Frank Darabont Reveals He Turned Down Stephen King’s The Dark Tower Pitch

Renowned director Frank Darabont has clarified a long-standing Hollywood rumor. He did not pitch Stephen King on adapting The Dark Tower. According to Darabont, King actually asked him to take on the project. The director recently explained this while discussing his work on Stranger Things.

Darabont felt deeply honored by the request from the iconic author. However, he ultimately declined the monumental task. He cited the story’s internalized nature and massive scope as key reasons.

Why The Acclaimed Director Walked Away

In a conversation with IndieWire, Darabont provided a detailed account. He described King’s personal call asking if he was interested in The Dark Tower. Darabont was flattered but quickly felt overwhelmed by the challenge.

He explained that much of the saga lives inside the characters’ heads. Adapting that internal dialogue for the screen seemed diabolically difficult. The director also envisioned a decade-long commitment to get it right.

Darabont was reportedly exhausted from other projects at the time. He respectfully told King he could not do it. The author understood and moved on. Years later, Darabont briefly reconsidered, but the rights were already with another filmmaker.

A New Vision Rises With Mike Flanagan

The 2017 film adaptation starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey struggled. Critics and fans agreed the epic book series was too vast for a single movie. Its failure highlighted the need for a more expansive format.

This paved the way for Mike Flanagan’s planned television series. The acclaimed horror director secured the rights for a multi-season show. His project is now set up at Amazon MGM Studios.

Flanagan, known for The Haunting of Hill House and Doctor Sleep, has King’s blessing. He is currently writing the ambitious adaptation. While no release date is set, the series promises a faithful, long-form approach the story deserves.

The long journey to adapt Stephen King’s The Dark Tower continues to surprise fans. With Frank Darabont’s story clarified, all eyes now turn to Mike Flanagan’s promising new vision for the saga.

Info at your fingertips

Did Stephen King reject Frank Darabont?

No. Darabont says King personally asked him to direct an adaptation. The director was the one who turned down the offer. He found the epic scale of the books too daunting to tackle.

Who is adapting The Dark Tower now?

Director Mike Flanagan is leading a new adaptation. He plans to develop it as a multi-season television series for Amazon. The project is in the script development phase.

Why did the 2017 Dark Tower movie fail?

Critics and fans felt it tried to condense a massive book series into one short film. The movie ran for just 95 minutes. It failed to capture the depth and scope of Stephen King’s original work.

What is Frank Darabont known for?

Darabont is famous for directing acclaimed Stephen King adaptations like *The Shawshank Redemption* and *The Green Mile*. He also developed the first season of *The Walking Dead* for television.