Stephen King’s classic 1976 novel, Salem’s Lot, is getting an update. Gary Dauberman, who previously directed the Annabelle films and co-wrote the first IT, has announced four vital cast members in the last three days. Jordan Preston Carter, Nicholas Crovetti, and Cade Woodward have joined the cast as children who live in the town of Jerusalem’s Lot. This news comes on the heels of the announcement from Deadline, which revealed that John Benjamin Hickey will be playing Father Callahan.
Dauberman is set to direct the new Salem’s Lot and the film is currently in the midst of production. This will be the fifth film/television adaptation of Salem’s Lot. The original Salem’s Lot was a mini-series directed by Tobe Hooper that came out in 1979. Hooper’s adaptation holds the distinction of being the first film/television adaptation of a Stephen King work.
A Quick Rundown on the Story
For the uninitiated, the story takes place in a small fictional town named Jerusalem’s Lot. Ben Mears, portrayed by Lewis Pullman in the new Salem’s Lot, visits his childhood home. However, while he’s there, he starts to realize that his town is under attack from dark forces. One by one, residents start becoming vampires, as Ben bands together with a ragtag team of townspeople to protect Jerusalem’s Lot.
Dauberman Hopes New Salem’s Lot Adaptation Will Stay True to Stephen King’s Vision
Plot details on how the new Salem’s Lot will differ from the book or mini-series are scant. Director Dauberman, who rendered a fairly faithful adaptation of Stephen King’s IT, hopes to do the same for Salem’s Lot. In an interview with Hollywood Reporter, Duberman stated, “I like to be as true to the story as I possibly can until it gets a little too unwieldy for a movie. I’m very, very excited to be a part of that and tackle it. It hasn’t had the big-screen treatment yet, which is how I felt about It. It’s so fun to play around with vampires and make something truly scary.”
The new Salem’s Lot adaptation will release in theaters on September 9, 2022. New Line Cinema produced the film and will release it under the Warner Brothers company.