Well, the writing was pretty much on the wall already before it was announced yesterday that Universal had yanked the cord on The Dark Tower. Despite lots of movement late last year and early this year, with Javier Bardem being tipped for the lead role and lots of excitement around the multi-platform mega franchise that would’ve seen Stephen King‘s book series stretched out over three films and television series, word just as quickly quieted as the honchos over at Universal began to get cold feet over the scope and more importantly the cost of the project.

Word was that the budget was being reworked and the production start pushed back, but as director Ron Howard begin circling new projects including a Spy Vs. Spy movie and the Formula 1 racing drama Rush which is already casting up we can’t say anyone was shocked by the collapse of The Dark Tower. Least of all, the author himself.

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