J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot has returned rights to Stephen King's Dark Tower back to the author with Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Akiva Goldsman now banding together to take on the project.

The Heat Vision blog and Deadline reported that the trio is looking to adapt the book as a film to be written by Goldsman and directed by Howard. Further, a TV series to be produced by Imagine, is also being eyed.

Tower is not set up, but Deadline reports that a deal is fast coming together for Universal to acquire a package that includes the books, and the attachment of the creative team. Both Universal -- where Imagine is based -- and Warner Bros. -- where Goldsman's Weed Road is housed -- have been vying for the project, says Deadline.

Bad Robot had been looking at the project as a potential TV series reunion with Lost exec producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse.

King's magnum opus -- his answer to JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings -- encompasses a narrative about the Man in Black and Roland, the Gunslinger, that spans seven lengthy books (and one short story). Characters from his other novels also visit Tower in minor and major ways.

Story: http://hollywoodwiretap.com/?module=news&action=story&id=47764