‘Salem Must Burn’ is one of the classics of Stephen King’s work. No wonder the horror book has already been adapted into a film twice: in 1979 by ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ creator Tobe Hooper and in 2004 in a two-part TV series starring Rob Lowe. But that’s not all, as ‘It’ author and ‘Annabelle 3’ director Gary Dauberman also got to try his hand at a remake of ‘Salem’s Lot’ (the original title).
Now for the troubling circumstances: Dauberman’s film has been shooting since 2021. The Stephen King film adaptation was originally scheduled to hit theaters in September 2022. The start date was then moved to April 2023 before a theatrical release was canceled entirely. There is currently no release date for ‘Salem’s Lot’. It is said that Warner Bros. is considering bringing the horror film straight to streaming in 2024.
Stephen King is thrilled
Such a hiccup on release actually suggests that you can’t necessarily brag about the film’s quality. However, Stephen King has already seen Gary Dauberman’s “Salem’s Lot” and puts an end to any assumptions that the film is simply a pickle: “The currently on-shelf remake of ‘Salem’s Lot’ is powerful and exciting. There is a feeling of old Hollywood, when movies gave you a chance to catch your breath before getting started.”
In a follow-up tweet, Stephen King also explains that there are deviations from the book that he disagrees with, but overall it is likely a faithful adaptation. Gary Dauberman would also be reminiscent of John Carpenter in his heyday. We may see in 2024 whether there is any truth in Stephen King’s words. It is still unclear how and when the film will be released in this country.
“Salem’s Lot” is about author Ben Maers, who follows an incident from his childhood and returns to his hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot to prepare for his next year. Here he discovers that a bloodthirsty vampire and his loyal servant are causing fear and terror. More and more people disappear and suddenly appear completely changed. Ben then decides to put an end to the goings on.