The feature film adaptation of The Dark Tower is finally filming, and while we got a look at Idris Elba’s protagonist The Gunslinger a few weeks ago, now it’s Matthew McConaughey’s turn to shine. The Oscar-winning Dallas Buyers Club actor plays the villain in the Stephen King adaptation, The Man in Black, and boy does he look the part. There’s a modernity to the look seen here that’s a bit surprising, but with set photos it’s always important to remember that we’re seeing out-of-context versions of characters that will be fully fleshed out on the screen. So this is more of a sneak peek than a full unveiling.

Hollywood has been trying to adapt The Dark Tower for what seems like ages now, with Ron Howard attached to direct for years with ambitious plans that called for a trilogy of films with two seasons of a limited series TV show in between, which would allow them to fully tell King’s story. It’s unclear if the TV component is still a part of the Columbia Pictures iteration of the film, but Howard remains a producer on the project alongside Brian Grazer while The Royal Affair filmmaker Nikolaj Arcel directs.


I haven’t read King’s sprawling Dark Tower series, but I’ll admit I’m mighty excited by the casting for the film, so this is pretty high on my most anticipated list for 2017. It also marks a curious choice of material for McConaughey, who has eschewed franchise material in the wake of his Oscar win for Dallas Buyers Club but looks to have found the right fit in The Dark Tower. Here’s hoping the finished film lives up to all the promise of what’s bubbling right now.

Check out the set photos below. The Dark Tower opens in theaters on February 17, 2017.

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Image via Idris Elba