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

Mike Flanagan's highly anticipated adaptation of Stephen King's The Dark Tower promises unwavering fidelity to the source material. Flanagan's proven track record with King adaptations like Doctor Sleep and Gerald's Game already instills confidence, but news of a key collaboration elevates the project further. IGN exclusively reports that Stephen King himself is actively involved, 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."

Exploring the Vast World of King's Dark Tower Multiverse

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The Dark Tower, a seminal work in King's bibliography (with The Gunslinger initially penned in 1970), is deeply personal to the author. King's contribution to Flanagan's adaptation remains shrouded in mystery, but his previous work on the The Stand miniseries (providing an epilogue) offers a precedent. The sheer scope of The Dark Tower's interconnected mythology, encompassing much of King's oeuvre, presents countless opportunities for expansion and enrichment.

Flanagan's commitment to faithfulness aligns perfectly with King's involvement. Flanagan previously stated in a 2022 IGN interview that his adaptation would remain true to the books, emphasizing that avoiding a reimagining as "Star Wars" or "Lord of the Rings" was paramount. He affirmed, "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 starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey, which received criticism for its fragmented narrative.

While the release date and format of Flanagan's Dark Tower remain undisclosed, Flanagan has other King projects in the pipeline. The Life of Chuck is slated for a May theatrical release, and a Carrie series for Amazon is also under development.