‘The Dark Tower’ Cast, Updates: Idris Elba Embodies the Gunslinger in New On-Set Photographs; Matthew McConaughey Looks Sinister in NYC as Man in Black

‘The Dark Tower’ is currently filming some scenes in New York City with lead actors Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey. Elba was seen in full costume as the lead protagonist Roland Deschain together with Matthew McConaughey who looked sinister as Roland’s enemy the Man in Black.

New photographs posted on Comingsoon.net featured Elba in full Gunslinger costume during filming in Brooklyn for director Nikolaj Arcel’s upcoming live-action adaptation of Stephen King’s best-selling series of novels of the same name. He was pictured during an intense fight scene with Jackie Earle Haley’s Richard Sayre, who had tracking dots for post-production CGI enhancement.

Elba is set to portray the film’s lead protagonist Roland Deschain a.k.a. the Gunslinger. His character is descended from a long line of peacekeepers and diplomats called the “gunslingers”. He is also the last living descendant of Arthur Eld, the ancient king of the All-World and the Mid-World’s greatest hero. Arthur Eld is equivalent to the legendary King Arthur of Earth.

Meanwhile, McConaughey is set to play Roland’s archnemesis Walter O'Dim, a.k.a. Randall Flagg, a.k.a. the Man in Black. The 46-year old multi-award winning actor was spotted dressed head-to-toe in black as he was filming on-location in New York City as seen on photographs posted on Just Jared. His character is one of the series’ main antagonists.

The Man in Black is described as a sorcerer and a devoted servant of the Outer Dark and possesses the abilities of necromancy, prophecy and other supernatural abilities. He first appeared in the novels as a demonic entity who kills entire populations. He is also portrayed as an evil wizard that wreaks havoc in the ancient city of Delain.

Elba and McConaughey are joined by Abbey Lee, Katheryn Winnick, Claudia Kim, Nicholas Hamilton, Alex McGregor, Fran Kranz, Jose Zuniga, Tom Taylor, and Michael Barbieri among others. The film follows Roland Deschain as he travels across a post-apocalyptic landscape in search of a Dark Tower known to the nexus of universes. His quest to save the world is threatened by the Man in Black.

Director Nikolaj Arcel and author Stephen King previously revealed that the upcoming film will not be a direct adaptation of the original books but will be a continuation of the books’ storyline making it both an adaptation and a sequel.

‘The Dark Tower’ is an upcoming adventure-fantasy and science-fiction film scheduled to be released on February 17, 2017 in the United States. It is produced by Brian Grazer, Akiva Goldsman, Ron Howard, and Stephen King. G. Mac Brown, Erica Huggins, and Jeff Pinkner are executive producing.

The film began principal photography in South Africa on April 2016  with some scenes also shot in New York City.