Salem's Lot Movie Adaptation Rumored for Max Streaming Platform

Article Summary

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 film's decision was not determined by its quality, and Warner Bros. may still contemplate a potential theatrical release later on. Salem's Lot has encountered multiple delays since it was announced in 2019, including those caused by COVID-19, resulting in the removal of its scheduled release date.

According to Variety, Warner Bros. has decided to stream the long-awaited film adaptation of Stephen King's novel, Salem's Lot, on its Max streaming service instead of releasing it in theaters. The project, directed by Gary Dauberman, finished filming over a year ago but has faced delays and external factors that have hindered its release. The decision to move Salem's Lot to Max is mainly attributed to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, as reported by Variety. The quality of the film did not play a role in this decision. Variety also mentioned that Salem's Lot is one of several upcoming films that Warner Bros. will be shifting to Max. However, there is still a possibility of a future theatrical release for Salem's Lot, as a studio executive stated, "No decision has been made about the film's future distribution plans," in an interview with Variety.

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 initially planned for a 2022 release. However, due to COVID-19-related delays, Salem's Lot was later pushed to mid-2023. Unfortunately, that deadline has passed without the film being released. The studio has now taken the drastic step of completely removing Salem's Lot from its release schedule, along with making changes to several other upcoming release dates. These delays are a result of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, which has caused various problems within the industry. However, considering Warner Bros.' history of releasing numerous films as Max originals, it is not entirely unexpected that they are facing challenges in finding the right opportunity to release Salem's Lot.

Salem's Lot is Based on One of Stephen King's Most Famous Works

The original Salem's Lot story has been adapted into a miniseries in 1979, followed by a theatrical sequel. However, the upcoming project will mark the first feature film adaptation. The film will revolve around Ben Mears (portrayed by Lewis Pullman), a writer who returns to his hometown, Jerusalem's Lot, with the intention of writing a new novel. He soon discovers that the town is being threatened by an ancient vampire named Barlow. As a result, Mears must rally the community together to thwart Barlow's destructive plans. The cast of Salem's Lot also includes Alfre Woodard, Makenzie Leigh, Bill Camp, William Sadler, Spencer Treat Clark, and Pilou Asbæk.

The film is directed by Gary Dauberman, a longtime collaborator of Stephen King and the writer of It and It Chapter Two. Dauberman helms the project based on his own screenplay. Salem's Lot is produced by New Line Cinema, with James Wan from Atomic Monster, Michael Clear, Roy Lee from Vertigo Entertainment, and Mark Wolper from the Mark Wolper Organization as partners. Dauberman serves as an executive producer for the film.

No new release window for Salem's Lot has been announced.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I have mixed feelings about the news that the upcoming film adaptation of Stephen King's "Salem's Lot" will be released on Max instead of in theaters. On the one hand, I am disappointed that I won't be able to experience the film on the big screen, as I believe that the horror genre is particularly well-suited to the immersive environment of a movie theater. On the other hand, I am relieved that the film will still be released in some form, as I have been eagerly anticipating it since it was first announced.

Overall, I think that the decision to release "Salem's Lot" on Max is a wise one, given the current circumstances. The ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike has caused significant disruption to the film industry, and it is clear that Warner Bros. does not want to risk losing money by releasing the film in theaters at this time. I am hopeful that the film will be well-received by audiences when it is eventually released, and I look forward to seeing it for myself.