The Dark Tower: Stringer Bell as Roland Deschain?

[Mike]

http://www.avclub.com/article/idris-elba-might-play-roland-deschain-dark-tower-a-229586

It probably won't happen, but for now:  Fuck.  Yes.

[AncalagonTheBlack]

So Elba vs McConaughey (Man in Black) ? OH YES PLEASE!!

[Joe Pesci]

I think it would be a great casting choice, but how much of an impact would it have on the character of Susannah/Detta Walker? Roland and the gang being all white is a big deal in her split personalities. But as tense as the racial climate currently is, it probably makes sense to do away with that particular plot point.

[Myrddin]

More Elba the better. Hope this rumor proves to be true.

 

[Slurktan]

I think it would be a great casting choice, but how much of an impact would it have on the character of Susannah/Detta Walker? Roland and the gang being all white is a big deal in her split personalities. But as tense as the racial climate currently is, it probably makes sense to do away with that particular plot point.

I thihnk it would be a great casting choice.  As for the racial stuff from the books I would assume Detta would consider him an 'Uncle Tom'?

[red snow]

Now the thought's been planted I'd certainly like to see Elba in a western at some point. Has he ever done one?

It must be great to be an actor who is suggested for pretty much any/every role. It's a shame he hasn't had many leading roles in films. Hopefully playing a villain in the next Star Trek will help - it certainly gave Cumberbatch that boost from Tv to film.

[The Reckoner]

Detta can still call Roland a race traitor and all that.

[briantw]

Seems a little less grizzled than I would picture Roland, but can't complain about his acting chops.

[Calibandar]

Have to say, I'd prefer someone who looks more like the book character.

It reminds me about the discussion we had a few weeks ago about Elba as James Bond.

[Martell Spy]

I'm fine with it, since we can't have Clint Eastwood anyway. I'm hoping books 2 to 5 get made, so having big name actors involved will help insure that happens. Also, it's nice to see our visual media landscape taken over by former The Wire Actors. I keep seeing them pop up on my favorite shows.

 

 

[briantw]

Have to say, I'd prefer someone who looks more like the book character.

It reminds me about the discussion we had a few weeks ago about Elba as James Bond.

I actually think Bond is a little different because every Bond is unique, and the series by nature is constantly morphing and changing to remain relevant.  Craig's version is entirely different from Brosnan, who was different than Dalton and Moore, who were nothing like Connery.  I think any suave UK actor could pull off Bond, really.  I think it's more about the scripts anyway.  I thought Craig was great in Casino Royale, but I was bored out of my mind by the next two movies (haven't seen the new one).  Similarly, I loved Brosnan in GoldenEye but Die Another Day was an abomination.  If you give him a solid script, Elba could do just as well as any other Bond.  

I think the difference with Roland is that there's really just one version of him, and that's the version we all have in our heads.  I'm not necessarily opposed to Elba playing the part because he's a quality actor, but to me he seems too clean cut, young, and good looking for the role.

[Slurktan]

I think the difference with Roland is that there's really just one version of him, and that's the version we all have in our heads.  I'm not necessarily opposed to Elba playing the part because he's a quality actor, but to me he seems too clean cut, young, and good looking for the role.

What? I mean........ what?

[briantw]

What? I mean........ what?

I picture someone old and grizzled as Roland based on what I've read in King's books.  Elba does not fit that look.  It's not a terribly complicated concept.

[Slurktan]

I picture someone old and grizzled as Roland based on what I've read in King's books.  Elba does not fit that look.  It's not a terribly complicated concept.

You are talking like Elba is some model which is patently insane.  Roland is supposed to be clint from the spaghetti westerns... so early 40's and grizzled.  What's Elba?  Early 40's and grizzled.

[Howdyphillip]

 I do not immediately like this choice not because of race, but because I just don't think Elba is the best choice for the role. As I have mentioned elsewhere, Roland is an extremely complicated character, especially for a Stephan King novel. There are times in the story that you have to absolutely despise him, and other times where you have to love him. Even as Stringer Bell, I never was able to pull off a dislike for Elba. He even managed to pull off a certain amount of sympathy in his role as a child warlord in Beasts of No Nation. 

My personal number one choice for the role is Christian Slater. He is an actor that people can hate, and yet still be pulling for. I am interested in seeing a change of race for the character, and in this case Chiwetel Ejifor would be a much better choice. His role in Serenity proves that he has the chops to pull off the intimidating and unlikable and he is also very hard to root against. Another name that I was thinking might be perfect is Bookeem Woodbinbe, who is now playing Mike Milligan in this season of Fargo. He is of course less well known, but I think that he would be perfect for the role.

 

[Ramsay B.]

I love Elba but I can't really see him as Roland. I would choose Guy Pearce.

[Arkash]

Yeah, my biggest fear with Idris Elba is that he comes across as too sympathic for Roland.

Cause yeah, Idris can make anyone likeable and that's not Roland, as Howdyphillip said above, we need someone whom the audience can both loathe and love.

I'm actually supporting the notion of getting a totally unknown actor for playing Roland, myself.

[Howdyphillip]

Yeah, my biggest fear with Idris Elba is that he comes across as too sympathic for Roland.

Cause yeah, Idris can make anyone likeable and that's not Roland, as Howdyphillip said above, we need someone whom the audience can both loathe and love.

I'm actually supporting the notion of getting a totally unknown actor for playing Roland, myself.

My little brother would be perfect for the role if you were going with an established yet not widely known actor. Check out his IMDB site.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1377287/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

[all swedes are racist]

Ti those that argue Stringer could be more sympathetic/less despised than Roland, I ask: WHERE'S WALLCE?!

[red snow]

My little brother would be perfect for the role if you were going with an established yet not widely known actor. Check out his IMDB site.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1377287/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

He looks different from his O Banion role in Boardwalk - guess it's an advantage to appear different according to the part though.

 

 I do not immediately like this choice not because of race, but because I just don't think Elba is the best choice for the role. As I have mentioned elsewhere, Roland is an extremely complicated character, especially for a Stephan King novel. There are times in the story that you have to absolutely despise him, and other times where you have to love him. Even as Stringer Bell, I never was able to pull off a dislike for Elba. He even managed to pull off a certain amount of sympathy in his role as a child warlord in Beasts of No Nation. 

My personal number one choice for the role is Christian Slater. He is an actor that people can hate, and yet still be pulling for. I am interested in seeing a change of race for the character, and in this case Chiwetel Ejifor would be a much better choice. His role in Serenity proves that he has the chops to pull off the intimidating and unlikable and he is also very hard to root against. Another name that I was thinking might be perfect is Bookeem Woodbinbe, who is now playing Mike Milligan in this season of Fargo. He is of course less well known, but I think that he would be perfect for the role.

 

Good point about Roland having to be someone you can hate at times.

I've only read the first book of Dark Tower but some of the complaints people had about the Elba casting was that it would clash with later books here race plays a big part in some of the characters. I paraphrase here but I think there was a mention of a black character from 60s america who has a hard time trusting Roland based on his race. I'm sure someone here can confirm if that's the case (and whether it's a really important aspect of the story). If it is I can see why it's a fair objection and not just knee-jerk race issue.

It's hard to see anyone other than Clint Eastwood when I've read the book. A more gritty Timothy Olyphant could have done it but I tend to just think of anyone who's done cowboy well (there's quite a few to pick from)