Summary
The Stephen King resurgence is an impressive thing to watch. The author isn’t even getting popular again because of new stories he wrote. It’s some of his classicStephen Kingstories that are getting the most attention. That includes one of his longest and most interesting series inThe Dark Tower. The series looks to be in very good hands as Mike Flanagan is helming the Amazon Prime series that will eventually tell the story of the Gunslinger, his crew and the Man in Black as Roland tries to stop the end of not just the world but the end of all worlds.
It’s a safe bet that Flanagan will puthis own touch onThe Dark Towerin a way that people don’t expect. That has tended to be the filmmaker’s modus operandi. And while he tends to have a very original idea about what a show or movie should look like, it tends to find a way to be very, very good. One of the original ideas that Flanagan should use that would still be loyal to the source would be to update the use of crossovers.
The Dark Tower Is A Combination Of Many Stephen King Stories
The crossovers inThe Dark Towerare an interesting touch inthis Stephen King seriesbecause it’s really the only time the author has done that kind of trick in any real way. There have been other stories that hint at a shared universe, but nothing as obvious as it is in this book series.
As Roland, Eddie, Susannah, Jake and Jake’s “dog” Oy travel through the worlds, they run across scenes from some of King’s favorite books including a New York that has been overcome with the Captain Trips disease fromThe Stand. The story tends to show settings rather than meet many characters, thoughFather Callahan fromSalem’s Lotpops up and plays a major role in the march to the final fight.
There are also plenty of things that pop up from other properties like usingHarry Potter’s Golden Snitchas a weapon. And while it would certainly be interesting to see that kind of stuff in the Amazon series, it seems unlikely that they will because of how hard it is to get licensing deals for that sort of thing. However, Amazon could change up the approach a bit by including other properties that it owns at least a piece of. While this would be a pretty strong departure from the books, it could modernize the story and help make it Mike Flanagan’s own.
While this would be a pretty strong departure from the books, it could modernize the story and help make it Mike Flanagan’s own.
Fallout Would Be A Fantastic Setting
One of the most interesting ideas for this kind of crossover for the Dark Towerwould be the Fallout seriesstarring Ella Purnell. This particular world could even be a stand in for the Stand world. The show wouldn’t need to borrow any characters from the other series, just the setting. And the Ghouls that roam the wastelands inFalloutwould be interesting enemies for the characters in The Dark Tower to have to deal with. Running across an abandoned vault would certainly be an interesting touch for the series.
Roland going up against the Brotherhood of Steel would be quite interesting as well. Brute force vs the man who aims with his eye and kills with his heart rather than his hand would be one heck of a showdown. And it could be entire episode of the group moving through this desolate world, which would certainly fit with the broader story where all the worlds are slowly dying because of the Man in Black.
From Could Offer Terrifying Creatures
The world ofFrom(while not entirely Amazon’s) would be another that could be quite interesting. The small village left entirely deserted would certainly be an odd sight for the travelers, especially Jake and Eddie and Susannah as it would like identical to their world with the odd touches like the diner playing music all by itself. And then there are thesmiley creatures that come outat night.
Certainly those kinds of creatures would be crazy to see Roland and his group battle as they realize they aren’t really people. They could be quite the episode where they need to get through this world and learn its rules that would be very interesting crossover and right downMike Flanagan’s wheelhouse.
There are plenty of other crossovers thatThe Dark Towercould use that would be plenty interesting, even doing something with an animated world likeInvinciblecould really set the series apart. The good news is that if that plan is in the works, there are few people who would be better at carrying it out in a way that would honor the source while blazing its own path like Flanagan could do it.
