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

Mike Flanagan’s upcoming adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower promises unwavering fidelity to the source material. Flanagan’s proven track record of bringing King’s works to life, evident in films like Doctor Sleep and Gerald’s Game, further solidifies this commitment. Now, the project boasts an even stronger connection to King himself. IGN exclusively reveals that King is actively collaborating with Flanagan, contributing new material to the adaptation.

In 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, one of King’s most celebrated and personal works (initially conceived in 1970), is ripe for expansion. King’s previous contribution of an epilogue to Paramount+’s The Stand series demonstrates his willingness to enhance his existing narratives. The sprawling mythology of The Dark Tower, encompassing much of King’s fictional universe, presents countless opportunities for enrichment.

King’s contributions align perfectly with Flanagan’s vision. Flanagan has repeatedly emphasized his commitment to staying true to King’s original text, stating in a 2022 IGN interview that the adaptation "would look like the books" and rejecting the idea of transforming it into something akin to Star Wars or Lord of the Rings.

He further elaborated: "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 approach stands in stark contrast to the 2017 film adaptation starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey, which loosely blended elements from across the seven novels.

While the release date and format of Flanagan’s The Dark Tower remain unclear, Flanagan’s busy schedule includes the upcoming theatrical release of The Life of Chuck (May 2024) and the development of a Carrie series for Amazon, based on King’s 1974 novel.