'The Dark Tower' Moving Forward, but Changes Afoot

Reports on the demise of "The Dark Tower": greatly exaggerated? Perhaps, but maybe not by much.

You just might've read right here at Yidio that less than a month after "No Country For Old Men" Oscar winner and future Bond baddie Javier Bardem signed on to headline a film trilogy and two gap-bridging TV mini-series between films adapting Stephen King's sci-fi Western saga, the whole Ron Howard-directed affair looked troubled over Universal Pictures' budget concerns.

Though not quite out of the woods, it looks like there's hope on the horizon.

Hollywood Reporter tells that Universal will keep the project moving forward, but while making key changes along the way. The fall 2012 start date looks scrapped, in part because "I Am Legend" and "Cinderella Man" writer Akiva Goldsman will write a new script with a reduced budget in mind.

The impact on Bardem's status is unclear, as well as an official, revised figure for the new budget.

It's a good thing for all involved that the project could still go forward.

Rumors had Howard considering shopping the project to other studios if the project hit turnaround status, particularly to Warner Bros.

Universal paid $5 million for "The Dark Tower" rights -- which King was rumored to have optioned to "Lost" co-creators Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse for $19 -- but the studio will pay a $10 million penalty is nothing materializes and the project hits turnaround.