New Life For The Dark Tower Adaptation. Ron Howard to direct?

Stephen King's post-apocalyptic epic, The Dark Tower (currently a series of seven volumes), has undergone a troubled journey to adaptation, but Collider reports that there is some new life for the project at Warner Bros. They are close to a deal that would give the go-ahead on the project with Ron Howard to direct at least the first film. Javier Bardem has also been tied to the role of the central protagonist, a gunslinger names Roland Deschain (which I think would work perfectly). After Universal passed on Howard's script last year, screenwriter Akiva Goldsman and producer Brian Grazer threw around the idea of turning the novels into a television series (possibly set up through HBO), but it now looks like production for a feature could begin in early 2013, as Goldman puts the polish on his script.

What are your thoughts on a Dark Tower adaptation and the personnel connected to the project?