The Dark Tower trailer pits Elba against McConaughey
The Dark Tower, 2017’s film adaptation of Stephen King’s novels, finally has a trailer after much anticipation. Whether you’re a die-hard King/Dark Tower fanatic or consider yourself a movie buff, The Dark Tower will be worth the watch simply to see Idris Elba hunt down and confront Matthew McConaughey. The two actors are at the top of their game these days, and pitting them against each other in a big-budget summer tentpole film that’s also an adaptation of a much-loved novel series is asking for butts in seats regardless of quality. That said, we’re all hoping The Dark Tower blows us out of the water, but we’ll have to wait until August to find out.
Until then, you can watch and re-watch the first trailer for The Dark Tower and check out a few posters for the film after the jump.
Originally planned with director Ron Howard at the helm, The Dark Tower was brought to life by Nikolaj Arcel (A Royal Affair). If the first trailer is an early indication (let’s remember, kids, it’s never fair to judge a movie based on a trailer alone), this is looking a bit too early 2000s for some tastes. Personally, I’m reminded of Paul Bettany sci-fi attempts like Legion and Priest, but there’s also a Goosebumps/Are You Afraid of the Dark/Saturday morning mini movie undertone. I’m also catching whiffs of a-kid-out-of-his-time retreadings reminiscent of A Kid in King Arthur’s Court and more recently The Forbidden Kingdom. Since I’m on a comparison roll, how about a bit of Last Action Hero, Tomorrowland, and even Super Mario Bros.? It’s all there if you’re looking for the similar beats, which is concerning.
I’ll be the first to admit I haven’t read the Stephen King books, which are many and from what I’m told very intricate, but it’s safe to say those involved with the movie adaptation knew they were in for a challenge. Fans of the books, what do you think? How’s it look? Are you worried? Excited? Do Elba and McConaughey embody the characters like you’d hoped?
Again, I hate being the type who pre-judges a movie after its first trailer, but I’m leaning more toward calling this a family friendly/four quadrant attempt rather than a *ahem* dark adaptation. That’s not to say it won’t and can’t be thoroughly enjoyable. There are plenty of four quadrant films that are a lot of fun (see a few of the ones mentioned above), but I think fans were wanting something just a little different. Right now, there are a few films and even a prequel television show planned for an anticipated multi-medium franchise, so we’ll see how this first movie pans out before jumping to unjust conclusions.
Rather than cobbling together a movie plot synopsis, here’s a synopsis of The Dark Tower adventure from King’s webpage for the books:
The Dark Tower series tells the story of Roland Deschain, Mid-World’s last gunslinger, who is traveling southeast across Mid-World’s post-apocalyptic landscape, searching for the powerful but elusive magical edifice known as The Dark Tower. Located in the fey region of End-World, amid a sea of singing red roses, the Dark Tower is the nexus point of the time-space continuum. It is the heart of all worlds, but it is also under threat. Someone, or something, is using the evil technology of the Great Old Ones to destroy it.
In Roland’s where and when, the world has already begun to move on. Time and direction are in drift, and the fabric of reality is fraying. However, things are about to get much worse. The six invisible magnetic Beams, which maintain the alignment of time, space, size, and dimension, are weakening. Because of this, the Tower itself is foundering. Unless Roland can find a way to save the Beams and stabilize the Tower, all of reality will blink out of existence.
The Dark Tower stars Idris Elba, Matthew McConaughey, Katheryn Winnick, Jackie Earle Haley, Abbey Lee, Fran Kranz, Claudia Kim, José Zúñiga, Nicholas Hamilton, Dennis Haysbert, and Tom Taylor. The movie hits theaters August 4, 2017.
