During Sony Pictures' CinemaCon presentation in Las Vegas last month, it was revealed that production has finally began on the studio’s long-awaited adaptation ofStephen King’sThe Dark Tower, which is set for release on June 19, 2025. We haven’t heard any updates on the project since then, but today we have the first photos from the South Africa set, which offer our first look atIdris Elbain costume asThe Gunslinger,Roland Deschain. Unfortunately, we don’t get to see any of the actor’s co-stars in these photos, but hopefully we’ll get to see the rest of the cast in action quite soon.
These photos fromThe Daily Mailshow the actor wearing a belt with two holsters on each side, along with numerous rounds of ammo affixed to the belt, as he walks to the set. Another photo shows the actor wearing a trench coat while standing in front of a large green screen, but we don’t have any specific details about the scenes that were being shot. It isn’t known how long the shoot is expected to last in Cape Town, South Africa, or if the production will shift to other locations as well.
The Dark Toweradaptation will bringStephen King’s series of seven novels to life, which follows Roland Deschain, a.k.a. The Gunslinger, who sets off on a journey to findThe Dark Tower, rumored to be a portal to other worlds. Roland will be chased by the Man in Black, a.k.a. Walter Padick, described as an “ageless deceiver and sorcerer,” who is also trying to findThe Dark Towerto rule over all of its kingdoms. Along his journey, Roland will seek help from a junkie named Eddie, an amputee named Susannah and a young boy named Jake, to be part of his team known as a “ka-tet.”
There has been speculation thatThe Dark Toweradaptation will actually be based onStephen King’s third novel in the seven-book series,The Waste Lands, where much ofThe Dark Towermythology was laid out. The plot follows the ka-tet’s efforts to reach out to Jake (Tom Taylor), who is from a different place and time. In the book, that “different place and time” was New York City in 1977, but it may be changed to modern-day.Matthew McConaugheyis playing the villainous Man in Black, alongsideAbbey Leeas Tirana,Michael Barbierias Timmy andKatheryn Winnickin an unspecified role.
Nikolaj Arcel(A Royal Affair) is directing from a script he is rewriting withAnders Thomas Jensen(Election Night).Akiva GoldsmanandJeff Pinknerworked on the initial draft.Ron Howard, who was initially set to direct when the project was set up at Universal, is producing alongside his Imagine Entertainment partnersBrian GrazerandErica Huggins. MRC is also developing a companion TV series, which will reportedly debut between the movies in this trilogy. While we wait for more details onThe Dark Tower movie, take a look at the latest set photos below.
