapting. The Gunslinger himself, Roland Deschain, has not yet been cast.
The Wrap notes that McConaughey was originally eyed to star as Deschain, but now has his pick — does he want to be the hero or the villain? The Wrap believes that he is, “leaning towards embracing his dark side.”
As of right now, Danish director Nikolaj Arcel (A Royal Affair) is set to direct The Dark Tower, from a script by Akiva Goldsman and Jeff Pinkner (Fringe).
In The Gunslinger, Deschain begins his quest to locate The Dark Tower, the nexus of the universe, before the evil forces use it to destroy all existence.
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