Amazon’s The Dark Tower TV series, which was originally envisioned as a tie-in for the Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey movie, has recast those main roles with new actors for a pilot episode. We’ve got all the info you need right here…

Sam Strike – pictured above left, and previously seen in EastEnders and Nightflyers – has nabbed the role of Roland Deschain in this Stephen King adaptation from Amazon. This is the role that Elba played in the movie.

Playing The Man In Black, who was formerly played by McConaughey, will be Jasper Pääkkönen. Pictured above right, this chap has previously been seen in BlacKkKlansman and Vikings.

Variety broke the news of these castings. The trade publication also noted that, although this show was “was originally intended to tie in to the long-gestating 2017 film”, it is now being seen as “a more faithful adaptation of the book series.”

Stephen King’s The Dark Tower book series spans eight novels, and it blends elements of sci-fi, fantasy and horror. Inspired by Robert Browning’s poem Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came, the saga follows Roland Deschain’s physical and metaphorical journey towards the eponymous and mysterious tower. The Man In Black is one of the many enemies that he faces along the way.

This show is only at the pilot episode stage at the moment, so there is no guarantee that a full season will follow. Whatever happens, we’ll keep you updated…