The Big Picture
- Warner Bros. is likely going to be streaming their Salem’s Lot adaptation on Max instead of releasing it in theaters, mainly due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.
- The decision was not based on the quality of the film, and Warner Bros. may still consider a theatrical release in the future.
- Salem’s Lot has faced numerous delays since its announcement in 2019, including COVID-19-related delays, and its release date has been removed from the schedule.
Warner Bros. is reportedly moving one of its long-gestating projects away from theaters in favor of a small-screen rollout. According to Variety, Salem’s Lot, the long-awaited film adaptation of horror icon Stephen King’s 1975 novel, will stream on Max instead of being released theatrically. The Gary Dauberman-directed project completed filming more than a year ago, but has been besieged by delays and outside factors that have prevented it from reaching an audience.
According to Variety, Warner Bros. is moving Salem’s Lot to its flagship Max streaming service mainly due the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, with the outlet reporting that the quality of the film didn’t factor into the decision to step back from theaters. While no other titles have been named, Variety reported that Salem’s Lot is one of a number of upcoming films that Warner Bros. will be shifting to Max. However, Warner Bros. seemed to allude to a potential theatrical release for Salem’s Lot in the future, with one studio executive telling Variety, “No decision has been made about the film’s future distribution plans.”
This marks yet another chapter in the long lifecycle of Salem’s Lot, with production on the project and Dauberman’s involvement being announced back in 2019. Principal photography began in 2021 and the film was slated for a 2022 release. However, Salem’s Lot was later pushed to mid-2023, with Warner Bros. citing problems due to COVID-19-related delays. But that date has now come and gone, and Salem’s Lot hasn’t seen the light of day. The studio has now notably removed the film from its release schedule entirely, along with shifting a number of other upcoming release dates, as delays from the SAG-AFTRA strike continue to create industry problems. But Warner Bros. has previously released a number of other films as Max originals, so the path to finally getting Salem’s Lot released isn’t entirely surprising.
Salem’s Lot is Based on One of Stephen King’s Most Famous Works
While a miniseries adaptation in 1979 spawned a theatrical sequel, the upcoming project will be the first feature film to adapt the original Salem’s Lot story. The film will follow Ben Mears (Lewis Pullman), a writer who returns to his hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot to try and pen a new novel. He soon realizes, though, that the town is under attack from an ancient vampire named Barlow. Mears must then help his small town come together and stop Barlow from wreaking havoc. Salem’s Lot also stars Alfre Woodard, Makenzie Leigh, Bill Camp, William Sadler, Spencer Treat Clark, and Pilou Asbæk.
Longtime King collaborator Dauberman, who previously penned the scripts for It and It Chapter Two, directed from a self-written screenplay. Salem’s Lot is produced by New Line Cinema, frequent Warner Bros. partner James Wan for his Atomic Monster banner, Michael Clear, Roy Lee for Vertigo Entertainment, and Mark Wolper for the Mark Wolper Organization. Dauberman also executive produces the film.
No new release window for Salem’s Lot has been announced.
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Khushi Patel is a science fiction author who lives in Austin, Texas. She has published three novels, and her work has been praised for its originality and imagination. Khushi is a graduate of Rice University, and she has worked as a software engineer. She is a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America, and her books have been nominated for several awards.
