Stephen King has confirmed that Lost co-creators J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof will adapt his epic multi-volume book series The Dark Tower for the screen. Up to this point, King has refused to sell movie rights for this series, even from his longtime collaborator, writer/director Frank Darabont, who adapted The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile.

“I said no to everybody until recently, because I didn’t think much of the chances of it being a good movie,” King said in a panel discussion launching Marvel Comics’ new Dark Tower comic books at the New York City Comic Con on Feb. 24.

Stephen King considers The Dark Tower series his life’s work. He has been writing these books since he was 22 years old, so I guess they would be. They are so different from the rest of his books.

He finally relinquished the rights to the Lost co-creators because he is an ardent fan of the show.