Javier Bardem is “psychologically” signed on for The Dark Tower

A few weeks ago we heard that recent Oscar nominee Javier Bardem had been officially offered the lead role in The Dark Tower, an adaptation of Stephen King’s epic book series to be directed by Ron Howard.

Little has been heard since, however producer Brian Grazer recently gave an update and said Bardem is interested in the role, but he’s not official on-board yet.

From MTV:

“‘Dark Tower,’ Javier Bardem, that’s what we’re hoping,” Grazer said when I asked him for an update. “We’re in the process of trying to put that together. Will that make you happy? Will that make MTV happy?”

Yes, I told him. Very happy! But has he officially signed Bardem onto the project?

“He’s locked in psychologically,” Grazer said. “He really wants to do it, so we’re absolutely rooting for him to do it.” When asked to address other potential cast members, Grazer said they’re too busy with Bardem. “We’re really just focused on Javier right now,” he said.

Bardem was also said to have been offered the villain role in Bond 23, so he may have to choose between the two if there are scheduling conflicts.

The Dark Tower follows a gunslinger called Roland Deschain who is the last living member of a knightly order of gunslingers, and humanity’s last hope to save a civilization that will fall unless he finds the Dark Tower. Ron Howard says he sees the trilogy as their answer to the Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, with an old West setting instead of Middle Earth. The plan is for Bardem to lead the franchise through the trilogy and a TV show, so if the actor signs on he’ll have the next five years of his life sorted work-wise.