“Annabelle” writer Gary Dauberman is sinking his teeth into one of Stephen King‘s most famous tales with the first trailer for the upcoming “Salem’s Lot,” streaming on Max on Oct. 3.
Based on King’s 1975 novel, “Salem’s Lot” follows Ben Mears (Lewis Pullman), a successful writer who moves back to his hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot to write his next novel, inspired by an experience he had in an abandoned house in the town. His arrival coincides with the purchase of the house by Kurt Barlow (William Sadler), an ancient vampire using his human familiar Richard Straker (Pilou Asbæk) to turn the citizens of the town. As more and more locals are transformed into vampires, Mears and his human allies are trapped in a fight for their lives.
In addition to Pullman, Sadler and Asbæk, the film also stars Makenzie Leigh as Susan Norton, Ben’s love interest; Bill Camp as high school teacher Matthew Burke; Alfre Woodard as Dr. Cody; Spencer Treat Clark as gravedigger Mike Ryerson; and John Benjamin Hickey as Father Callahan, the town priest who would later become a major character in King’s book series “The Dark Tower.”
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The movie was first announced in 2019 and was initially slated for a theatrical release in September 2022, before being delayed multiple times and shifted to Max.
Dauberman wrote and directed the film, after having written the script for the 2017 and 2019 Stephen King adaptations “It” and “It: Chapter Two.” He’s also well known for his work on several spinoffs of “The Conjuring” franchise, having written “Annabelle,” “Annabelle: Creation” and “The Nun.” He also wrote and directed “Annabelle Comes Home” in 2019. James Wan, the creator of the “Conjuring” franchise, produces the film.
Max’s “Salem’s Lot” is not the first adaptation of the book. Four years after publication, the novel was turned into two-part CBS miniseries starring David Soul as Mears, which was nominated for three Emmy Awards. A feature film sequel to the miniseries, “A Return to Salem’s Lot,” was released in 1987. A new miniseries adaptation starring Rob Lowe premiered on TNT in 2004. In 2021, Epix premiered “Chapelwaite,” a series based on King’s prequel short story “Jerusalem’s Lot,” starring Adrien Brody and Emily Hampshire.
“Salem’s Lot” will premiere on Max on Oct. 3 Watch the full trailer below.
