Before Kurt Russell was cast in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 as Ego, the Living Planet, Marvel reached out to Matthew McConaughey for the role of Star-Lord’s father, only for the Oscar winner to turn the opportunity down in favour of portraying The Man in Black in the upcoming Stephen King adaptation The Dark Tower.
During an interview with Playboy, McConaughey has explained his decision, stating that: “I like Guardians of the Galaxy, but what I saw was ‘It’s successful, and now we’ve got room to make a colorful part for another big-name actor.’ I’d feel like an amendment. The Dark Tower script was well written, I like the director and his take on it, and I can be the creator, the author of the Man in Black—a.k.a. the Devil—in my version of this Stephen King novel. We’ve done the first one. It’s a fantastic thriller that takes place in another realm, an alternate universe, but it’s very much grounded. For instance, the gunslinger’s weapon isn’t a lightsaber or something; it’s a pistol. I enjoyed approaching my character as if I were the Devil having a good time, getting turned on by exposing human hypocrisies wherever he finds them.”
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is set for release on May 5th 2017, with The Dark Tower following on July 28th 2017.
Originally published December 30, 2016. Updated November 14, 2019.
