Stephen King’s support helped new adaptation Salem’s Lot finally get released, 2 years after its initial release date

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Exclusive: Salem’s Lot director Gary Dauberman says author Stephen King helped his new adaptation finally get released

Lewis Pullman as Ben Mears in Salem's Lot
(Image credit: Justin Lubin, Warner Bros.)

The newest adaptation of Stephen King’s legendary vampire novel Salem's Lot will finally hit screens soon after being delayed for two years, but director Gary Dauberman says the movie wouldn't be on its way at all without the help of the author. 

"I’m extremely thankful for Steve’s support," Dauberman tells Total Film in our new issue out on Thursday, September 12, which features The Penguin on the cover. When pressed to go into detail about what exactly King did to help, the director simply adds, "Let’s just say it provided some shock support for some of the more bumpy portions of this journey and leave it at that."

The reason for its pushback has not been confirmed, and it seems like not even King knows as he recently took to Twitter to defend the movie. "I've seen the new Salem’s Lot and it's quite good," wrote King. "Not sure why WB is holding it back; not like it's embarrassing, or anything."

Just like the novel, the 2024 flick follows a writer named Ben Mears who returns to his hometown only to discover that the residents are being turned into vampires. We've got an exclusive image from the movie, featuring Lewis Pullman as Mears. Check out the full image below.

Lewis Pullman as Ben Mears in Salem's Lot

(Image credit: Justin Lubin, Warner Bros.)

However, this isn't the first time the 1975 novel has been brought to life, as it was adapted into a two-part miniseries in 1979 and then again in 2004. And just like his predecessors, Dauberman is standing out from the crowd by making his fang beasts look like monsters rather than the likes we see in modern film television.

However, the director says this wasn't done intentionally. "It wasn’t about reclaiming anything," Dauberman says when asked if he saw his movie as a riposte to romantic, tween-friendly bloodsuckers. "It’s always cool to see different interpretations of vampires. That said, I hadn’t seen a more traditional vampire movie in a long while so I thought maybe one was due."

Salem's Lot premieres on Max in the US on October 3, and in UK theaters on October 11. And you can read more about it and a whole lot else besides in the new issue of Total Film when it hits shelves and digital newsstands on Thursday, September 12.

Check out the covers below:

The Penguin covers of Total Film magazine

(Image credit: Sky/HBO/Total Film)

Subscribers have the exclusive text-free cover on the way to them right now, with the issue then hitting shops and digital newsstands on Thursday 12 September.

Total Film subscriber offer

(Image credit: Sky/HBO/Warner Bros/Disney/20th Century Studios/Prime Video)
Megan Garside
Megan Garside
Junior Social Media Editor, GamesRadar+

I'm the Junior Social Media Editor here at GamesRadar+, handling all of Total Film's social platforms. However, I also write, covering all things film and TV for the site's entertainment section. I joined GamesRadar+ in 2023 and have been here ever since. I previously worked in communications after graduating with an MA in journalism. In my spare time, you can find me binging horror movies or getting lost in a cosy little game on my Switch.