Pedro Pascal: The Perfect Gunslinger in The Dark Tower?

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Summary

  • Pedro Pascal is a versatile actor known for complex roles, making him an ideal fit for Roland Deschain.
  • Roland Deschain’s journey mirrors Joel’s in The Last of Us, both willing to do what’s necessary for their mission.
  • Pascal’s portrayal of Joel showcases emotion and determination, qualities that could make him the perfect Gunslinger.

In order to create an outstanding adaptation of a well-known tale, like the forthcoming adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower by renowned horror director Mike Flanagan, it is crucial to select actors who embody the characters that readers have envisioned for years. This becomes even more significant in literature where characters are often left to the reader’s imagination and an artist’s interpretation of imagery instead of a specific person. The most effective approach to casting for productions like The Dark Tower is to find actors who have demonstrated a range of roles that align with the character they are intended to portray. For the role of Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger and protagonist of the Dark Tower series, there’s one actor from the The Last of Us series who embodies Roland perfectly: Pedro Pascal.

In recent years, one of Hollywood’s standout talents, Pedro Pascal, has become well-known for taking on intricate and pivotal roles. From his gripping portrayal of The Viper in Game of Thrones to embodying the largely anonymous lead of the critically acclaimed Star Wars series, The Mandolorian, and now spearheading the first family of the Marvel universe as Mister Fantastic in The Fantastic Four, Pedro Pascal has earned a reputation for masterfully handling complex roles. This talent is evident in his portrayal of Joel in The Last of Us, a character who, despite being rooted in reality, exhibits unyielding resolve, deep sorrow, and intensity that make him an ideal vessel to demonstrate Pedro Pascal’s potential as the Gunslinger.

The Dark Tower’s Roland Deschain, EXPLAINED

For an audience to fully appreciate the similarities between Pedro Pascal’s character as Joel in The Last of Us and Roland, they should first understand who Roland actually is. Before he became one of the legendary Gunslingers, the guardians of the realm for In-World and beyond, Roland was Steven Deschain’s son and the heir to the kingdom of Gilead. Growing up alongside his mother Gabrielle, Roland was destined to be a gunslinger, undergoing rigorous training. However, manipulated by his father’s advisor (Marten Broadcloak, Roland’s adversary in the series), he was deceived into taking the test of becoming a gunslinger at a young age. Instead of failing and being banished, Roland passed, becoming the youngest gunslinger ever. To shield his son from assassins, he was sent on his first mission to the Barony of Mejis, where he searched for signs of rebellion leader John Farson.

In Mejis, Roland develops a deep affection for Susan Delgado, a local girl who’s being pressured into marrying a town official against her will. Their love blossoms passionately amidst the turmoil, but the scheming of witch Rhea of Coos causes the town to turn against them. As Roland fulfills his duty to halt Farson’s troops from utilizing Mejis for an attack on the kingdom, he loses Susan and is compelled to return to Gilead under the control of Maerlyn’s Grapefruit, a potent talisman with magical powers. Manipulated by this sphere, Roland’s adversaries make him believe Rhea had pursued him home, leading him to shoot her down. Heartbreakingly, he discovers it was his own mother he had killed instead.

Following this confrontation, Roland clashes with his father and the remaining gunslingers against John Farson and his group. As Gilead’s kingdom crumbles during the Battle of Jericho Hill, Roland is presumed dead among his comrades. However, he miraculously survives and embarks on a new mission to locate and ascend the legendary Dark Tower, the central point of the entire multiverse. Throughout his journey, tracking down the enigmatic man in black, he uncovers the inner workings of the Crimson King and his army, who are determined to destroy the Dark Tower, allowing chaos to spread. As a result, Roland is compelled to reunite with allies once more, recruiting individuals from our world to support his quest to safeguard the Dark Tower at any cost.

How The Last Of Us’s Joel Makes Pedro Pascal Look Like The Perfect Gunslinger

The character development of Roland, spanning from his youth until the conclusion of the last novel, embodies both sorrow and resilience. Similar experiences apply to Joel, a veteran who encounters an apocalyptic global pandemic, resulting in the loss of his most cherished person. It takes several decades, a fresh objective, and a child’s influence for him to rediscover his sense of purpose and significance. This child also helps him acknowledge his feelings and consider the prospect of forming a family again. Roland undergoes a similar transformation when he encounters Jake Chambers, a boy who is mysteriously bound to him within another world.

One significant bond between Joel and Roland is their unyielding determination to fulfill their respective missions at any cost. Throughout the first season, Joel demonstrates an icy resolve in a harsh world, ready to do whatever it takes to protect Ellie without hesitation. This is evident in his ruthless actions and even his willingness to deceive or engage in questionable behavior for her safety. In the climax of the first season, Joel illustrates his extreme limits by doing things that others might find reprehensible, all for the sake of saving Ellie’s life.

Similarly, Roland has embarked on a parallel journey, where he has made tough choices that involved sacrificing others and taking drastic steps to aid his allies or neutralize threats, regardless of public opinion. Both men have shown that they will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

In both Joel and Roland’s rugged and weathered appearances, as well as the unusual perils they encounter and the heartrending events that shape their pasts, Pedro Pascal has shown himself to be an ideal central figure in a significant series, and one of the finest representations of what Roland Deschain might embody and resemble. The blend of deep emotion and unyielding resolve is a striking feature of Pedro Pascal’s portrayal of Joel, and this same level of intensity could aid in establishing Roland Deschain as one of Stephen King’s Dark Tower franchise’s most dynamic, versatile characters.

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2025-04-10 18:03