The latest Stephen King adaptation is finally making its way to UK cinemas and fans have been on a long road waiting for its release.
Salem's Lot is nearly here after a two-year wait for it to appear on the big screen from the time the film was finally finished.
Based on King's novel of the same name, the story was created when the author imagined what would happen if Dracula moved not to London but to middle America.
The synopsis reads: "Author Ben Mears returns to his home town to write a book about a house that has haunted him since childhood only to find his isolated hometown infested with vampires.
READ MORE:
READ MORE:
"While the vampires claim more victims, Mears convinces a small group of believers to combat the undead.”
Originally supposed to hit cinemas back in 2022, the film was dogged with issues both during production and leading up to release despite gaining a seal of approval from the mind behind the tale itself.
While it's not the first attempt at adapting King's vampiric novel, with a television movie in 1979, both horror fans and those who enjoyed the original book were eager to experience the latest interpretation.
The project was first announced back in 2019 when The Hollywood Reporter New Line Cinema had tapped up Gary Dauberman to pen the screenplay following his success with the two-part adaptation of King's other novel IT.
Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, filming wasn't able to begin until 2021, by which time Lewis Pullman was cast as Ben Mears.
After additional shooting took place the film was initially supposed to release in September 2022.
More complications continued into postproduction as a result of coronavirus that saw the date delayed to April 2023 but as that approached, the writer and actor's strike that year saw the title put back on the shelf.
It remained there into this year when a spokesperson stated a decision on the film's distribution was yet to be made.
While still waiting for a confirmed release date, King took to social media himself to support the project, telling his fans he had seen the film and informing them he didn't know why the studio was sitting on it.
He posted on X, formerly in February 2024: "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."
Months later, the plan for Salem's Lot release was finally confirmed, but it still wasn't completely straightforward.
Warner Bros had been making what they called strategic shifts in how they released, and indeed what they allowed to be shown. Unfortunately for fans, this led to cancelled films including Batgirl and Coyote vs Acme.
However, Salem's Lot was confirmed for a release straight to streaming in the US on Max on October 3. Meanwhile, fans in the UK had to wait an extra week until October 11 but they would be able to see it in the cinema.
The director thanked King for his support as the film finally readied for its audience. Speaking to Gamesradar+ he said: "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."
With the wait finally over, it's time for the audience and Stephen King fans to decide if the long process was worth it.
Salem's Lot is released in UK cinemas on October 11.
