Warner Bros.’ has finally put a stake through the heart of plans to release their Gary Dauberman-directed adaptation of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot theatrically by confirming that the oft-delayed horror will now debut on MAX.
Originally intended for release in September 2022, the film was then delayed by WBD to April 2023, before being consigned to the Warner Bros. crypt for well over a year.
Now Deadline have confirmed the rumours that the Stephen King adaptation will bypass cinemas altogether, although there is no date as to when it will land on the Warner Bros. Discovery streaming platform, or any news on how this new strategy will affect the film’s international release.
Author King recently took to social media to question why WB were holding back Salem’s Lot, revealing that he’d seen the film and thought it was “quite good”.
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.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) February 19, 2024
Produced by The Conjuring’s James Wan, and directed by Annabelle writer Gary Dauberman, this latest adaptation of Stephen King’s 1975 horror-classic features Lewis Pullman (Bad Times at the El Royale, Top Gun: Maverick) as Ben Mears, a writer who returns to his home town of Jerusalem’s Lot, only to find it under threat from a cabal of vampires.
Pilou Asbæk (Game of Thrones) will plays the villainous Richard Straker, with Makenzie Leigh (The Assistant) as the love-interest Susan Norton, alongside Bill Camp (The Queen’s Gambit) as former high school teacher Matthew Burke, with Spencer Treat Clark (Glass) as gravedigger Mike Ryerson, and Alfre Woodard (Clemency) as Dr. Cody.
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