One of Stephen King’s earliest novels is coming to the big screen… at some point. The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Annabelle Comes Home director Gary Dauberman will soon be helming a big-screen adaptation of Salem’s Lot. The epic vampire tale was one of King’s earliest success stories and was his follow-up novel to his breakthrough hit Carrie in 1975. Dauberman will not only direct the film, but he’s writing the screenplay as well. He also wrote the screenplay for both chapters of the blockbuster It. Horror maestro James Wan is one of the film’s producers.
Unfortunately, in the latest round of Warner Bros. release date shakeups, Salem’s Lot lost its release date. The movie no longer has a slot on Warner Bros.’ upcoming theatrical calendar. Its release date remains unknown, and reports indicate it could ultimately head to Max. And that’s a shame because it has Stephen King’s very own seal of approval.
Warner Brothers
Salem’s Lot Release Date
Salem’s Lot had an original release date of April 21, 2023. But in a recent slew of release date changes which included shifting release dates for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and Shazam! Fury of the Gods, the movie has found itself without a date at all. Deadline reports the Salem’s Lot remake will release at a TBD time in the next year. (This was said on August 22, 2023.)
In addition to the question of Salem’s Lot‘s release date, its release platform could also be in flux. According to Variety, Salem’s Lot seems to now be heading toward a streaming release on Max. However, a spokesperson for Warner Bros. shared, “No decision has been made about the film’s future distribution plans.” So we’ll just have to wait and see.
Stephen King Opines on the Salem’s Lot Movie
We might assume that all this shifting around indicates the upcoming Salem’s Lot movie isn’t much good. But one important voice is speaking out to contradict that hypothesis. Stephen King himself took to Twitter to share that the Salem’s Lot movie is a quality one. In fact, King shared, “I’ve seen the new SALEM’S LOT and it’s quite good.”
In full, Stephen King noted, “Between you and me, Twitter, I’ve seen the new SALEM’S LOT, and it’s quite good. Old-school horror filmmaking: slow build, big payoff. Not sure why WB is holding it back; not like it’s embarrassing, or anything. Who knows. I just write the fucking things.”
Well, we suppose it’s good news that the movie is good. But that makes us sadder that it’s in such limbo. Hopefully, we will hear more news about it soon.
Salem’s Lot Cast
The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Lewis Pullman (Bad Times at the El Royale) will play the story’s lead character, Ben Mears. Additionally, Makenzie Leigh, Bill Camp, and Spencer Treat Clark will co-star alongside Lewis Pullman. Pullman plays Ben Mears, an author who discovers a bloodthirsty vampire is preying on his childhood hometown.
Deadline further shared that Oscar-nominated actress Alfre Woodard has joined the cast as Dr. Cody. In the novel, the character is actually Dr. Jimmy Cody. Jimmy helps Ben Mears (Pullman), Susan Norton (Leigh), and Matt Burke (Camp) fight against the vampires. Also, John Benjamin Hickey will portray Father Callahan. We feel interested to see how this character will evolve in the movie.
Finally, in a recent addition to the casting, Pilou Asbæk has joined Salem’s Lot. Asbæk is well-known for playing the villainous Euron Greyjoy on Game of Thrones. In Salem’s Lot, Asbæk will be taking on the role of Richard Straker. Straker is the vampire’s familiar, or servant, who gets his hands plenty dirty as well.
The History of Salem’s Lot
Salem’s Lot is essentially a modern retelling of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and centers on an author who returns to his hometown in Maine (King’s home state) to write about a creepy abandoned mansion that’s haunted him since childhood. Not long after arriving back home, he finds out that the mansion was bought by a mysterious and reclusive antiques dealer, who is a vampire master. After turning several of the locals into his vampire minions, the author and several other townsfolk join together to put an end to the undead infestation.
The 1979 Mini-Series
The novel was turned into a two-part mini-series in 1979. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s Tobe Hooper directed this Stephen King adaptation. It was big success and re-aired on TV for years. It was later edited down into a shorter runtime and released on VHS, where it became a favorite rental choice among horror fans. The scene were a young boy sees his vampified friend float to his window in the middle of the night traumatized an entire generation, myself included.
The original mini-series made several changes to the book, most notably turning the talkative vampire master Kurt Barlow into more of a Nosferatu-style vampire, who doesn’t speak and is more animalistic and terrifying looking. Although this was very different from the novel, the mini-series Barlow was a horrifying and memorable creation.
The 2004 Mini-Series
A TNT mini-series that stuck closer to the book released in 2004. It featured Rutger Hauer as Barlow and Rob Lowe in the lead. This was another vampiric notch on the actor’s belt. Not only was he the physical inspiration for Anne Rice’s Lestat, but he played vamps in movies like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Argento’s Dracula, and Dracula III: Legacy. It remains to be seen if this new version of Barlow will stick closer to the ’70s mini-series or the 2004 one, or go off in a completely new direction.
One thing is for sure, though. This is one King adaptation we can’t wait to sink our fangs into.
Featured Image: Warner Brothers
Originally published on April 20, 2020.