Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. I've been on board with the casting of Idris Elba as Roland Deschain since it was first announced. Roland was written as a Clint Eastwood type, which some Dark Tower fans can't get around. What I'd say to that is to look beyond the optics and see the type of character Elba is great at playing. He's intimidating, but complex. He's strong, but can play the vulnerability underneath. He's determined, single-minded.
That's Roland. He might not have pale blue "bombardier's eyes", but what's more important? An actor that looks a little like Clint Eastwood and has blue eyes or an actor that nails what makes Roland the multi-layered, flawed, amazing protagonist that he is?
So, I feel a bit vindicated in that faith with the very first spy pics of Elba in costume during the making of The Dark Tower, which is currently shooting right now in South Africa. The Daily Mail has the photos, so click through to see them all. I've embedded a tweet that shows some of the better shots if you just want a glance:
@deltorofilms @idriselba as #TheGunslinger in @StephenKing 's #TheDarkTower pic.twitter.com/Mwg94LXc4N
— Gary Deocampo (@gdeo) May 16, 2016
I like the little details that book fans will appreciate. The red handkerchief around the neck, the duster, the sandalwood grips on the revolvers.
I still have some nervousness about the foundation of the script, but I'm very behind Elba in this role and no matter what we know the costume department is on point. What do you folks think?
-Eric Vespe
”Quint”
quint@aintitcool.com
Follow Me On Twitter
