EXCLUSIVE: Stephen King Confirms He's Writing for Mike Flanagan's Dark Tower Adaptation: 'It's Happening' - IGN Fan Fest 2025

Mike Flanagan, the acclaimed director behind adaptations of Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep and Gerald’s Game, has pledged unwavering fidelity to the source material in his upcoming adaptation of The Dark Tower. This commitment is further solidified by an exclusive revelation from IGN: Stephen King himself is actively collaborating on the project.

During an interview promoting The Monkey, King confirmed his involvement, stating, "All I can say is it's happening. I am writing stuff now and I think that's all I want to say because the next thing you know, I'll stir up a bunch of stuff I don't necessarily want to stir up yet. I'm in process right now, and to say too much feels like a jinx."

The Essentials: Stephen King's Dark Tower Multiverse

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The Dark Tower, a sprawling epic that began its journey in 1970 with The Gunslinger, holds a special place in King's oeuvre. King's contribution to Flanagan's adaptation remains shrouded in mystery, but his previous work on the The Stand miniseries, where he penned an epilogue, offers a glimpse into the potential depth of his involvement. Given The Dark Tower's vast scope, encompassing much of King's fictional universe, the possibilities for enriching the existing narrative are immense.

Flanagan's commitment to faithfulness echoes in his past statements. In a 2022 interview with IGN, he emphasized his intention to remain true to King's vision, stating that the adaptation "would look like the books" and rejecting the temptation to transform it into something akin to Star Wars or Lord of the Rings. He further explained, "It is what it is, what it is is perfect. It's just as exciting as all of those things and just as immersive. It's a story about a tiny group of people, all the odds in the whole world are against them, and they come together. As long as it's that, it'll be fine and there won't be a dry eye in the house."

This reassurance stands in stark contrast to the 2017 film adaptation starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey, which was criticized for its disjointed approach to the source material.

While the release date and format of Flanagan's The Dark Tower remain undisclosed, Flanagan's busy schedule indicates a dedicated commitment to King's works. His adaptation of King's short story, The Life of Chuck, is slated for a May release, and he's also developing a Carrie series for Amazon, based on King's 1974 novel.