Let's just simplify things and shortlist Christian Bale for every leading man role. Being Batman and John Connor already pushed the needles on the fanboy double-dip meter (the Dark Knight’s fighting Skynet! Tee hee…) but having him be Roland Deschain too would just hike the spikes to the max reading.
The NY Post says that winning the Golden Globe has put Mr. Bale to the front of the Dark Tower's casting race. Most assuredly, he has the steely intensity and the menace-tinged presence the famous Gunslinger needs, but he’s not quite as seasoned as the other actors who’ve been named so far. Roland’s supposed to be a relic from another era, a man more full of regrets and demons than hopes and dreams. And Bale's still pretty much in his prime.
Plus, there’s the bigger question of whether this guy would really even want to take on yet another prospective mulit-film franchise...
The same report gives us the first casting rumors that pertain to other members of Roland’s Ka-Tet, with Ghita Tazi and Jennifer Carpenter supposedly being considered for Susanah Dean. If that's true, I don't think it's too great an idea to be looking for white girls to play the only major minority character in the series. Of course, considering that this is coming from the Post, I'm sure all of this has to be taken with a whole shaker of salt.
UPDATE: Deadline's got the scoop that the role's actually been after Javier Bardem, who I think is a much more appropriate choice. Roland in the looks has a lot of tacit nigh-psychosis that Bardem showed in No Country for Old Men.
The more I think about it the more I like Christian Bale in that role, especially after seeing him in The Fighter, he could easily play this role to my fanboy standard.
As for Bale, he doesn't really look the part I think. Could be good though. We know he can pull off the dead-man-walking look, which should come in handy during book 2.
As for the rumors for Susanah they damn well better not cast a white woman in the role. Susanah being black was a major point to her character. It defined her experiences during her childhood and even her adult life before she met Roland. Its less of a plot point in later books, but changing her race would totally ruin the character and I can't see King being happy about it and nor would fans of the books.
I mean that's just crazy.
I had noticed the old actor even for ROBOCOP kinda looks like Bale...
so yeah, ROBOCOP reboot, now, with BALE
Man--totally at a loss whom they will really get. Provided it gets done, that is what matters. Although the novels are indeed unique and wonderful, holy poop on a stick are they pedantic. ( I still haven't finished reading the series. Should check out the comic book adaptation I guess. )
That would be my pick as well.
Javier Bardem, who apparently has been officially offered the role could be good as well. I'm not familiar enough with his work to really know, but I from what I have seen, I know you could certainly do worse.
I agree that Bale is too young. Roland is referred to as being "ancient" in the books, so you have to have someone who appears to have some serious age on him. Bale will always look young.