'The Dark Tower': Javier Bardem Offered Deschain Role

Javier Bardem is on his way to an epic deal to star in an epic book-to-film series.

Deadline reports that the actor is on the verge of putting pen to paper on a three movie, multi-TV miniseries deal to portray Roland Deschain, the hero of Steven King's beloved book series "The Dark Tower." Somewhat a hybrid between an old western and "The Lord of the Rings," the series follows Deschain as he travels through a war-torn, near apocalyptic world as he seeks out the mythical Dark Tower.

Deschain is the last in the line of a murdered royal family, a loner with, at first, mysterious intentions. The character, who is trained to be a mythical gunslinger, is a strong fit for Bardem, who has played a hardened shooter before, in "No Country For Old Men."

Then again, that wasn't exactly a heroic role.

Ron Howard is set to direct the film series' first installment, starting in the fall. The series will condense the seven novel epic into film and TV form.

Bardem won an Academy Award for "No Country," and was nominated for Best Actor for his lead role in "Biutiful," in 2010.

For more, click over to Deadline.