Mike Flanagan says Dark Tower series still in development, held up by rights
In an interview with ScreenRant, Mike Flanagan said his Dark Tower adaptation for Amazon is still moving forward but slowed by complex rights issues. He gave no release timeline.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2Director Mike Flanagan said in an interview with ScreenRant that his planned adaptation of Stephen King's The Dark Tower is still in development at Amazon, though it moves slowly. Screen RantN “Dark Tower, though, we're still pushing forward. It's an oil tanker of a project. But it's my dream adaptation.” Read at Screen Rant ↗ TVLineN “In a recent interview with ScreenRant, Flanagan explained that a big issue with making "The Dark Tower" for Amazon is the complicated rights situation.” Read at TVLine ↗ Centre · 2Flanagan said moving the rights takes "more than a calendar year" because so many other studios and characters are involved. Screen RantN “Dark Tower takes, and I'm not exaggerating, more than a calendar year just to move rights around because it involves so many other studios” Read at Screen Rant ↗ TVLineN “more than a calendar year just to move rights around because it involves so many other studios and so many characters who were spread out all over town” Read at TVLine ↗ Centre · 2He said the delays have "nothing to do with me or the story" and that the legal logistics are "beyond intimidating", but he believes the series will arrive: "one of these days". Screen RantN “It's just that thing moves at its own pace for all these factors that have nothing to do with me or the story or anything.” Read at Screen Rant ↗ TVLineN “The legal logistics of that thing are beyond intimidating. It's a wild thing. But yeah, one of these days.” Read at TVLine ↗
Centre · 2Flanagan said that when he moved his overall deal to Amazon, the company already had Carrie in mind as a priority, so that became his first King project there. Screen RantN “Amazon, very quickly, when I got to the company, already had Carrie in mind. That was a priority for them.” Read at Screen Rant ↗ TVLineN “Amazon, very quickly, when I got to the company, already had 'Carrie' in mind” Read at TVLine ↗ Centre · 2The Dark Tower TV adaptation was announced in 2022, and the series contains many connections to other King works, such as Father Callahan from 'Salem's Lot and Randall Flagg from The Stand. Screen RantN “A TV adaptation of the book series was announced in 2022, with Flanagan acquiring the rights” Read at Screen Rant ↗ TVLineN “The fifth book heavily features Father Callahan, a "'Salem's Lot" character most recently seen on screen in the 2024 HBO Max adaptation.” Read at TVLine ↗ Centre · 2Flanagan's eight-episode Carrie miniseries is due out on 7 October 2026 and sits at 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, according to Screen Rant; TVLine notes he has still given no expected release timeline for The Dark Tower. TVLineN “his 8-episode miniseries "Carrie," was announced in 2025 and already releases on October 7, 2026”“Flanagan still hasn't provided an expected timeline for when "The Dark Tower" will release on Prime Video” Read at TVLine ↗ Screen RantN “currently sitting at an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes” Read at Screen Rant ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets relay the same ScreenRant interview, reassuring fans that the project is alive but slow because of legal and rights logistics.
- Emphasis
- Rights complexity, Flanagan's optimism, and the Carrie release as context. Screen Rant adds his other projects; TVLine frames it as explaining delays.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither gives a timeline, casting or any script or production details, and neither includes comment from Amazon.
- Charged language
- “oil tanker of a project”“dream adaptation”
- For example
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“Mike Flanagan has confirmed the fate of his planned adaptation of The Dark Tower” — Screen Rant
“Why did Flanagan finish "Carrie" so quickly while so little progress on "The Dark Tower" seems to have been made?” — TVLine
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Flanagan told ScreenRant that rights complications take more than a calendar year to sort out.
- The Dark Tower remains in development with Amazon and Flanagan attached.
- Amazon prioritised Carrie as Flanagan's first King project there.
- No release date or timeline has been given.
Mike Flanagan person
Says the series is still being pushed forward, calls it his dream adaptation, and blames legal and rights logistics for the slow pace.
“And we've never stopped working on it.” — Screen Rant
“"It's my dream adaptation."” — TVLine
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Mike Flanagan Confirms Dark Tower Series Fate As Wait Continues For Stephen King Adaptation
Sympathetic Exclusive interview presenting the project as still alive and a good sign, with Flanagan's other work as context.
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TVLineN ·
The Dark Tower Prime Video Series Delays Explained By Creator Mike Flanagan
Neutral Aggregates the ScreenRant interview to explain why Dark Tower has lagged behind Carrie.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 3 Oct 14:00 First Screen RantN Mike Flanagan Confirms Dark Tower Series Fate As Wait Continues For Stephen King Adaptation
- 7 Oct 06:00 +88h TVLineN The Dark Tower Prime Video Series Delays Explained By Creator Mike Flanagan
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.