Stephen King to Write for Mike Flanagan's Dark Tower: 'It's Happening' - IGN Fan Fest 2025

Mike Flanagan, renowned for his faithful adaptations of Stephen King's works such as Doctor Sleep and Gerald's Game, has assured fans that his upcoming project, The Dark Tower, will remain true to the essence of King's expansive fantasy saga. In a move that further solidifies this commitment, IGN has exclusively revealed that Flanagan has enlisted Stephen King himself to join his creative team, known as the Ka-tet, for this ambitious project.

During an interview with IGN to promote The Monkey, King hinted at his active involvement in The Dark Tower. When asked about contributing new material akin to his additions to the 2020 Paramount+ series The Stand, King responded, "All I can say is it's happening. I am writing stuff now and I think that's all I want to say because the next thing you know, I'll stir up a bunch of stuff I don't necessarily want to stir up yet. I'm in process right now, and to say too much feels like a jinx." This statement underscores the ongoing development and King's cautious excitement about the project.

The Essentials: Stephen King's Dark Tower Multiverse

20 ImagesThe Dark Tower is a cornerstone of King's oeuvre, a deeply personal project he began with The Gunslinger in 1970. The series' intricate mythology spans nearly all of King's fiction, offering vast opportunities for King to enhance the narrative. His previous contribution to The Stand—an epilogue that better concluded Frannie Goldsmith's storyline—hints at the potential for significant additions to The Dark Tower.

King's new material promises to seamlessly integrate into Flanagan's vision, which emphasizes fidelity to the source material. In a 2022 interview with IGN, Flanagan stated, "it would look like the books" and emphasized that adapting The Dark Tower should not involve transforming it into something akin to Star Wars or The Lord of the Rings. He elaborated, "It is what it is, what it is is perfect. It's just as exciting as all of those things and just as immersive. It's a story about a tiny group of people, all the odds in the whole world are against them, and they come together. As long as it's that, it'll be fine and there won't be a dry eye in the house."

This dedication to authenticity is a welcome relief following the 2017 film adaptation of The Dark Tower, which received criticism for its deviation from the novels. While specifics about Flanagan's project, including its release date and format, remain undisclosed, fans can look forward to other King adaptations in the meantime. Flanagan's adaptation of The Life of Chuck is set for a May release, and he is also working on a Carrie series for Amazon, based on King's 1974 novel.