Los Angeles: Universal Pictures has growing concerns about the big investment needed to produce `The Dark Tower`, a literary saga by Stephen King in which Javier Bardem will play the leading role, according to the Hollywood showbiz medium The Wrap.
Studio executives have been meeting over the last few weeks to try and reduce the estimated production costs and are "still trying to figure out whether to proceed with it at all", The Wrap said Friday, adding that "the very expensive `Dark Tower` clearly has attracted the attention of the people in charge of the money".
The original idea consisted of making the audiovisual version of King`s seven books in three feature films and two TV mini-series.
The first instalment of "The Dark Tower" was planned to start shooting this summer, though Universal`s rethinking of the project means filming is bound to be delayed.
Exactly how long the project is likely to be postponed has not been revealed, nor how it could affect the participation of Bardem and Ron Howard, director of `The Da Vinci Code` and `Angels and Demons`, who have signed on for at least the first film, whose premiere is set for May 2013.
In case Universal Pictures fails to start production before July 2012, film rights revert to the author.
"The Dark Tower" is Stephen King`s personal vision of the Far West, where the fantasy of a magical universe blends with his own brand of terror and elements typical of the traditional western.
The project has been compared in its magnitude by some of the media to "The Lord of the Rings".
Bardem is to play pistol-packing Roland Deschain, who has spent his life in search of the Dark Tower, humanity`s last chance to save civilization.
Together with the feature films and television series, a video game has also been announced, while a comic strip of the saga created with King`s participation already exists.
IANS
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.