Ron Howard and Universal Pictures have offered Javier Bardem the lead role of gunslinger Roland Deschain in "The Dark Tower," according to Deadline.

Nominated this week for a Best Actor Oscar for the film "Biutiful," Bardem ("No Country for Old Men") has yet to participate in formal negotiations for "The Dark Tower"; however, it appears there is considerable enthusiasm from producers for signing him.

Previous candidates who were reportedly considered for the role of Deschain included Viggo Mortensen ("A History of Violence") and Christian Bale ("The Dark Knight").

An adaptation of Stephen King's epic novels, "The Dark Tower" will span three movies and a limited run television series or a miniseries.

Howard ("Da Vinci Code") will direct the first feature film and the television component based on scripts from Akiva Goldsman ("I Am Legend," "Fringe").

"The Dark Tower" includes seven books and fuses elements of fantasy and horror with the western genre. The books follow Deschain -- the last of a knightly order of gunslingers -- as he takes on a quest to save the world and secure the key to the nexus of all universes.

Howard's ambitious adaption will kick off with a feature film and will be followed by the television chapter, which serves as the bridge to the second feature. After that sequel, the television component picks up again with Deschain as a young gunslinger. The final film follows a mature Deshain as he completes his journey.

Universal Pictures and NBC Universal Television Entertainment are producing the project along with Brian Grazer of Imagine Entertainment, King and Goldsman.