With your hosts – longtime Constant Readers – Hans Lilja of Lilja’s Library and podcaster – Lou W. Sytsma.
Welcome to Episode 54 of The Stephen King Podcast!
Your co-hosts Hans Lilja & Lou Sytsma had a blasting talking to fellow podcasters Skipper Martin and Chris Defilippis about Stephen King in general and 11/22/63 specifically.
Check out their podcast at Barren Space Productions.
Chris Defilippis’s website is – DeFlip Side where you can find his book – The Seeker.
Skipper Martin’s website is – Bizarre New World where you can find his graphic novel series.
Lou W. Sytsma 
Hey Lou — I wrote this piece, and I’d love to know what you think!
“Dark Tower fans who reject Idris Elba are not racists. But they’re still wrong.”
http://wordsorsomething.com/2016/03/02/dark-tower-fans-who-reject-idris-elba-are-not-necessarily-racists-but-theyre-still-wrong/
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Hi there.
I’ve read your article and you make many great points – though your blog post title will be offputting to many – and will create a barrier to those who deign to venture beyond it. And it’s not the part about Elba but telling them they are wrong. There is no right or wrong in something like this. Evaluating a casting decision is a subjective one. The only barometer that will be available to us is how the finished product is received overall critically and financially.
The Elba casting requires readjustments for the fans. We’ve been living with the series for 25 years and have a firmly entrenched mental image of how Roland looks – aided by King’s description of the character and noting Eastwood’s – Man With No Name – movies as a big source of inspiration. I too would prefer casting of Roland done closer to that mental image but talent always trumps other considerations.
In time, fans’s positions will probably soften as they have time to rework their current vision of Roland. I believe the quarter century vision of what Roland looks like is the struggle fans are having and not one having to do with race. If you make a wish for 25 years to get a red Covette Stingray and you end up with a blue one – the first natural reaction is disappointment followed by anger. Acceptance comes later and will for many but not all. C’est la vie.
My focus is on what is about to take place – two of the top actors in the world are about to bring to life two of King’s greatest characters. What more one can a fan ask for?
In time, I hope others will come to that realization as well.
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Lou, thanks for the thoughtful reply!
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Thanks for reaching out to me. Good to know my site is actually being seen by others! ;D
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