There is a new player in the running for a major role in the new film adaptation of "The Dark Tower," which has been hailed by many as Stephen King's magnum opus. "Dallas Buyers Club" star Matthew McConaughey is in early talks to take a lead role in the film, but as a villain, not the hero.

According to Variety, McConaughey has already expressed interest in playing the role of Walter Padick, aka the Man in Black. Now Sony and producers for the film have offered him the role. McConaughey is currently reviewing the script and will be negotiating his contract for the role.

As fans of King books, movies and TV specials may know, Padick also appeared in another of the author's famous works: "The Stand." But in that book, he went by the name Randall Flagg, a demonic man who rose up after a viral epidemic.

In "The Dark Tower," the series hero Roland "The Gunslinger" Deschain pursues Padick, an evil sorcerer in the series universe.

Padick is one of many links to other works by King. There are eight books in "The Dark Tower" series, many of which include characters from the author's other novels like "Salem's Lot," "The Stand" and "Insomnia."

The film, which will be based on the first book "The Gunslinger," is expected to be the first of many in a series, which will be following King's books in chronological order.

Sony will be distributing the film, with Nikolaj Arcel directing. MRC will also be spearheading a TV series about the books as well. There have been no details as of yet about the TV series.

The film is slated to premiere in theaters nationwide on Jan. 13, 2017.