Production has officially begun on The Dark Tower, the long-developing adaptation of Stephen King’s beloved dark fantasy-western novel series. In addition to Matthew McConaughey as the enigmatic antagonist The Man in Black, the project has cast Jackie Earle Haley in the role of another key villain from the series — one who doesn’t show up until the fifth book, Wolves of the Calla.

Deadline reports that Haley has been cast in the role of Richard Sayre, a high-ranking can-toi (one of the low men, aka very bad guys) who acts as an agent of the Crimson King — the nefarious character who is trapped in the titular tower sought by the gunslinger Roland Deschain. This report re-confirms a couple of things: First, that director Nikolaj Arcel and screenwriter Anders Thomas Jensen are still using much of Akiva Goldsman’s initial screenplay (or at least using its basic structure / beats), and second, that the film will incorporate various aspects and plot threads from several of The Dark Tower books rather than merely adapt the first.

That may confuse or even rankle some fans, but Sony is remaining somewhat cautious in their approach to the film, which they hope will launch a franchise — in order to do that, they need to hook audiences who aren’t familiar with the books. It’s also best to remember that what works on the page doesn’t usually translate well to the screen, so feel free to remain skeptical but also maybe keep an open mind and all that.

Haley joins a cast that also includes Idris Elba as Roland, Abbey Lee as Tirana, and newcomer Tom Taylor as young protagonist Jake Chambers. The Dark Tower is currently set for release on February 17, 2017.

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