‘Mad Max’ Actress Abbey Lee to Join Idris Elba, Matthew McConaughey in ‘The Dark Tower’
She’s in negotiations for the female lead in Sony and MRC’s ambitious Stephen King adaptation
Jeff Sneider | February 18, 2016 @ 12:12 PM
Last Updated: February 18, 2016 @ 2:03 PM
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 18: Abbey Lee Kershaw attends the Calvin Klein Collection Fall 2016 fashion show during New York Fashion Week at Spring Studios on Feb. 18, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
“Mad Max: Fury Road” actress Abbey Lee is in negotiations to play the female lead opposite Idris Elba‘s Roland Deschain in “The Dark Tower,” an individual familiar with the Sony/MRC project has told TheWrap.
Nikolaj Arcel is directing the Stephen King adaptation, which is expected to launch a franchise at Sony, as well as a TV series at MRC.
Imagine’s Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Erica Huggins are producing along with Weed Road’s Akiva Goldsman and King. Jeff Pinkner, who co-wrote the script with Goldsman, will serve as an executive producer.
The next piece of the “Dark Tower” casting puzzle will be the young male lead of Jake Chambers. Actors in the mix are expected to test with Elba, as their characters must share a certain chemistry.
Lee next stars in Alex Proyas‘ “Gods of Egypt” and Nicolas Winding Refn‘s “Neon Demon.” She’s represented by UTA and Management 360.
13 Terrifyingly Good Horror TV Shows: From Ryan Murphy's 'Scream Queens' to 'Twilight Zone'
"The Twilight Zone" (1959)
Rod Sterling's anthology "The Twilight Zone" set the standard for eerie on television during its run from 1959 to 1964. The series was revived once in 1985 for CBS and again in 2002 for UPN.
CBS
"Tales From the Crypt" (1989)
Another anthology series, "Tales From the Crypt" ran on HBO for seven seasons between 1989 and 1996, during which time it became famous for its wisecracking host, The Crypt Keeper, voiced by John Kassir.
HBO
"The X-Files" (1993)
Spanning nine seasons, Fox's "The X-Files" was revived in 2008 for a film, "The X-Files: I Want to Believe" and for a six-episode event series in 2016.
Each episode of Showtime's anthology horror series was directed by a different one of creator Mick Garris' director friends. The series featured episodes from John Carpenter, Joe Dante and Tobe Hooper.
Showtime
"Harper's Island" (2009)
"Harper's Island" received disappointing ratings upon its premiere in 2009, but the series had its die-hard fans. Viewers were encouraged to play along and try to solve the show's central mystery as more and more characters were killed off each week.
CBS
"The Walking Dead" (2010)
AMC's zombie apocalypse series based on the comic book series by Robert Kirkman was a huge hit for the cable network, becoming the top-rated television program in the 18-49 demographic for its fifth season and spawning an undead companion series "Fear of the Walking Dead" for 2015.
Ryan Murphy's FX series follows in the tradition of horror anthology TV series, with the same cast playing different characters in a different story each season. Repertory player Jessica Lange bowed out for the fifth season, but Matt Bomer and Lady Gaga joined returning players Sarah Paulson and Emma Roberts for "American Horror Story: Hotel."
Showtime's period horror drama "Penny Dreadful," which takes its name from a type of cheap sensationalist fiction published in 19th-century Britain, adapts its characters from classic works of fiction, including Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and Bram Stoker's "Dracula."
Despite facing controversy for a disgusting billboard campaign, FX's vampire horror series "The Strain" was a success upon its debut, earning it a second season renewal.
MTV's television adaptation of the classic slasher franchise that starred Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox features a whole new cast, a new killer and a new mask.
MTV
"Ash vs. Evil Dead" (2015)
The Starz series serves as a fourth installment in Sam Raimi's "Evil Dead" franchise, and stars Bruce Campbell as Ash Willams, reprising his role from the film series.