Casting Roland Deschain

Anyone that claims to be a fan of Stephen King’s work is familiar with the protagonist of his Dark Tower series, Roland Deschain. Roland is a bad ass. More specifically, he’s a single-minded, cold-hearted, aging bad ass. And to be even more specific, he’s a single-minded, cold-hearted, tall, lean, aging bad ass of a cowboy in a parallel world where giant beasts and strange magic are as common as six-guns and saddle bags.

The Dark Tower series spans eight books (plus a later novella that Roland isn’t in) and over 4000 pages. Now Hollywood wants to make a film series out of it. Needless to say, casting the right actor will be important to the films’ success. The current favorite for the part is Idris Elba, a black Brit that’s also got a contingent pushing for him to be the next James Bond. The man is a fine actor, but he’s wrong for both parts. If you’ve read The Dark Tower series, you know the relationship between Roland and Susannah in particular would be completely different if a black actor is cast in the role. So who’d be a better fit? As you might have guessed, I have an opinion that I’m happy to share with you. Here are my Top 5 choices for a better Roland Deschain.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan

More of a television actor than a movie star, Morgan became one of my favorite leads based on his excellent work in the short-lived Starz series, Magic City.  If you didn’t see it (and most people apparently didn’t) you might recognize him from one of his many other television appearances including his upcoming turn as Negan on The Walking Dead.

Viggo Mortensen

Already pushing 60, Viggo may be a bit old for the part at this point considering it will be years before the series is completed. Still, he’s a dead ringer for how I picture the gunslinger and besides starring in The Lord of the Rings series, he’s proved that he can pull off the dark, violent type in such films as A History of Violence, Eastern Promises, and The Road.

Josh Brolin

Brolin is a bit brawnier than I picture Roland, but he’s proved himself capable of playing a tough cowboy type in several films including the not-so-good comic book movie Jonah Hex, the decent remake of True Grit, and the excellent Oscar-winning Coen Brothers film No Country for Old Men.

Mads Mikkelsen

Slated to star in both the Star Wars spin-off, Rogue One as well as Marvel’s Doctor Strange, Mikkelsen might be too busy to take on another series. However, anyone that watched Quantum of Solace, Valhalla Rising, The Salvation or the television series Hannibal knows that Mads can play dark and menacing with the best of them.

Hugh Jackman

By far the biggest name on my list, Jackman is mostly known for playing Wolverine in seven X-Men movies. An eighth spin in the iconic Marvel role is slated for 2017. Beyond that part, he’s found less success. His best non-Wolverine movie is probably Christopher Nolan’s 2006 tale of two rival magicians, The Prestige. Jackman can definitely play the lean and mean hero and would provide box-office clout if Imagine and Sony want to (pun intended) pull out the big guns.