Stephen King doesn’t know why his horror movie hasn’t been released yet
Warner Bros. TelevisionA completed horror movie based on a famed Stephen King book is yet to be released, and even the King himself isn’t sure why it’s being held back.
Stephen King’s influence on the horror movie genre is immeasurable, as he stands as one of the most prolific and celebrated authors in the genre’s history. His ability to tap into the deepest fears of humanity and weave them into compelling narratives has left an indelible mark on both literature and cinema.
Numerous movie adaptations of King’s works have graced the silver screen over the years, arguably the best being Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. Then there’s the It and Pet Sematary adaptations, as well as Carrie, Children of the Corn, The Mist, The Boogeyman — the list goes on and on.
Another King horror has been adapted for the big screen, but it’s yet to see the light of day — and the author isn’t sure why.
Stephen King unsure why Salem’s Lot is yet to be released
Taking to X this week, Stephen King gave his thoughts on the Salem’s Lot movie, based on his 1975 vampire novel of the same name — and he said he’s “not sure” why Warner Bros won’t release it.
“Between you and me, Twitter, I’ve seen the new Salem’s Lot and it’s quite good,” he wrote. “Old-school horror filmmaking: slow build, big payoff. Not sure why WB is holding it back; not like it’s embarrassing, or anything. Who knows. I just write the f*cking things.”
While Salem’s Lot has been made into two TV miniseries — one in 1979 and one in 2004 — this is the first time it’s had a movie version. The film has been written and directed by Gary Dauberman, with Lewis Pullman, Makenzie Leigh, Bill Camp, Pilou Asbæk, Alfre Woodard, and William Sadler in the cast.
Ever since the remake was announced back in 2019, it’s faced a series of pushbacks — originally set for a September 2022 release, this was later changed to April 2023. But Warner Bros. rejigged its schedule once again, replacing Salem’s Lot with Evil Dead Rise.
There have been no announcements regarding a new release date ever since, leaving everyone a tad confused — King included.
This isn’t the first time the writer’s spoken about the reboot, having commented in November last year: “The Warner Bros remake of Salem’s Lot, currently shelved, is muscular and involving. It has the feel of ‘Old Hollywood,’ when a film was given a chance to draw a breath before getting to business. When attention spans were longer, in other words.”
If you’re wondering what it’s all about, the official synopsis of the Salem’s Lot book reads: “Ben Mears has returned to Jerusalem’s Lot in hopes that exploring the history of the Marsten House, an old mansion long the subject of rumor and speculation, will help him cast out his personal devils and provide inspiration for his new book.
“But when two young boys venture into the woods, and only one returns alive, Mears begins to realize that something sinister is at work. In fact, his hometown is under siege from forces of darkness far beyond his imagination. And only he, with a small group of allies, can hope to contain the evil that is growing within the borders of this small New England town.”
We’ll be sure to keep you posted if and when any updates about the movie’s release are revealed. Until then, you can find the rest of our horror coverage here.