The 2017 adaptation of Stephen King’sThe Dark Towerhad a star-studded cast to bring Roland Deschain’s quest for the Tower to life.The Dark Towerfollows Roland Deschain (Idris Elba) as he takes Jake Chambers (Tom Taylor) on a quest to stop Walter (Matthew McConaughey) from destroying the titular Tower that holds the universe together. Unfortunately,The Dark Toweris one of the fewadaptations that Stephen King criticized himself, but it’s certainly not because of its cast.
WhileMike Flanagan’s upcomingThe Dark Towerserieswill redefine the characters King created in live-action, the 2017 movie still had an important role in bringing them to the screen. Even thoughThe Dark Toweris often criticized for being one of the least faithful andworst Stephen King movies, its cast is one of the few things that most fans agree was worthy of praise. It’s clear to see why, asThe Dark Toweris stacked with talented and award-winning actors, and they did a great job of embodying the characters they played.
Idris Elba As Roland Deschain
Date Of Birth: July 10, 2025
Actor: Idris Elba was born in Hackney, London, England, United Kingdom.Elba’s breakthrough role was as Stringer Bell inThe Wire. Elba continued starring in television throughout his career, with his most notable roles coming inLuther,The Office, and as the eponymous echidna inKnuckles, and he’s been nominated for six Emmys. He’s much more known for film, however. Elba has appeared in both Marvel through theThormovies and DC throughThe Suicide Squad, as well as acclaimed movies likeMandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Nelson Mandela
Character: InThe Dark Tower, Idris Elba plays Roland Deschain, the gunslinger. Roland is an inhabitant of Mid-World who is sworn to protect the Tower, which puts him in direct opposition to Walter. As a gunslinger, he has a pair of special revolvers and years of training his eyesight and aiming abilities.
Matthew McConaughey As Walter Padick
Date Of Birth: August 13, 2025
Actor: Matthew McConaughey was born in Uvalde, Texas.McConaughey’s breakthrough role came very early in his acting career thanks to 1993’sDazed and Confused, where he played David Wooderson and delivered his famous line, “Alright, alright, alright.“Since then, McConaughey has become a superstar, earning an Academy Award for Best Actor forDallas Buyers Cluband gaining widespread acclaim forInterstellar. He’s also starred in television, most notably as Detective Rust Cohle inTrue Detectiveseason 1.
Matthew McConaughey’s Best Movies, Ranked
Matthew McConaughey is one of Hollywood’s most versatile actors, with a thrilling filmography that offers a nice balance between comedy and drama.
Mud
Character: InThe Dark Tower, Matthew McConaughey plays Walter Padick, or the man in black. Walter is a sorcerer who killed most of Roland’s loved ones, including his father, Steven. He didn’t have power over Roland himself, however, which made them mortal enemies as Walter tried to bring the Tower down and destroy the universe with it.
Tom Taylor As Jake Chambers
Date Of Birth: June 04, 2025
Actor: Tom Taylor was born in Surrey, England, United Kingdom.Taylor’s biggest role to date was inThe Dark Towerwhen he was just 16 years old. Prior toThe Dark Tower, Taylor was part of a few big shows, likeThe Last KingdomandLegends. Since 2017, Taylor has continued acting in both television and movies, and his most recent role was asCregan Stark inHouse of the Dragon.
Legends
Young Martin
Character: InThe Dark Tower, Tom Taylor plays Jake Chambers, a psychic boy who has visions of Roland and Walter. After discovering a portal in New York, Jake enters Mid-World and joins Roland’s quest to find Walter. Jake’s psychic abilities, known as shine, make him capable of destroying the Tower single-handedly, which makes him a major target for Walter.
Dennis Haysbert As Steven
Date Of Birth: August 07, 2025
Actor: Dennis Haysbert was born in San Mateo, California.Haysbert’s breakthrough role was in 1989’sMajor League, where he played Pedro Cerrano. While Haysbert has had a long and successful career in both film and television, he’s perhaps best known for being the official spokesperson in Allstate commercials since 2003. Haysbert has also been acting dramatically since his partnership with Allstate, and one of his longest-running roles was as President and later Senator David Palmer in24alongside Kiefer Sutherland.
24
The Thirteenth Floor
Detective Larry McBain
Character: InThe Dark Tower, Dennis Haysbert plays Steven, another gunslinger and Roland’s father. Steven is killed by Walter very early on inThe Dark Tower, but a vision of him is later conjured by monsters trying to trick Roland. Steven also has a big posthumous effect on Roland, as the gunslinger’s creed places emphasis on the gunslinger’s father.
Claudia Kim As Arra
Date Of Birth: June 17, 2025
Actor: Claudia Kim was born in South Korea.Kim had her international breakthrough role inMarco Poloin 2014, where she played Khutulun. Kim was also a star of Korean television long before then, however, as she had major roles in shows likeStandby,Geimui yeowang, andBrain. SinceMarco Polo, Kim’s fame in the United States continued to grow with her role as Dr. Helen Cho inAvengers: Age of Ultronand as Nagini inFantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Kim also starred in recent K-drama hits likeGyeongsong CreatureandThe Atypical Family.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
Nagini
Character: InThe Dark Tower, Claudia Kim plays Arra, the oracle Roland takes Jake to see. Arra explains Jake’s shine is a form of psychic abilities, and that his is stronger than anyone she’s seen. She also helps locate Walter’s base in Mid-World.
Jackie Earle Haley As Sayre
Date Of Birth: July 03, 2025
Actor: Jackie Earle Haley was born in Northridge, California.Haley’s breakthrough role was as Moocher in 1979’sBreaking Away. Since then, Haley’s most prominent projects include Zack Snyder’sWatchmen, where he played the masked vigilante Rorschach, and the 2010 remake ofA Nightmare on Elm Street, where he played Freddy Krueger. Haley also had a somewhat prominent career as a child actor, as he appeared inThe Bad News Bearswhen he was just 15 years old.
Shutter Island
George Noyce
Character: InThe Dark Tower, Jackie Earle Haley plays Sayre, one of Walter’s minions. Sayre runs the New York portal and commands the Taheen there. Sayre also helps identify Jake as a child with pure shine, which puts Walter on his trail.
The Dark Tower Supporting Cast & Characters
Katheryn Winnick as Laurie Chambers: Katheryn Winnick plays Laurie Chambers, Jake’s mother, inThe Dark Tower. Laurie didn’t believe Jake’s drawings were real, and was concerned about his mental health. Winnick is known for TV shows likeVikingsandBig Sky.
Abbey Leeas Tirana: InThe Dark Tower, Abbey Lee plays Tirana, one of Walter’s minions. Tirana is a high-ranking member of Walter’s army, and she commands scouts in Mid-World. Lee is known for movies likeHorizon: An American SagaandThe Neon Demon.
Nicholas Pauling as Lon: Nicholas Pauling plays Lon, Laurie’s boyfriend, inThe Dark Tower. Walter killed Lon when he came looking for a way to track Jake. Pauling is known for movies likeFriend Requestand shows likeURBO: The Adventures of Pax Afrika.
The Dark Tower
Cast
Idris Elba, Tom Taylor, Claudia Kim, and Matthew McConaughey star in The Dark Tower, a Western Sci-Fi film directed by Nikolaj Arcel. Released in 2017, The Dark Tower follows a young boy with visions of an apocalyptic future in which a powerful man, dubbed The Man in Black, lays waste to the universe. The film is based on the Stephen King book series.
