In an exclusive report from Deadline, it’s been announced that Stephen King’s horror/fantasy series The Dark Tower will be produced for both film and television. Sony Pictures will be teaming with MRC to co-finance this project.

The series will start with The Gunslinger, the first book in the series. The latest script is co-written by Akiva Golsdman and Jeff Pinkner.

King himself has commented:

I’m excited that The Dark Tower is finally going to appear on the screen. Those who have traveled with Roland and his friends in their search for the Dark Tower are going to have their long-held hopes fully realized. This is a brilliant and creative approach to my books.

Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group chairman Tom Rothman adds:

There are few projects out there that compare with the scope, vision, complex characters and fully drawn world that Stephen King has created with The Dark Tower. I am a giant fan. And, as Stephen himself does, we love the direction that Akiva and Jeff have taken. This is a great opportunity for a director to put his or her stamp on a cool global franchise.

There is no release date yet but it’s pretty amazing to see this series move forward after years and years of speculation, rumors, and missed opportunities.