Director Reflects on Flops of ‘The Dark Tower’ Adaptation

LOS ANGELES, CA — Filmmaker Ron Howard recently discussed the difficulties faced by the 2017 adaptation of Stephen King’s beloved series, ‘The Dark Tower.’ In an interview, he revealed what went wrong with the film, which aimed to blend horror and action but ultimately fell short.

Howard, known for his work as both a director and producer, acknowledged that casting Idris Elba as the gunslinger in a story that intertwines various genres, including sci-fi and fantasy, was a bold move. Despite Elba’s strong performance, critics panned the movie for its failure to cohesively blend the storylines from multiple novels.

Released in August 2017, ‘The Dark Tower’ faced significant backlash. With a budget of $66 million, it grossed $113 million, a modest return considering the high expectations from fans of King’s work. Critics noted the film struggled to find its identity, with a rating that deemed it too safe for a horror narrative.

In reflecting on the film, Howard stated, “I think it should’ve been horror. We made a mistake thinking it could be PG-13.” He believes a darker theme could have better suited the material. “We always felt like we were kind of holding back something,” he added.

Howard suggested that a focus on The Gunslinger, rather than the character of Jake, would have offered a richer storyline. Feeling disappointed, he remarked, “It was just a sense of maybe too much listening to what you think that the marketplace is calling for.”

Despite these issues, Howard remains hopeful about adaptations of King’s work. Reports indicate that a new project is underway which aims to delve deeper into the ‘The Dark Tower’ universe, potentially addressing the shortcomings of the earlier film.