The trades are buzzing with debate about whether John Carter counts as a massive flop. (The US figures were poor, but some overseas territories delivered.) It, thus, seems like an odd time to announce that another long- gestated fantasy adaptation is finally about to roll.

Reports suggest that Ron Howard is to direct a big- screen take on Stephen King’s sprawling novel sequence The Dark Tower. Javier Bardem will star as gunslinger Roland Deschain and Akiva Goldsman, who wrote A Beautiful Mind, is set to pen the script. Warner Bros will provide the big bucks.