Stephen King Joins Mike Flanagan's Dark Tower: 'It's Happening' - IGN Fan Fest 2025

Mike Flanagan's upcoming adaptation of Stephen King's epic fantasy series, *The Dark Tower*, is set to remain true to the novels, promising fans an authentic experience. Known for his successful adaptations of King's works such as *Doctor Sleep* and *Gerald's Game*, Flanagan's commitment to staying faithful to King's vision is further solidified by the involvement of the author himself. IGN has exclusively revealed that Stephen King is actively contributing new material to Flanagan's project, enhancing the adaptation's fidelity to the source material.

In a recent roundtable interview with IGN promoting *The Monkey*, King hinted at his ongoing work on *The Dark Tower*, 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." This collaboration between Flanagan and King ensures that the adaptation will deeply resonate with the essence of the novels.

The Essentials: Stephen King's Dark Tower Multiverse

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*The Dark Tower* is a cornerstone of King's literary career, with the first novel, *The Gunslinger*, beginning in 1970. King's involvement in Flanagan's adaptation raises intriguing possibilities, especially given his past contributions, such as the epilogue he wrote for the Paramount+ series *The Stand*. Given the extensive and interconnected nature of *The Dark Tower* universe, which ties into nearly all of King's fiction, the potential for new material to enhance the story is vast.

Flanagan has emphasized his dedication to preserving the integrity of King's narrative, stating in a 2022 interview with IGN, "it would look like the books" and "the way not to do *The Dark Tower* is to try to turn it into something else, to try to make it Star Wars or make it 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 is particularly reassuring after the 2017 film adaptation of *The Dark Tower*, which starred Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey and received mixed reviews for its deviation from the books.

While details about the release and format of Flanagan's *The Dark Tower* adaptation remain under wraps, fans can look forward to other King-related projects from Flanagan. His adaptation of King's short story *The Life of Chuck* is set to premiere in theaters in May, and he is also developing a *Carrie* series for Amazon, based on King's 1974 novel.