In the interest of full disclosure, I have to reveal I’ve had Stephen King’s Under the Dome on my Kindle for about a year and still haven’t gotten around to reading it. Not that I think it won’t be good, it’s just that other things have come up.

Fortunately, it seems I may not ever have to bother reading the book. Why? Well, today it was announced Showtime is partnering with Steven Spielberg and Stephen King for an Under the Dome drama TV series, which will be produced by DreamWorks Television.

In case you haven’t had the time either and don’t know the story of Under the Dome, it’s a supernatural thriller which revolves around locals at a Maine vacation spot who battle one another when a force field suddenly surrounds their town and cuts them off from the rest of the world. Wasn’t that the premise of an old Twilight Zone episode? Huh.

Anyway, now that the deal appears to be done with Showtime, the search is now underway for a writer (or writers) to adapt the novel into series form. No word yet on who that may be.

However, if I may make a suggestion, I hear Frank Darabont is available. I think he would be a great choice.

Showtime, you listening?

Tonight at Comic-Con in San Diego the Eisner Awards winners were announced. Among the winners were some surprises and some that were pretty expected including Best New Series American Vampire by Scott Snyder, Stephen King and Rafael Albequerque and Best Continuing Series Chew by John Layman and Rob Guillory.

Here’s the full list of winners:

Best Short Story
“Post Mortem,” by Greg Rucka and Michael Lark, in I Am an Avenger #2 (Marvel)

Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)
Hellboy: Double Feature of Evil, by Mike Mignola and Richard Corben (Dark Horse)

Best Continuing Series
Chew, by John Layman and Rob Guillory (Image)

Best Limited Series
Daytripper, by Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá (Vertigo/DC)

Best New Series
American Vampire, by Scott Snyder, Stephen King, and Rafael Albuquerque (Vertigo/DC)

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It what may come as sad news for fans of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower who were anxiously awaiting its translation from book series to feature films and TV series, it looks like Universal has decided to pull the plug. News came late yesterday that the studio decided to not move forward with the extremely ambitions adaptation of the series which would have started with a trilogy of films and two limited-run TV series.
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So now the filmmakers, which include star Javier Bardem, director Ron Howard, producer Brian Grazer, screenwriter Akiva Goldsman and Mark Verheiden, who was set to co-write the TV elements with Goldman, need to look for a new place to set up. It’s going to be a tall order finding a studio that’s willing to go on the hook for what would surely be a commitment of at least $500 Million (or more).

It’s not that hard to understand why Universal was reportedly more interested in doing one film to see what happens before moving forward with the rest. In this climate that’s a big bite for any studio to take and they were probably looking to minimize their risk. Makes sense.

In case you’re not familiar withThe Dark Tower series, it centers on the last living member of a knightly order of gunslingers named Roland Deschain who becomes humanity’s last hope to save civilization as he travels the land on a journey towards the Dark Tower. Along the way, he encounters all manner of characters, both good and bad, in a world that’s part Old West and part magical realm.

It’s quite an interesting series so let’s hope it finds a way to the big screen. In the meantime, Marvel is doing some excellent adaptations of the series which are plotted by Robin Furth and scripted by Peter David. Stephen King serves as Creative and Executive Director of the comics.

Writer, Producer Mark Verheiden is one of the nicest, most talented guys in the world. That’s why when we hear news concerning his accomplishments, we are happy to help spread the word.

This week it’s the announcement that Verheiden will co-write with Akiva Goldsman the NBC TV series The Dark Tower. The project, based on the best-selling series of novels by Stephen King, is being turned into a motion picture trilogy and TV series directed by Ron Howard.

Verheiden will also executive produce the The Dark Tower series, along with Goldsman, for Universal Media Studios. The series will serve as a bridge between the first and second movie in the trilogy. Also, actor Javier Bardem is reportedly negotiating to fill the main role of gunslinger Roland Deschain in both the films and the TV series.

Verheiden, of course, is no stranger to TV having worked on such series as Smallville, Heroes, Battlestar Galactica and the upcoming Falling Skies. He’s also written over 125 comic books including The American, Aliens, Predator, The Phantom and Superman as well as upcoming feature films Quatermain and Ark.

We wish him the best of luck with this new project and look forward to seeing the series once it arrives. With this kind of talent involved, we expect great things.

Welcome to another edition of  On the Radar where we delve into all corners of the entertainment, tech and geek Internets for news, views and whatnot that may have escaped our regular coverage during the week. Let is know if we missed something interesting.

Let’s get started!

• If you’re not watching Showtime’s Shameless, you should be. And if you need an excuse, how about Amy Smart guest starring as a sexy best friend?

• Set phasers to Feng shui! Turn your bland room into a new world with these killer Star Trek wall decals. Who needs a date when you have a full-sized Commander Uhura wall sticker?

• James Cameron says that Tom Cruise is still a potential star for his upcoming adaptation of the HP Lovecraft book At The Mountains of Madness. No, the irony is not lost on us.

• Reality can be pretty bleak sometimes. The one thing that could splice it up? 80′s and 90′s-era video game characters running amok.

• His mask may not have rubber wings, but here are a ton of new pictures of Chris Evans as Cap in Captain America: The First Avenger.

• Stephen King has had a pretty big week, but that hasn’t stopped him from giving us 10 things he knows about The Stand coming to theaters.

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We all know that sci-fi and fantasy book adaptations are huge right now. Harry Potter just about broke the box office, Twilight is continuing the trend, and Hunger Games is in the process of bringing that even further with another huge screen adaptation. Well, that’s not all, as Ron Howard and super producer Bryian Grazer are getting some movement on their adaptation of Stephen King’s Dark Tower series.

It’s now being announced that No Country For Old Men star Javier Bardem is now being courted for the lead in the film, and potentially “films”. From Deadline.

I’m told that Bardem has officially been offered the lead role by director Ron Howard and Universal Pictures. While formal negotiations haven’t yet begun, there’s a high level of enthusiasm internally that they’ve got their cowboy. Akiva Goldsman has scripted the first movie, and will write the TV component as well. Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer is producing with Goldsman and the author.

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Just when you thought Stephen King was becoming slightly less relevant as of late, Universal announced today that it has acquired the rights to Stephen King’s The Dark Tower. They have an agreement for a film trilogy and an NBC series based on King’s critically acclaimed series.

Ron Howard (Apollo 13) has signed on to direct the first film, as well as the first season of the TV show. Also announced as head writer was Akiva Goldsman, best known for writing The Da Vinci Code.

The films and television series will have a wide range of material to pull from as King has written seven novels, short stories and comic books. The Dark Tower has sold more than 30 million copies and has been sold in over 40 countries. After the completion of the original series of seven books, a prequel series of comic books based on one of the characters was also published.

In the story,  Roland Deschain is the last living member of an order known as gunslingers and the last of the line of “Arthur Eld”, his world’s King Arthur. Politically organized along the lines of a feudal society, it shares technological and social characteristics with the American Old West, but is also a world of fantasy and magic. No word on how the story will progress and whether the films and television series will have intertwining linear story lines throughout.

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We’ve already brought you a ton of previews for many of NBC’s new Fall shows. Now, as we usually do on Fridays, we’ve got previews for tonight’s all-new episodes of Eureka and Haven to share with you and help get you psyched for these great shows.

First up is Eureka and an episode entitled “The Ex Files.” In this episode, people from the past come back to haunt the lives of Carter and the gang. That’s the thing about the past, you usually want to forget most of it — especially the bad stuff.

Next up is a Haven episode entitled “Ain’t No Sunshine.” This episode is a scary ghost story that comes true when a dark spirit begins claiming lives in a Haven clinic. Ghost? Hospitals? Yeah, I’m scared.

Check out clips for both shows after the break. Eureka airs tonight at 9/8C followed by Haven at 10/9C only on Syfy.

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Happy Friday. Happy indeed as we’ve got previews for tonight’s all-new episodes of Eureka and Haven to share with you right now and get you ready for the full episodes.

First up on a Eureka episode entitled “Monstrosity,” the guys set out on a camping trip and all seems to be going well and they are having a great time. Unfortunately, their great time is interrupted by something that not only threatens to ruin their trip but may also mean deadlier consequences.

Next up is a preview for a Haven episode called “Fur.” No, not that kind of fur. Well, maybe. Anyway, in this episode Audrey and Nathan find out that even the animals in Haven are full of dangerous surprises. Wow, first the people, now the animals. But what about the children?

Things kick off tonight at 9/8C with Eureka followed by Haven at 10/9C only on Syfy. Check out the previews for both episodes after the break.

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Happy Friday. Hope you’re enjoying the day. If you’re plans call for some TV watching tonight we’ve got clips for brand new episodes of both Eureka and Haven to share with you today.

First up on a Eureka episode called “Crossing Over”, Warehouse 13‘s Claudia pays a surprise visit to Eureka looking for something or someone. What she’s doing is anyone’s guess, but you can bet things won’t be as they seem.

Next up on Haven in an episode called “Ball and Chain”, strange things are happening as time speeds ahead and the men of Haven begin to rapidly age. Just like that episode of the original Star Trek where Kirk and Spock go to that planet and McCoy is older so he ages faster and . . . Sorry. Never mind.

Check out clips for both shows after the jump. Eureka airs at 9/8C and Haven at 10/9C tonight only on Syfy.

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Now that things have settled down a bit and we’re getting back to what we call normal here at The Flickcast we can get back to our usual Friday business of bringing you previews for new TV shows. Today, as we often do, we’ve got previews of Syfy’s Eureka and Haven to share with you.

First up on a Eureka episode entitled “The Story of Oz” Carter visits Zoe and a rocket race gets, well, explosive. Just the ting you want to do in a town full of quirky geniuses, make things explode.

Next up on a Haven episode entitled “Consumed” Audrey investigates her past and a mysterious agrarian ailment. That’s the thing with pasts, sometimes they should stay buried. Unfortunately, sometimes you also have to dig them up, with tragic or unwanted results.

Things kick off tonight on Syfy at 9/8C with Eureka followed at 10/9C by Haven. Check out previews for both shows after the jump.

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With Stargate Universe and Merlin having their season finales it’s time to turn our attention to two other shows airing on Syfy. One, Eureka, is a returning show coming back for another season and the second, Haven, makes its debut tonight.

In support of these two shows we will do what we usually do and bring you previews for both of them so you can get ready for tonight’s episodes. First up on Eureka, the gang is back and starting the 4th season with a twist. Also, a brand new cast member joins the show and we’re pretty excited about it. That’s right, James Callis (Battlstar Galactica‘s Baltar) comes to Eureka to shake things up this season.

Next up is Haven, which is based on The Colorado Kid from author Stephen King. It follows FBI agent Audrey Parker who arrives in the small town of Haven, Maine to solve the murder of a local ex-con. However, things are not what they seem and Audrey soon discovers the people of Haven are hiding a dark secret.

Check out previews for both shows after the break. Eureka airs tonight at 9/8C followed by Haven at 10/9C only on Syfy.

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