Matthew McConaugheyand Idris Elba’s 2017 sci-fi Western adaptation of a Stephen King novel is now streaming on Netflix, which is a great sign for the franchise’s future. Some ofMatthew McConaughey’s best moviesare the ones that cast him against type. For instance, in 2013, no one expected much out of McConaughey in terms of dramatic acting, yetDallas Buyers' Clubwon him an Oscar and the following yearInterstellarbecame one of his most beloved roles. While not every experiment has been a success for McConaughey, they all do bring something exciting.
Now, McConaughey’s first movie where he played a villain is streaming on Netflix:The Dark Tower. Not only did it give McConaughey a chance to be the bad guy, it also gave him his only opportunity to work with Idris Elba so far. McConaughey and Elba’s collaboration was one of the best things aboutThe Dark Towerin 2017, but now the film has an even more exciting aspect: its future. Thanks to news from acclaimed horror writer and director Mike Flanagan, there’s never been a better time to watchThe Dark Tower.
The Dark Tower Movie Is Now Streaming On Netflix Before Being Remade By Mike Flanagan
The Dark Tower’s Debut On Netflix May Increase Hype For Flanagan’s TV Show
Now, Matthew McConaughey and Idris Elba’s only movie together, 2017’sThe Dark Tower, is streaming on Netflix. InThe Dark Tower, McConaughey plays Walter Padick, an evil wizard set on destroying the universe, and Elba plays Roland Deschain, a gunslinger with the power to stop him.The Dark Toweris based on a series of books of the same name by Stephen King, and the legendary horror author has called the series his magnum opus on several occasions. Its arrival on Netflix couldn’t be better timed, asMike Flanagan is adapting aDark TowerTV seriesthat is already making development progress.
Why The Dark Tower Movie’s Reviews Are So Negative
The Dark Tower Movie Alienated Book Fans & Traded In Its Distinctive Story For A Generic Dystopia
Despite boasting the combined star power of both McConaughey and Elba,The Dark Towerwas an absolute dud. It earned just 16% onRotten Tomatoesand made just $113 million at the worldwide box office against a budget of $60 million (viaBox Office Mojo), making it a financial bomb after marketing and distribution costs.Reviews forThe Dark Towerall tell roughly the same story: the film failed to live up to the epic story Stephen King wrote, and it also failed on its own merits. One of the only things critics universally praisedThe Dark Towerfor was Idris Elba’s performance as Roland.
In short, the movie adaptation of The Dark Tower forgot the face of its father, a phrase which works on several different levels.
Book fans were disappointed by the severely trimmed story, which tried to cram seven (and a half, countingThe Wind Through the Keyhole) novels into a 90-minute action movie. It’s important to note that such a decision cut out three of the series' most important characters and completely ignored entire books.Movie fans were disappointed byThe Dark Tower’s over-edited cuts, dreary settings, weak dialog, and a somehow simultaneously convoluted and simplistic good vs. evil narrative. In short, the movie adaptation ofThe Dark Towerforgot the face of its father, a phrase which works on several different levels.
Mike Flanagan’s The Dark Tower Show Has A Big Advantage Over The 2017 Movie
Flanagan Is A Proven Master Of Stephen King Adaptations, & Following The Dark Tower Books Will Greatly Improve Upon The Movie
Though the film adaptation ofThe Dark Towerleft quite a bit to be desired, the franchise’s future looks much brighter now that Mike Flanagan is involved.The show’s biggest advantage by far is the fact that Flanagan has already saidThe Dark Towerwill faithfully adapt King’s books. That meansThe Dark Towercan include characters the movie left out, as well as major plot points from the novels. Instead of the haphazard plot the movie adaptation featured, Flanagan’s show should better match the pacing and world-bending features of the novels King wrote.
Mike Flanagan’s The Dark Tower Show Needs At Least 5 Seasons To Adapt His Favorite Book In Stephen King’s Series
If horror guru Mike Flanagan wants to address his favorite book from King’s The Dark Tower series, his developing show will need to run a while.
Mike Flanagan also has a stellar track record when it comes to adapting Stephen King’s books. He madeGerald’s GameandDoctor Sleep, which were both critically acclaimed, and he’s set to create aCarrieshow in addition toThe Dark Tower.With Flanagan at the helm,The Dark Towermay yet have a chance to show viewers why readers love the series so much. That hopeful outlook, along with the potential boost to popularity the movie adaptation ofThe Dark Towercoming to Netflix could easily bring, may be a recipe for success, and it may be enough to tip ka in Flanagan’s favor.
The Dark Tower
Cast
Idris Elba, Tom Taylor, Claudia Kim, and Matthew McConaughey star in The Dark Tower, a Western Sci-Fi film directed by Nikolaj Arcel. Released in 2017, The Dark Tower follows a young boy with visions of an apocalyptic future in which a powerful man, dubbed The Man in Black, lays waste to the universe. The film is based on the Stephen King book series.
