Fans of Stephen King can rejoice, as the famed author’s magical series The Dark Tower is finally coming to the big screen. Deadline reports that Sony will be distributing the series of movies, while a complementary TV series is also being developed by MRC.

Stephen KingThe author has been patient with plans to bring his series to the big screen.

The series is set in a magical world and centers around Roland Deschain, the last living member of a knightly order known as the 'gunslingers'. The work has been described by the author as his magnum opus and has been called King’s answer to Tolkien’s Middle Earth novels.

The first movie will be primarily based on the original book in the series, The Gunslinger and the latest draft of the script is said to have been co-written by Akiva Goldsman and Jeff Pinkner. Goldsman is also said to be producing through his Weed Road with Imagine Entertainment’s Ron Howard.

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The role of Roland Deschain has not yet been cast, but both Javier Bardem and Russell Crowe have previously been mentioned in connection with the project.

Speaking in a statement after the project was announced King said, “I’m excited that The Dark Tower is finally going to appear on the screen. Those who have traveled with Roland and his friends in their search for the Dark Tower are going to have their long-held hopes fully realized. This is a brilliant and creative approach to my books.”

Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group chairman Tom Rothman also added, “There are few projects out there that compare with the scope, vision, complex characters and fully drawn world that Stephen King has created with The Dark Tower. I am a giant fan.”

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“And, as Stephen himself does, we love the direction that Akiva and Jeff have taken. This is a great opportunity for a director to put his or her stamp on a cool global franchise.”

There’s no word yet on when the first Dark Tower movie is expected, but Deadline does report that Sony and MCR are fast tracking the project.