The studio is the second to pass. Universal was previously involved but pulled the plug just before going into production. In light of this, Javier Bardem left the project leaving producers with the task of finding some other guy to sling guns in that thing. (THR)

Warner Bros, the quiet and sensitive studio that wears glasses and hangs out in the pottery classroom during lunch, has agreed to team up with Howard on at least one film based on Stephen King‘s The Dark Tower. Initial plans with Universal were for three films and two short-run TV series, and to throw a rager at Universal’s lake house after graduation. Whether or not more films or Javier Bardem‘s involvement are on the slate remains to be seen. However, producer Brian Grazer has mentioned that Warner Bros sister studio HBO (who Warners pretty much raised after their mom died and dad fell into the bottle) will handle the television adaptation.

Project is expected to go before cameras in first quarter of 2013. Which seems like forever in high school years. (Deadline)

Producer Brian Grazer, out of solemn respect, will be keeping his hair at half-mast all week.

Javier Bardem was attached to star as gunslinger Roland Deschain, though it’s not immediately clear what this development does to his involvement. One would think that he’s a busy guy, but this project might be one that is worth hanging around for if it ever finds a home. Universal has a seemingly full slate of blockbusters on deck, so taking a chance on such an enormous undertaking doesn’t really seem to be in the cards right now.

Ron Howard has both Rush and the recently-announced Spy vs. Spy on the horizon, so it looks like he won’t be missing a beat with this disappointing news.  (Deadline)

Howard will be joined in this production by David Koepp, who will produce and oversee the script written by John Kamps. And don’t worry, Imagine partner Brian Grazer will be producing as well, lest he get his feelings hurt. However, the film won’t get rolling in the near future, as Howard remains steadfast that The Dark Tower will film early next year, either with Universal or another studio willing to take on the production. Presumably, that means Rush will, along with Spy, take a backseat to The Dark Tower for quite some time.

While the Spy vs. Spy news is still breaking and appears to be a ways off, one thing is certain: This will not ensure that the “Arrested Development” movie gets moving any quicker.

Deadline describes the story as a “physical and highly visual action comedy,” which raises more questions than it does answers, but at least it won’t be a gritty reboot or an origin story. Oh, God. I hope it’s not an origin story. Do we really need a reason why these guys are after each other?

“We had to pull back to our September start date due to budget delays and ongoing story development and logistical issues, but Dark Tower is moving forward. We’re thinking of starting in early spring now. I can’t really say who’ll be in it yet, but Javier Bardem has shown a great deal of interest. We’ll know by the end of the summer, when our flashing green light goes solid.”

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Whoa!! Whoa!!! Wait one exact minute. Brian Grazer said that Bardem was “locked in psychologically.” Are we now to believe that obtuse phrase means nothing? That’s the last time I trust an adult dressed as Bart Simpson.

So director Ron Howard, producer Brian Grazer, and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman are “regrouping” in order to figure out how to do adapt The Dark Tower, but cheaper. It’s not known yet what exactly this will entail, or whether or not this means Javier Bardem is still involved. A free money-saving tip to Ron Howard and co: Eat at Subway. You can get a variety of footlong subs for only five dollars! (The Hollywood Reporter)

Reportedly, Universal is worried about the ridiculous scope of their upcoming Dark Tower series, which will be told in three epic blockbuster movies and an epic, blockbuster TV series. (Unless the series airs on NBC as planned, but the budget would still be big.) Director/Producer Ron Howard must have been like, “so you have enough money for this, right?” To which Universal quickly responded, “sure, sure,” but the studio just looked its wallet and realized it doesn’t have that kind of cash on them, and they have a bunch of bills to pay this month… So Universal is apparently thinking about either finding a partner studio or selling the behemoth off entirely.

Casting is still in progress, though Javier Bardem is set to play Roland Deschain for the next 15-25 years or so. The books will be adapted by writer Akiva Goldsman. (Variety)

More news out of The Dark Tower camp. The Stephen King adaptation, which will be adapted into three movies and a TV series, and also probably a few video games, a series of books based on the movies of the books, and a set of Slurpee cups, has found a new writer for its TV arm. Mark Verheiden is a movie/TV/comic book writer who has penned everything from”Battlestar Galactica” to Superman comics. He’ll be teaming with Akiva Goldsman on the NBC series. Verheiden was also a supervising producer on “Heroes,” so maybe NBC is his kryptonite? I hope not.

Ron Howard will direct the Dark Tower series, which will bridge the gap between movies 1 & 2. God knows, if there are gaps between movies in a trilogy, something must fill the chronological void. Could you imagine watching Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith without watching the many different “Clone Wars” TV shows? Also, could you imagine re-watching Attack of the Clones? I cannot. (Deadline)

Bardem is in final talks to join the adaptation of the 7-book series, which will include three movies and two TV mini-series. Okay, but will there also be a web series and a couple Nintendo 3DS games? Rumors say this will be Bardem’s biggest payday ever, but with all the work ahead of him if he accepts, that’s hardly a surprise. Anything less than his biggest payday ever would be a serious bargain.

Ron Howard will direct the first movie this September with a script by Akiva Goldsman. They’re also both working on the first TV show episode. (Deadline)

“Javier Bardem, that’s what we’re hoping. We’re in the process of trying to put that together,” Grazer said, “We’re really just focused on Javier right now… He really wants to do it, so we’re absolutely rooting for him to do it.”

Why would Bardem have trepidations? He’s been known to drop out of larger fare tent-poles in the past and Howard’s take on The Dark Tower is one of the most ambitious projects out there. Whoever signs on for the lead role will have to commit to three movies and two television mini-series to bridge the gaps between films. That’s a long time to go without playing tortured artist types who women believe they can change. Hopefully he’ll be able to squeeze in a Natalie Portman film or two during downtime. (MTV)

There’s a caveat though. Goldsman has to finish writing the adaptation for Stephen King’s The Dark Tower. Supposedly, the adaptation will span three feature films, two TV mini-series, and we assume 5-6 video games, 12-13 graphic novels, 18 web series from different character POVs and the world’s longest pop-up book for kids. If Goldsman has to write all of that first, it may be awhile before he gets to hop on the saddle of the white flying horse. Perhaps he could steal a page from Peter Lake and attempt to stop time? (Deadline)

Bardem’s a busy guy. Last week he got nommed, ruined Penelope Cruz‘s vagina, and was offered the lead in The Dark Tower. There aren’t any details available about which character Bardem would play, but it’s likely he’ll play the lead villain considering James Bond isn’t really the type for bromance. The film is scheduled to shoot this fall with a planned release in November 2012.

Whether this gig will effect his involvement in The Dark Tower (and vice versa) remain unknown. I recommend just mashing up the two projects and make Roland Deschain into Bond’s nemesis this time around. It would save film and time and it’s not like MGM is in a position to say no. (Deadline)

Bardem has reportedly been offered the lead role of Roland Deschain, a gunslinger who goes on a quest to find the Dark Tower, and if he doesn’t succeed, the stakes are super duper high: humanity, civilization and post-apocalyptic Disneyland are all doomed. Universal is producing the project, which sounds ridiculously wide in scope. First it’s a theatrically released movie, then a TV mini-series to bridge us into the second movie, which will be followed by another TV mini-series, then the final movie. The idea is to have the same leading cast in all the incarnations. So if you’re interested, Mr. Bardin, get ready to be hanging out with Ron Howard for a long, long time… (Deadline)

Wanting Bale and getting Bale are two different things, especially because of the time commitment required by this project. The Dark Tower saga reportedly will entail a trilogy of films, with a TV miniseries airing between the episodes. Considering Bale is on the tail end of his Batman exploits, it’s not likely that he’ll be clamoring to sign up for another project that would kill his availability for the next six years or so. An announcement was set for this week as to who would play the role of Deschain was set for this week, but, though that deadline has come and gone, expect an announcement soon, possibly naming either Javier Bardem or Viggo Mortensen, neither of whom have had the mainstream success of Bale in recent years.

As for the female lead, the names being thrown around are Jennifer Carpenter, who is known for her portrayal of Deb on”Dexter” (please no) and French/Moroccan Ghita Tazi. Something tells me neither of these candidates would be quick to shy away from a Ron Howard three-picture deal.

“I don’t know if it’s going to happen or not, but I’m developing with Akiva Goldsman, the guy who wrote A Beautiful Mind and Cinderella Man, a version of Stephen King’s Dark Tower series of fantasy stories And there is an element of it, if everything goes as planned, that we would like to do on tv. So we want to do part of it big screen, and then a lot of the character stuff — because Stephen King’s stuff is so interesting and fascinating, and instead of trying to wedge it into a movie, let the movies be adventure and action.”

If any other director was talking about a project of this magnitude, it would probably seem laughable, but Howard’s the kind of A-lister who could pull this off. And with a proposed cast that could see either Viggo Mortensen or Javier Bardem in the lead role, this is one to look out for. (Slashfilm)

Ron Howard might be biting off more than he can chew. The best ginger director working in the business today is teaming up with screenwriter Akiva Goldsman to adapt Stephen King’s beloved novel series The Dark Tower into a feature film and television series. He’s going to direct everything himself, battle all the haters who say it can’t be done, and stave off a nervous breakdown in the process. Ronnie, you be crazy! Deadline has the deets:

The plan is to start with the feature film, and then create a bridge to the second feature with a season of TV episodes. That means the feature cast—and the big star who’ll play Deschain—also has to appear in the TV series before returning to the second film. After that sequel is done, the TV series picks up again, this time focusing on Deschain as a young gunslinger. Those storylines will be informed by a prequel comic book series that King was heavily involved in plotting. The third film would pick up the mature Deshain as he completes his journey. They will benefit from being able to use the same sets cast and crew for the movie and TV, which could help contain costs on what will be a financially ambitious undertaking.

Peter Jackson is sh*tting in his britches right now. I remember when his back-to-back-to-back Lord of the Rings Trilogy was an unprecedented cinematic feat. If Howard’s plan comes together it’ll put the whole thing to shame. Thanks Jackson, but we don’t need your contributions to film anymore. Ronnie’s got the medium on lockdown. 

_{Akiva Goldsman (Left) and Ron Howard (Right) on the set of Inspector Gadget 2.}

Screenwriter Akiva Goldsman is putting down his pen and picking up his wand, or whatever instrument directors use while directing. The Oscar-winning writer is slated to make his directorial debut with the 20th Century Fox drama, Man and Wife. The film follows an assassin who falls in love with the woman he is supposed to kill. In most relationships, a man falls in love with a woman and then ends up wanting to kill her, but this film turns that convention on its head. Brilliant!

You have to hand it to Goldsman, especially considering he wrote Lost in Space and Batman and Robin. A lesser man (like myself) or a traditional Japanese samurai would have committed ritual suicide after penning such awful scripts. But Goldsman kept at it and went on to do great things. Aside from trying his hand at directing, he is also producing the upcoming Jonah Hex film and is slated to adapt Stephen King’s The Dark Tower for director Ron Howard. (Deadline)

Those who have tackled their own home-made adaptations of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower are about to be upstaged twice over. Universal is in talks to condense the seven books by the creepy author (I said it) into a film trilogy directed by Ron Howard. Not only that, but they’ll also produce a far crappier television version for shut-ins and Nielsen families.

I’m not really sure how the story of the last gunslinger Roland Deschain will divide across film and television wthout confusing the chronology, and thinking about it has given me another one of my murder headaches. Well, time to chain myself up for the night again I suppose. (Deadline)