Salem's Lot Director Gary Dauberman addresses the film's long delay and Stephen King's support during that time. The adaptation of King's 1975 vampire novel was originally set to hit theaters in 2022. before the delay of two years. During this time, it remained unclear whether the film would ever be released, but King remained a loyal and vocal supporter of the project, which ultimately helped the film. Salem's Lot the adaptation is set to make its streaming debut on Max in 2024.
when talking to Geek's nest, Dauberman reflected on the two-year delay and how grateful he was for King's support. He shared the uncertainty he felt during the delay and emphasized how King had proven himself “A light in so much darkness” during this period. Dauberman also explained why King wrote in the original Salem's Lot the novel resonates with him and how he sought to adapt these refreshing elements in his cinematic adaptation of the story. See Dauberman's comments below:
It was a long journey. It was a dark journey, you know, mostly an unpleasant journey, just not knowing… I just didn't know what was going on. He's been doing this forever, so he understands the filmmaking process and what can and can't be achieved and all that. It's really nice to hear from someone who has been through this time and time again due to the wealth of knowledge and education they've gained over the years. So he had words of encouragement and notes that were really, really helpful for a while… He was a light in a lot of darkness. I think it's a common fear of something coming to your small town or something infecting it. From a story point of view, I think it's just scary and the characters are really great and feel really grounded. I love the seriousness of it. It's a love story, not just between Ben and Susan, but clearly between Ben and Mark, and there's an old-fashioned authenticity to it that I find really refreshing and love. It is not filled with the cynicism we sometimes see today. Sounds classic to me and felt classic even when it was written.
What This Means for the Salem Lot
Stephen King was an integral part of the Outgoing 2024 Adaptation
Dauberman's comments underscore just how indispensable King is to help Salem's Lot will finally be released. King's words and their impact on popular culture carry enormous weight. Without extensive social media posts discussing how much she enjoyed it Salem's Lot and promoting its release, especially considering Warner Bros., his Max debut may never happen. tendency to shelve finished projects in recent years. King has not always defended adaptations of his work in the past, including to the famous disapproval of Stanley Kubrick. The Shiningwhich also supports Dauberman Salem's Lot is more meaningful.
In a post shared on X in February 2024, This is how King described the film “old school horror filmmaking”. This fits well with Dauberman's appreciation “obsolescence” It's a testament to the story, including Ben Mers' relationship and Dauberman's adaptation, that one of his favorite elements is successfully translated to the screen and recognized by the original author himself. Not only did the King's praise help Salem's Lot will finally be released, but also provided more reasons to watch the new adaptation.
Salem's Lot Shows What Can Happen When Creators Support Each Other
While I was struggling with some of the adaptation changes Salem's Lot book, After all the work Dauberman and the cast put into the project, I'm relieved the film is finally being released. Salem's Lot's latest release is a powerful example of what can happen in the entertainment industry when creators support each other, as King did with Dauberman's adaptation. This helped maintain interest Salem's Lot live during a two-year delay, making his final release a reality.
Source: Den of Geek, Stephen King (X/Twitter)