Stephen King cool with Idris being Roland

[meshaliuknits]

In the Dark Tower as long as his draw is fast enough.

He's not what I pictured but I can learn to love it. In fact, I've already learned.

nerdist.com/stephen-kings-take-on-idris-elba-in-the-dark-tower/

[wawa]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassssssssssss

[meshaliuknits]

I'm having a harder time wrapping my head around McConaughey being the man in black. He seems much too nice!

[wawa]

I've always pictured something between Clive Owen and Viggo Mortensen. But this TOTALLY works for me.

[wawa]

Dec 13, 2015 16:35:28 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

I'm having a harder time wrapping my head around McConaughey being the man in black. He seems much too nice!

Hmmm. But he's supposed to be surface charming. So....ok.

[meshaliuknits]

Dec 13, 2015 16:36:43 GMT -5 wawa said:

Dec 13, 2015 16:35:28 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

I'm having a harder time wrapping my head around McConaughey being the man in black. He seems much too nice!

Hmmm. But he's supposed to be surface charming. So....ok.

McConaughey strikes me as surface level charming with a thick layer of gentleman underneath. The man in black was always more Viggo in my head. lol He's gonna have to really bring the evil for me.

[gpw]

Sigh. I hate that the question of whether a black person can play this role or that role even exists. These are fictional characters and unless their skin color is germane to the story it just doesn't matter. I'm tired of the question.


That said, I have no clue who this Roland character is or what this Dark Tower thing is. I only came in for a pic of Idris, which this thread is sadly lacking. So....here you go...

[nomad100]

I love the idea but am concerned about how it will impact the Detta storyline.

[Nonny]

I'd be down with Idris Elba being Roland. I always kind of pictured him as Jack Palance when reading the books, but I can think back on the story and slot Elba in and make it work.

My only two asks for the movies are:
1. Cut the ever loving hell out of the book for Wolves of the Calla to remove the unnecessary recap of Salem's Lot
2. Don't skimp on the CGI when rendering Oy.

[fumbalina]

If there had not been the storyline of Detta not trusting the "honky white mofos" I would have no problem with Elba. Of course she has other mental issues so I suppose you could have her believe he was white before her transformation.

There is also a lot of focus on his blue bombardier eyes and skinny boyish hips, but those really are secondary. Honestly I'm not sure Elba will be successful at looking old and worn down, another big aspect of Roland.

I have heard nothing about Eddie Dean but I actually feel like he would be harder to cast.

[gibbinator]

Omg is this finally really happening? I'm so excited. I don't care who plays who as long as the acting is good.
I did always fantasize about Daniel Craig in the role.
Eta:
gpw his whiteness is actually an important point of conflict between him and the central black character. But I'm sure they could always work in some other reason for her to hate him on sight, or she herself could be recast as a racist of another colour I suppose.

[meshaliuknits]

Dec 13, 2015 17:41:41 GMT -5 fumbalina said:

There is also a lot of focus on his blue bombardier eyes and skinny boyish hips, but those really are secondary. Honestly I'm not sure Elba will be successful at looking old and worn down, another big aspect of Roland.

Eh. This is the sort of thing I dismiss outright in books. I develop my mental image less from the author's physical description & more from how he behaves, pulling physical characteristics from other people/characters that behave similarly.

[MrsAxilla]

Dec 13, 2015 18:24:46 GMT -5 gibbinator said:

Omg is this finally really happening? I'm so excited. I don't care who plays who as long as the acting is good.
I did always fantasize about Daniel Craig in the role.
Eta:
gpw his whiteness is actually an important point of conflict between him and the central black character. But I'm sure they could always work in some other reason for her to hate him on sight, or she herself could be recast as a racist of another colour I suppose.

But her being black was key to her character - the racism she experienced caused her split personalities. No, Susannah must be black. I suppose you can explain her instant hatred with "honky" and "honky-lover"? Like she hates the black guy because he's hanging with the white dude? Or even simply she hates them because they are there and she's a hateful, murderous psycho - lol.

[Deleted]

I think the problem is that Roland was based on Clint Eastwood, and Clint is sort of a one of a kind. Love him or hate him, he has a look and presence that is not really available with any actor that I can think of. And he is way too old to do it now, even if he wanted to, which he wouldn't because he prefers to talk to empty chairs.

I don't know about Idris as Roland. Having said that, I can't think of anyone suitable particularly. I do picture Roland as being lanky and tall tho, and hard, almost bitter. I have not seen enough Idris in enough things to know if he can pull that off.

His colour is only an issue in relation to Susannah, and like other posters have said, that can be changed.

[Nonny]

Dec 13, 2015 20:06:18 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Dec 13, 2015 18:24:46 GMT -5 gibbinator said:

Omg is this finally really happening? I'm so excited. I don't care who plays who as long as the acting is good.
I did always fantasize about Daniel Craig in the role.
Eta:
gpw his whiteness is actually an important point of conflict between him and the central black character. But I'm sure they could always work in some other reason for her to hate him on sight, or she herself could be recast as a racist of another colour I suppose.

But her being black was key to her character - the racism she experienced caused her split personalities. No, Suzanne must be black. I suppose you can explain her instant hatred with "honky" and "honky-lover"? Like she hates the black guy because he's hanging with the white dude? Or even simply she hates them because they are there and she's a hateful, murderous psycho - lol.

She could also just hate them because they are men. Detta came about because of the racism, but Detta hated everyone, especially men.

[pixy0stix]

Yeah. If Susannah's character wasn't so central to the plot I think they could switch pretty easily. As it is... I dunno.

[Deleted]

Dec 13, 2015 17:01:29 GMT -5 Nonny said:

My only two asks for the movies are:

2. Don't skimp on the CGI when rendering Oy.

So much yes. Mess up Oy and you might as well not even bother.

[MrsAxilla]

Dec 13, 2015 20:53:46 GMT -5 @therealmc said:

Dec 13, 2015 16:46:46 GMT -5 gpw said:

Sigh. I hate that the question of whether a black person can play this role or that role even exists. These are fictional characters and unless their skin color is germane to the story it just doesn't matter. I'm tired of the question.


That said, I have no clue who this Roland character is or what this Dark Tower thing is. I only came in for a pic of Idris, which this thread is sadly lacking. So....here you go...

I love him and the possibility.  My concern is that there is very real racial tension between Roland and Detta/Susana.  I'm not sure how that storyline will go.

Yeah but that's all wrapped up by the end of book 2 and there are five more after that.  I don't think altering that aspect will impact the rest of the story.  

[aurora]

Dec 13, 2015 20:38:36 GMT -5 @eveer said:

I think the problem is that Roland was based on Clint Eastwood, and Clint is sort of a one of a kind. Love him or hate him, he has a look and presence that is not really available with any actor that I can think of. ...

Really? I didn't know that.


I don't have a problem with Idris as Roland. I can definitely see Susannah/Detta hating Roland for "acting white" or something similar if they end up keeping that part of the story line. And she can still hate Eddie, assuming they cast a white man there.

I'm sure there will be other adjustments; there always are.

[nomad100]

The more I think about it, I think Timothy Olyphant may make a good Roland. He has that slim hipped, square jaw, steely gaze thing going on and now that he is a bit older, I think can pull the run down and grizzled look too.

[wawa]

Dec 14, 2015 8:44:34 GMT -5 nomad100 said:

The more I think about it, I think Timothy Olyphant may make a good Roland. He has that slim hipped, square jaw, steely gaze thing going on and now that he is a bit older, I think can pull the run down and grizzled look too.

no.

I mean, flipping through his IMDB there are a bunch of things I've never seen that would probably change my mind on this (deadwood, justified), but in my head he's stuck as Thomas Gabriel.  Or the Pimp from that random movie I watched on Netflix about the nerd who befreiended a poor innocent porn star.  And just...no.

[Deleted]

Dec 14, 2015 9:08:18 GMT -5 wawa said:

Dec 14, 2015 8:44:34 GMT -5 nomad100 said:

The more I think about it, I think Timothy Olyphant may make a good Roland. He has that slim hipped, square jaw, steely gaze thing going on and now that he is a bit older, I think can pull the run down and grizzled look too.

no.

I mean, flipping through his IMDB there are a bunch of things I've never seen that would probably change my mind on this (deadwood, justified), but in my head he's stuck as Thomas Gabriel.  Or the Pimp from that random movie I watched on Netflix about the nerd who befreiended a poor innocent porn star.  And just...no.

You need to watch Justified just because. That show is fantastic & he's great in it.

[wawa]

Dec 14, 2015 9:20:06 GMT -5 @ameliapond said:

Dec 14, 2015 9:08:18 GMT -5 wawa said:

no.

I mean, flipping through his IMDB there are a bunch of things I've never seen that would probably change my mind on this (deadwood, justified), but in my head he's stuck as Thomas Gabriel.  Or the Pimp from that random movie I watched on Netflix about the nerd who befreiended a poor innocent porn star.  And just...no.

You need to watch Justified just because. That show is fantastic & he's great in it.

I had a feeling that was going to be the answer.  It's been on my radar for a while based on who on my FB would occasionally mention it.  I'm way behind on "things I ought to have watched by now." 

I would have a hard time shaking the smarmy vibe he gives me though. 

[nomad100]

Dec 14, 2015 9:23:20 GMT -5 wawa said:

Dec 14, 2015 9:20:06 GMT -5 @ameliapond said:

You need to watch Justified just because. That show is fantastic & he's great in it.

I had a feeling that was going to be the answer.  It's been on my radar for a while based on who on my FB would occasionally mention it.  I'm way behind on "things I ought to have watched by now." 

I would have a hard time shaking the smarmy vibe he gives me though. 

He is fan-fucking-tastic in Justified and a big part of the reason why I think he could work as Roland.  We almost didn't cut cable since we would have to wait so long to see it on streaming.  

[Deleted]

Dec 14, 2015 9:23:20 GMT -5 wawa said:

Dec 14, 2015 9:20:06 GMT -5 @ameliapond said:

You need to watch Justified just because. That show is fantastic & he's great in it.

I had a feeling that was going to be the answer.  It's been on my radar for a while based on who on my FB would occasionally mention it.  I'm way behind on "things I ought to have watched by now." 

I would have a hard time shaking the smarmy vibe he gives me though. 

I have a huge crush on his character in that show. Lol.

[Skyesthelimit1212]

Dec 14, 2015 8:44:34 GMT -5 nomad100 said:

The more I think about it, I think Timothy Olyphant may make a good Roland. He has that slim hipped, square jaw, steely gaze thing going on and now that he is a bit older, I think can pull the run down and grizzled look too.

Oh see I think he'd make a better Man in Black.  

[nomad100]

Dec 14, 2015 9:30:23 GMT -5 @ameliapond said:

Dec 14, 2015 9:23:20 GMT -5 wawa said:

I had a feeling that was going to be the answer.  It's been on my radar for a while based on who on my FB would occasionally mention it.  I'm way behind on "things I ought to have watched by now." 

I would have a hard time shaking the smarmy vibe he gives me though. 

I have a huge crush on his character in that show. Lol.

Sits right next to you.  

I appreciate his "give no fucks" attitude. 

[wawa]

Dec 14, 2015 9:39:27 GMT -5 Skyesthelimit1212 said:

Dec 14, 2015 8:44:34 GMT -5 nomad100 said:

The more I think about it, I think Timothy Olyphant may make a good Roland. He has that slim hipped, square jaw, steely gaze thing going on and now that he is a bit older, I think can pull the run down and grizzled look too.

Oh see I think he'd make a better Man in Black.  

yes.  surface charming.  DEEPLY ASSHOLE.

Although I've never seen him go deeper than asshole - I'd need to be convinced he can pull off pure evil.

it's really a shame that Viggo had to go on aging and shit, because he could have pulled off either Roland or the Man in Black.  (prophecy vs. LOTR)

[meshaliuknits]

Dec 14, 2015 9:23:20 GMT -5 wawa said:

Dec 14, 2015 9:20:06 GMT -5 @ameliapond said:

You need to watch Justified just because. That show is fantastic & he's great in it.

I had a feeling that was going to be the answer.  It's been on my radar for a while based on who on my FB would occasionally mention it.  I'm way behind on "things I ought to have watched by now." 

I would have a hard time shaking the smarmy vibe he gives me though. 

I adore Justified and I think he still comes off a touch smarmy. I do think he'd be a great Randall Flagg. He can totally pull of charming and still maintain that inner core of devil.

[jeaniebueller]

Dec 13, 2015 16:35:28 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

I'm having a harder time wrapping my head around McConaughey being the man in black. He seems much too nice!

Have you seen Fraility? He can be a creeper.