Idris Elba in talks for Dark Tower adaptation

Idris Elba, star of Luther and The Wire, is said to be in negotiations to play the lead in a film adaptation of Stephen King’s The Gunslinger.

If successful, the film could be the first of several adaptations of King’s series The Dark Tower, of which The Gunslinger is the first book.

Set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, the genre-defying series tells the tale of a man named Roland, who’s tracking down a mysterious “Man in Black.” Matthew McConaughey has already been cast in the latter role, while Elba is close to agreeing to play the part of Roland.

Stephen King excitedly tweeted the news out early Tuesday morning (perhaps prematurely, considering Elba’s link with the project is still tenuous).

Production on a Dark Tower-inspired film has been ongoing for several years. Javier Bardem was originally cast as Roland with Ron Howard on to produce and direct, though plans did not get much farther than that.

Danish director Nikolaj Arcel now sits at the helm of the revamped project. American audiences might be familiar with Arcel from his work directing the original Danish adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

King is no stranger to having his works adapted for film or television. Such classic films as The Shining and It were born in the Maine native’s imagination, and Hulu’s adaptation of his time travel story 11.22.63, which debuted on the streaming site in mid-February.

The Gunslinger‘s set to enter production shortly, with a released date slated for January of 2017.

h/t The Wrap