The new Stephen King adaptation of the vampire tale Salem’s Lot has been in limbo for the past few years, having wrapped production in 2021. It was set for a theatrical release in 2022, but it didn’t happen. It appears it is finally heading for release, but it may not be coming to theaters. According to Variety, it is heading straight to MAX.
So, will we see Salem’s Lot premiere in theaters or on MAX? That still has not been confirmed. At this point, the real question is, will we ever see it? It was first set to be released in September of 2022. It was hit with its first delay and rescheduled for April of 2023 but was pulled from the schedule before it could debut. It doesn’t bode well for a film to be delayed this many times. When a movie is treated like this by the studio, it’s usually because they know it won’t be well received, but that remains to be seen. According to the studio, the delay “is not a reflection of the film’s quality” but is the result of the SAG-AFTRA strike and is the result of “a growing need” for additional MAX content.
The new Salem’s Lot reunites Gary Dauberman with The Conjuring Universe creator James Wan, who produces alongside his Atomic Monster partner Michael Clear and Vertigo’s Roy Lee and Mark Wolper. Dauberman, Michael Bederman, Atomic Monster’s Judson Scott, and Vertigo’s Andrew Childs are executive producing.
In King’s 1975 novel, Ben returns to the town of Jerusalem’s Lot to write his next book, which centers on the house filled with vampires that terrified him as a child.
Lewis Pullman (Top Gun: Maverick, Strangers: Prey At Night), Bill Camp, Pilou Asbæk, Spencer Treat Clark, Alfre Woodard, and John Benjamin Hickey star in the film directed by Gary Dauberman.
Stephen King has already seen the film, describing it as “muscular and involving. It has the feel of “Old Hollywood,” when a film was given a chance to draw a breath before getting to business. When attention spans were longer, in other words.” Make of that what you will.
Salem’s Lot isn’t the only Stephen King project hit with a delay. Recently, it was announced that the highly anticipated series “Welcome to Derry” won’t premiere when expected.
We’ll keep you posted.
