Summary
Throughout the development of Mike Flanagan’sDark Toweradaption, the question will be how much to include in the development of the first season. There is so much backstory and mythology from Stephen King’s series spread out in the pages of that series and many of his other books. From the Dark Tower itself to the villains like the Crimson King and Randall Flagg and the members of Roland’s ka-tet, or group of heroes, there is so much information in these books that choosing what and who to include in the first season is pivotal. One such character that could be important to the development ofthe man in black, aka Randall Flagg, and the entire mythos of theDark Toweritself is Maerlyn.
A wizard and demon, this creature was one of the oldest villains and agents of chaos in the Stephen King multiverse that the Dark Tower inhabits. He has been involved inthe events of the Dark Towersince the beginning, long before Roland’s arrival and his adventures to the tower. Maerlyn has created powerful objects, helped in the birth of several powerful creatures, and, through it all, works to cause chaos for the simple reason that it brings him joy. That is why it is so important to introduce this powerful villain in Mike Flanagan’s upcomingDark Toweradaption.
Maerlyn, EXPLAINED
In the world of theDark Tower, Maerlyn was not the friendly or even heroic wizard who helped a boy become king. Instead, he was a demon who rose out of the Prim, the primordial darkness that existed until Gan rose from it and helped create the multiverse, pushing the Prim back with the emergence of life. Maerlyn, also known as the Ageless Stranger, took on the appearance of a rogue Wizard, using the magic of the Prim to cause chaos and death throughout the world.
When the Great Old Ones arrived on the scene, it was Maerlyn who came to them and convinced them to create dogans, places where they would be able to fuse technology with magic. He would eventually convince them to try and replace the Dark Tower with one made with their technology, which eventually led to their civilization’s destruction.Years later, when Arthur Eld emergedand began to repair the world, Maerlyn brought another demon, the Crimson Queen, and crashed Arthur Eld’s coronation, unleashing demons on the party while the Crimson Queen seduced and became pregnant by Arthur, giving birth to the Crimson King, the villain of the Dark Tower series.
He is also said to be the father to Randall Flagg, the villainous traveler and man in black himself, who has become intimate with Selena, a death goddess of Mid-World (known as Can-char). Maerlyn also created thirteen spheres of power and chaos known as Maerlyn’s Rainbow, the most infamous in the Dark Tower series being the grapefruit after what it did to Roland on his first quest as a gunslinger. He also created the laughing mirror, a magical mirror that distorted the image of those who looked into it, creating hideous representations of them. One such shard of the mirror became embedded into the eye ofRhea of the Coos, the witch who fought Roland as a teenager, and it allowed her to see the magical world.
Maerlyn in Mike Flanagan’s Dark Tower Series
Maerlyn is such an essential figure in theDark Towerseries because he has had a hand in most of the most notable events of the entire franchise. He was one of the first demons, the first inhuman beings that survived the receding of the Prim and came to be a powerful force of nature in theDark Toweruniverse. He meddled withthe Great Old Ones, fought against Arthur Eld several times, and manipulated future events by creating artifacts such as Maerlyn’s Rainbow. These events make him a powerful villain in the grand scheme of things. He also plays a pivotal role in the origins of Randall Flagg, and touching upon the story of the man in black would provide another opportunity to show this figure in action.
It is an excellent twist on the Arthurian mythology that so many people have come to know and love for centuries. The great villain who orchestrated so much of the terrible events of theDark Towerand gave rise to the villains of that series overall is the wizard who, in our legends, helped a young boy pick a sword out of a stone and become a king.Mike Flanagan’s abilityto take on classic themes and legends like that and make them feel original and unique was shown when he brought a modern twist to a classic story like The Haunting of Hill House, and this story would be no exception.
When building the foundation of theDark Towerfranchise and the worldsthat the series envelops, there is no more significant presence, even when exploring the origins of the series' great villains, than Maerlyn. His knowledge and power over the magic found in the Prim and the connection he shares to the primordial void that others like Gan emerged would make for some spectacular storytelling and become a crucial aspect of Mike Flanagan’s adaption ofThe Dark Towerseries overall.
Stephen King
Stephen King is one of the most prolific living authors. A master of horror, King’s classic works include The Shining, Carrie, Cujo, It, and the Dark Tower series. Many of his books and short stories have been adapted to film and television, including The Shawshank Redemption, Lisey’s Story, 1408, Secret Window, and The Stand.
