Stephen King has clarified that he will not be contributing to Mike Flanagan’s upcoming adaptation of The Dark Tower. On Bluesky, King stated, “Contrary to the Internet (which usually is never wrong), I am NOT writing for Mike Flanagan’s DARK TOWER.”
Previous Reports and Miscommunication
Earlier on Monday, IGN had reported that King was indeed collaborating with Flanagan on the series and was set to create new content beyond the established narrative of the books. In response to inquiries about his involvement, King mentioned, “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 Past Contributions
This wouldn’t have marked the first instance of King adding new material to his adaptations. For the 2020 miniseries of The Stand, he wrote an alternative ending, which was generally viewed as an enhancement over the original conclusion found in the book. The expansive and intricate nature of the Dark Tower series could have allowed King the flexibility to adjust story elements without compromising the essence loved by fans.
Future of The Dark Tower Series
Despite King’s lack of direct involvement, enthusiasm remains high for Flanagan’s upcoming series. The director has established a strong track record in adapting King’s works with notable successes like Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep. Flanagan is also working on two more King adaptations: a film version of The Life of Chuck, set for release this May, and a Carrie television series currently in development at Amazon.
Update (Feb 24): King has taken to Bluesky to clarify his earlier comments about writing for The Dark Tower series, leading to this article’s update.
