At long last, Gary Dauberman‘s “Salem’s Lot” will reach audiences when it premieres on Max next month. But what took Warner Bros. so long to release it? The Stephen King adaptation from the “Annabelle” and “The Nun” director was shot nearly three years ago after being announced by New Line in April 2019. Three years in release purgatory doesn’t bode well, but the first trailer for the film doesn’t look that bad. So what gives?
READ MORE: ‘Salem’s Lot’ First Look: Lewis Pullman Stars In New ’70s-Set Stephen King Adaptation
Maybe it’s because “Salem’s Lot” has been adapted so many times before? King’s 1975 novel was first adapted as a TV series in 1979, with Larry Cohen‘s sequel arriving in 1987. Then, TNT made its own miniseries based on the book in 2004. And more recently, the novel’s setting, the fictional town of Jerusalem’s Lot, Maine, got a shoutout in Hulu‘s beloved but short-lived “Castle Rock” series and the 2021 prequel series “Chapelwaite.” That’s a lot of content based around one King book; maybe WB wanted to let things breathe before launching Dauberman’s take.
In any case, “Salem’s Lot” hits Max on October 3, and it boasts quite the ensemble cast. Set in ’70s, Lewis Pullman stars as novelist Ben Mears, who returns to his hometown in search of inspiration for a new book. But a dark presence reached Salem’s Lot before Ben did, and soon he’s in a race against time to save the town from a relentless vampire. Makenzie Leigh, Alfre Woodard, William Sadler, Bill Camp, and  Pilou Asbæk also star in the film. John Benjamin Hickey, Jordan Preston Carter, Spencer Treat Clark, Nicholas Corvetti, and Cade Woodard round out the main cast.
Dauberman directs and adapts King’s novel for the film. James Wan leads producers with Michael Clear, Roy Lee, and Mark Wolper. “Salem’s Lot” is a New Line Cinema and Atomic Monster production, with Vertigo Entertainment and The Wolper Organization co-producing.
“Salem’s Lot” hits Max on October 3, just in time for the Halloween season. So, how will Dauberman’s film measure up against previous adaptations? Take a look at the movie’s trailer below to find out.