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's works, including Doctor Sleep and Gerald's Game, already instilled confidence, but this commitment is further solidified by an exclusive revelation from IGN: Stephen King himself is collaborating on the project.

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."

King's contribution to Flanagan's Dark Tower adaptation is significant, given the sprawling nature of the original seven-book series. His previous contribution of an epilogue to Paramount+'s The Stand series demonstrates his willingness to enhance existing narratives. The sheer scope of The Dark Tower, encompassing much of King's wider fictional universe, presents countless opportunities for expansion.

Exploring the Dark Tower Multiverse

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Flanagan's commitment to staying true to King's vision is reassuring, especially considering the widely criticized 2017 film adaptation. In a 2022 interview with IGN, Flanagan emphasized his intention to remain faithful to the books, stating that his adaptation "would look like the books" and rejecting the idea of transforming it into something akin to Star Wars or Lord of the Rings. He further emphasized the inherent power of the original story: "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."

While the release date and format of Flanagan's Dark Tower adaptation remain undisclosed, he has several other King projects underway, including a film adaptation of The Life of Chuck (due in May) and a Carrie series for Amazon.