The world has moved on. After years of near-misses and speed bumps, a new studio is giving Stephen King's epic opus "The Dark Tower" another chance to reach the big screen.

Universal recently pulled the plug on a potentially cost prohibitive multi-film and TV series take on the 7-book series, starting with "The Gunslinger." Now, director Ron Howard and producers Akiva Goldsman and Brian Grazer may have found a savior for the idea at Warner Bros. 

The studio is considering the idea of making a standalone feature version of "The Gunslinger," reports Deadline.com. If successful, it's implied, the rest would follow. It's not clear if HBO, who were scheduled to take on a TV show based on the material, is still be on board.

At Universal, Javier Bardem was attached to play Roland Deschain, the titular hero, and will likely still play the part, although it depends on his schedule. "The Gunslinger" adaptation wouldn't start shooting until early 2013.

In the first book, Roland, the last gunslinger, roams a western-inspired, post-apocalyptic landscape searching for the legendary Dark Tower. Later in the series, a trio of people from other worlds join him in his seemingly futile quest; they are his ka-tet. We'll have to wait and see when -- or even if -- their journey will take them to a multiplex near you.