‘The Dark Tower’ Movie Is A Continuation Of Stephen King’s Book Series
Longtime fans ofStephen King’slengthy seven-book sagaThe Dark Towerweren’t exactly thrilled with the film adaptation’s first trailer. Instead of being a straightforward retelling ofThe Gunslinger, the first story in King’s saga, directorNikolaj Arcel’smovie picks and chooses aspects from multiple books in the series, leaving fans wondering what they’re in for when the movie finally hits theaters.
Now Arcel has confirmed something King himself hinted at over a year ago:The Dark Towermovie is actually a continuation of the story that began in King’s novels. Read on to find out more, but beware –spoilerslie ahead.
One last warning, people:spoilersare about to start flying like Roland Deschain’s bullets over here.
Last May, King posted this on Twitter:
The Dark Tower is close, now. The Crimson King awaits. Soon Roland will raise the Horn of Eld. And blow.pic.twitter.com/rqGSKM3dWL
— Stephen King (@StephenKing)June 07, 2025
At the time, our ownDark Towersuperfan Jacob Hallspeculatedthat message could mean the movie plays outafterthe events of the seventh and final book in the series, and Arcel has now confirmed that’s definitely the case in an interview withIGN.
“It is, in fact, a continuation. It is actually a canon continuation. That’s exactly what we intended and what Stephen King signed off on. What really got me excited was when he tweeted ‘last time around.’ It was just so cool.”
So here’s how this whole thing will work. In the seventh and final book in the saga, Roland the Gunslinger faces off against the villainous Crimson King, climbs the titular Dark Tower, and realizes that he’s gone on this long journey multiple times before. It always ends with his memory being erased and him getting thrown back in time to start over again on his quest, but at the end of the book, something has changed: this time, he’s carrying the magical Horn of Eld, a family heirloom that has major significance in the story.
Thanks to King’s tweet and some footage of starIdris Elbacarrying the Horn in the movie, and Arcel’s confirmation, we now know for certain that the movie will serve as the new version of Roland’s path to the Tower, complete with the Horn. And since he has it this time and has never had it before, this could be the journey that finally breaks his Sisyphean cycle forever.
I’ve only read the first book in the series, so all of this is a little foreign to me. But if you’re looking for some moreThe Dark Towerknowledge from someone who knows all of the source material like the back of his hand, be sure tocheck out Jacob’s extensive trailer breakdown right here.
