'The Dark Tower' May Rise At Warners With Howard & Maybe Bardem (DH, VAR)

By Nancy Tartaglione-Moore

"The Dark Tower" may be rising again. Deadline reported Monday that Warner Bros is close to a deal that would give Ron Howard the opportunity to direct at least the first feature in what would have been a 3 picture, 2 TV series project when it was at Universal.

The post-apocalyptic western could also still star Javier Bardem as Roland Deschain with Akiva Goldsman, Brian Grazer and Stephen King producing.

Deadline says Warners bought Goldsman's script and is paying him to do a polish. Howard remains attached to direct, likely in first-quarter 2013. Bardem's participation would depend upon his availability. He was attached when the project was at Universal.

Universal said no last July and the filmmakers took the project back to shop it. Grazer then said the TV component would move to HBO from NBCUniversal. With Warners now potentially involved, an arrangement with HBO makes sense. Goldsman also has his deal at Warners.

Warners confirmed to Variety that discussions to revive the project have been ongoing, but stressed no deal is imminent. Imagine Enertainment president Michael Rosenberg added that Warners is the only studio currently in discussions.