Mike Flanagan Explains His Slow Progress on Stephen King’s ‘The Dark Tower’ TV Show

Horror director Mike Flanagan recently shared some thoughts on why his TV adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower is taking so long to come together. Known for his work on projects like Doctor Sleep and Gerald’s Game, Flanagan has been trying to bring this massive story to life for years.

The Dark Tower is a huge series of eight novels that mix fantasy, horror, and western themes. It follows a gunslinger named Roland Deschain on a quest to reach a mysterious tower that holds reality together. Fans have been eager for a good adaptation since a 2017 movie flopped, and Flanagan’s version is seen as a big chance to get it right.

He explained that the project is moving forward, but it’s a slow process. One reason is his switch from Netflix to Amazon a while back, which delayed things. Then the Hollywood strikes hit, putting everything on hold again. Even with these setbacks, Flanagan said they’re making progress.

He’s got a pilot script ready and a clear plan for at least five seasons, plus some ideas for movies tied to the story. He’s working with his production company, Gravitas Intrepid Pictures, and they’re figuring out how to juggle this alongside other projects.

Flanagan made it clear this isn’t a small job. He described it as a huge undertaking, saying, “That thing’s launching an oil tanker. But we’re working on it.” He admitted the legal and logistical challenges are tough, slowing things down. His passion for the project is obvious, though.

He told The Hollywood Reporter, “It was stalled first by me moving from Netflix to Amazon and stalled again by the strikes. It’s progressing, and we’re further along than we’ve ever been on it.” He also said, “I do see feature components to some of the other stories, but the main storyline is [an] ongoing series.”

His producing partner, Trevor Macy, chimed in too. He said Flanagan’s excitement for The Dark Tower is real, and they’re in constant talks about it.

Macy added, “So Mike is incredibly passionate about this and we’re incredibly passionate about Intrepid [Pictures]. There are a few things in the hopper with Intrepid with us and we’re trying to figure out right now how to prioritize. So I don’t have anything to share specifically on ‘Dark Tower’ other than we are in weekly conversations with him about this and a few other pieces that we’re leaning into.”

They’re also busy with other work, like a new film called The Life of Chuck, based on another King story.

For fans, this news is a mix of hope and patience. Flanagan has a strong track record with King’s work, so expectations are high. The Dark Tower is tricky to adapt because it’s so big and complex, with ties to other King tales.

Past attempts, like the 2017 film and a scrapped Amazon pilot, didn’t satisfy audiences. Flanagan’s approach seems thoughtful, aiming to respect the source material while making it work for TV and maybe film too.

In my opinion, Flanagan’s slow pace could be a good sign. He’s not rushing it, which suggests he wants to do it justice. The Dark Tower deserves more than a quick, sloppy attempt—its fans have waited too long for that. His care might mean we finally get a version that feels true to King’s vision. But it’s hard not to wonder if all these delays mean it’ll stay stuck in development forever.

What do you think—will Flanagan pull this off, or are we in for another letdown? Share your thoughts in the comments below!