New Line's adaptation of Stephen King's Salem's Lot has found its fate as Warner Bros. Discovery announced that the vampire thriller will debut on their streaming service Max later this year. While no specific release date has been provided, industry sources anticipate a fourth-quarter launch. The movie, written and directed by horror veteran Gary Dauberman, faced distribution uncertainties following the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery Inc. in 2022.
Originally slated for a theatrical release in September 2022, the film was later rescheduled to April 2023 post-merger, only to be eventually removed from the theatrical calendar altogether. Concerns arose within the industry that Salem's Lot might suffer a fate similar to other projects affected by the merger, such as Batgirl and Coyote vs Acme, which were shelved or faced uncertain futures.
Stephen King, the acclaimed author of the original novel, hinted at the movie's quality in a tweet, praising its old-school horror approach with a slow build and a satisfying payoff. Despite positive feedback from King and anticipation from fans, the reasons behind Warner Bros. holding back the release remain unclear.
The plot of Salem's Lot revolves around an author who uncovers a town plagued by a vampire epidemic upon returning to his hometown. The movie features a talented cast including Lewis Pullman, Makenzie Leigh, Alfre Woodard, John Benjamin Hickey, Bill Camp, Jordan Preston Carter, and Pilou Asbaek.
The production team behind Salem's Lot includes industry heavyweights James Wan, Michael Clear, Roy Lee, and Mark Wolper as producers. With the movie set to premiere on Warner Bros. Discovery's streaming platform, fans of Stephen King's work and horror enthusiasts can look forward to experiencing this chilling tale brought to life on screen.
