Behind the scenes of two-year wait for Stephen King's Salem's Lot film
The latest Stephen King adaptation is finally set to make its way to UK cinemas after a two-year wait.
Salem's Lot - Tobe Hooper
Fans of Stephen King adaptations can finally mark their calendars as the much-anticipated Salem's Lot film gears up for its British debut.
Horror enthusiasts have been bracing for a heart-thumping experience, having treaded on a waiting path spanning two long years since the film wrapped production.
The tale springs from King's literary classic, where he toyed with the notion of Dracula descending not upon London but into the heartland of America.
It unfolds with the lead character, Ben Mears, pulled back to the town he grew up in to pen a novel about a house that has troubled him since youth, only to stumble upon a vampire scourge.
The synopsis teases: "While the vampires claim more victims, Mears convinces a small group of believers to combat the undead."
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Originally slated for a 2022 release, the spine-chiller faced its fair share of nightmares even after receiving an enthusiastic thumbs-up from King himself.
Although not the first to retell the tale- with a TV movie made back in 1979 - this reimagining had fans of both horror and the original work chomping at the bit, reports the Mirror.
It all started when New Line Cinema earmarked Gary Dauberman in 2019 to craft the screenplay following his efforts with King's IT.
However, cameras couldn't roll until 2021 due to covid shutdowns. By then, actor Lewis Pullman had clinched the role of the protagonist, Ben Mears.
The highly-anticipated film faced an initial delay from its September 2022 release, due to additional shooting requirements. This, compounded by coronavirus-related postproduction complications, the launch was postponed to April 2023.
Unfortunately, a writer and actor's strike that following year further stalled the release, with a spokesperson later acknowledging an ongoing uncertainty regarding the film's distribution timetable.
Amidst the delays, author King stepped in to express his bafflement at the hold-up, revealing to his substantial social media following his positive impressions of the movie.
In a February 2024 post, he wrote: "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."
Finally, after much anticipation, Warner Bros disclosed their plans for Salem's Lot.
The film would debut directly on the Max streaming service in the US on October 3, with UK viewers having to wait until October 11, albeit with the bonus of a cinematic experience.
This strategy surfaced amidst Warner Bros' broader reviews of their release policies, which unfortunately resulted in the cancellation of titles like Batgirl and Coyote vs Acme.
The director expressed his gratitude to Stephen King for backing the film as it approached its debut. Chatting with Gamesradar+, he remarked: "I'm extremely thankful for Steve's support. Let's just say it provided some shock support for some of the more bumpy portions of this journey and leave it at that."
As anticipation culminates, viewers along with loyal Stephen King enthusiasts are poised to judge whether the prolonged development of the movie pays off.
Salem's Lot is released in UK cinemas on October 11.
