Javier Bardem signs on for Dark Tower book series

Javier Bardem’s career is officially on fire.

The actor who’s married to and raises a baby with Spanish actress Penelope Cruz has signed an epic deal to star in the movie and TV adaptations of Stephen King’s Dark Tower book series.

Bardem will play Roland Deschain in the eagerly awaited Ron Howard and Brian Grazer adaptation of King’s beloved seven-novel saga.

Each of the three movies in the series is to be followed by a TV miniseries, reports the New York Post.

“Bardem has signed on to the first movie and the miniseries, but the intention is that he will star in all three movies and each of the TV series. It’s an enormous deal for any actor, but Bardem was always the first choice,” a source said.

The story follows “Gunslinger” Deschain as he travels through an Old West-like landscape in search of the mythical Dark Tower to save civilization. The first movie is expected to go into production in September with Howard directing.

Bardem recently revealed he once worked as a stripper.

“I did it as a joke, for some friends at first. But a guy in the bar we were in spotted me and hired me for the next day,” he said.

“I was so bad, I did it to ‘Leave Your Hat On’, and I had to get my mother and sister to cheer me on.”