Summary
In the world ofStephen King’sThe Dark Tower, many prominent figures take up the majority of the story. The protagonist in this tale is Roland Deschain, the last of the gunslingers and the hero meant to find and protect the Dark Tower itself. Then there are the villains, with the overarching villain being The Crimson King, while the more hands-on villain Roland faces constantly is The Man in Black, aka Randall Flagg. Yet when exploring Roland’s backstory, fans will no doubt know there is another villainous figure that helped steer his life onto the path he finds himself in the main series, John Farson, and there is one actor who could perfectly capture thatvillain’s domineering presence: Chris Evans.
Yes, the former Captain America and belovedMCUhero has spent years portraying some heroic and relatable roles, but he has also brought some rather villainous or antagonistic roles to life as well. Whether it is hisrole in the firstKnives Outfilmor his more recent role in the much-discussed Ethan Cohen filmHoney Don’t, in which he plays a cult leader, Chris Evans has a dominant presence in every role he has taken on in his career. With John Farson having such a profound impact on Roland’s life in his youth and the world as a whole, Chris Evans would make a fantastic choice to play the villain who helped shape Roland into who he would become.
The Dark Tower’s John Farson, Explained
John Farson began his career as a harrier, working with his brother to infiltrate a local village and steal from the wealthy there. However, his brother betrayed him, ruining their plans, and John sent a pack of billy bumblers out to end the lives of his brother and sister-in-law, taking their son in as his own. However, it would be revealed that it was actually the man in black who had manipulated John and his brother into turning on one another,showcasing the Crimson King’s plansfor Farson early on in his life.
When the main source of power and military in the region began to falter (then known as The Affiliation), Farson began to promise his followers that he would help bring a more democratic society to life, stirring them into a civil war that would consume the region. He managed to convince one of his followers, Hax the Cook, to poison the people of a place known as Taunton, and for his crimes, he was executed by Gilead and the gunslingers. Hax would beRoland’s first introduction to deathin his life, making a lasting impact on his psyche.
While never having direct contact with Roland, John Farson’s influence and orders to his followers would pit Roland against him time and time again. It was Farson’s orders that led to the fight between Roland and his friends Cuthbert and Alain in Mejisagainst the Big Coffin Hunters, led by failed gunslinger Eldred Jonas. Farson used Mejis to gain oil to fuel his forces, which consisted of mechanical infantry that were created by ancient civilizations from “before the world moved on”. During this time, Farson also destroyed the capital of Cressia.
In his final push, Farson, using the Crimson King’s sigil of the Crimson Eye to lead his forces, sent his nephew to infiltrate Gilead and gain the pinksphere known as Maerlyn’s Grapefruitfor himself, but the mission failed. He used his army of mechanical infantry and slow mutants to destroy Gilead, and while he wasn’t present for the Battle of Jericho months later, in which Roland made his last stand and became the last survivor of his people, Farson ordered the bodies of the gunslingers not to be destroyed, out of respect for a worthy adversary. However, the democratic nation Farson promised never came to be, and chaos ruled the land instead.
Why Chris Evans Would Be Perfect As John Farson
to really bring this figure to life, fans need a charismatic and ruthless leader to emerge, one who can charm like the best politician around while also bringing a chilling glare in the presence of his soldiers. Chris Evans has the gravitas to bring such a character to life. Farson will primarily be a figure that emerges in flashbacks to Roland’s youthwhen Mike Flanagan’s Dark Tower series is finally adapted. The name will establish itself in the mythos of Roland’s world long before the man makes himself known, so when he does step into the series, he needs to have the air of a man with a cult following of his own, something Chris Evans can definitely bring to life.
Much like other characters in theDark Toweruniverse, Farson is a man of ambition and grandiose attitude, and yet is easily manipulated by the man behind the curtain, the man in black. Walter O’Dim, aka Randall Flagg, is Roland’s greatest adversary, also known as the ageless stranger andloyal servant of the Crimson King. It is his manipulation to put Farson on the path he is on, and when Roland comes up against Farson’s forces, it is not just a villain he must fight but a movement, one where Farson is called The Good Man by his followers. Chris Evans has the charisma, the wit, and the intensity needed to bring Jon Farson to life once and for all.
