Salem’s Lotdirector Gary Dauberman addresses the movie’s long delay and Stephen King’s support during that time.The adaptation of King’s 1975 vampire novel was originally slated for a theatrical release in 2022before being delayed for two years. During this time, it remained uncertain whether the movie would ever be released, but King remained a staunch and vocal supporter of the project, which eventually helpedtheSalem’s Lotadaptationsecure a streaming debut on Max in 2024.
While speaking withDen of Geek,Dauberman reflected on the two-year delay and how grateful he is for King’s support. He shared the uncertainty he felt during the delay and emphasized how King proved to be"a light in a lot of dark"throughout this time. Dauberman also explained why King’s writing in the originalSalem’s Lotnovel resonates with him and how he sought to adapt these refreshing elements in his cinematic take on the story. Check out 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 process of making a movie and what can be achieved, what can’t be achieved, and all that. And it’s really nice hearing from someone who’s gone through it so many times because of the wealth of information and education he’s had over the years in just making these things and watching them.
So he had words of encouragement and notes that were really, really helpful in a period of time that was… He was a light in a lot of dark. I think it’s that pervasive fear of something coming into your small town or whatever it is and sort of infecting it. From a story standpoint, I think it’s just scary, and the characters are really great and feel really grounded. I love the earnestness of it. It’s a love story, not just between Ben and Susan, but clearly Ben and Mark, and there’s an old-fashionedness to it, and a genuineness to it that I find really refreshing and that I love. It’s not filled with that kind of cynicism that sometimes we see today. It feels classic to me and it felt classic even when it was written.
What This Means For Salem’s Lot
Stephen King Was Integral To The 2024 Adaptation Being Released
Dauberman’s comments emphasize how invaluable King wasto helpingSalem’s Loteventually get released. King’s words and his influence on popular culture carry tremendous weight. Without his far-reaching social media posts discussing how much he enjoyedSalem’s Lotand encouraging it to be released, it may never have had its eventual Max debut, especially given Warner Bros.' penchant for shelving finished projects in recent years. King has not always championed adaptations of his work in the past, including his famous dislike of Stanley Kubrick’sThe Shining, which makes his support of Dauberman’sSalem’s Lotall the more meaningful.
Marsten House History & Evil Backstory In Salem’s Lot Explained
Salem’s Lot story largely revolves around the Marsten House, with the important location’s backstory revealed in the original Stephen King novel.
In a post on X shared in February 2024,Kingdescribed the movie as"old-school horror filmmaking.“This aligns well with Dauberman appreciating the"old-fashionedness"of the story, including inBen Mears' relationships, and is a testament to Dauberman’s adaptation, with one of the elements he loved best successfully translating to the screen and being recognized by the original author himself. King’s praise not only helpedSalem’s Lotfinally be released, but also provided more reason to watch the new adaptation.
Our Take On Gary Dauberman’s Comments
Salem’s Lot Shows What Can Happen When Creators Support Each Other
While I struggled with some of the adaptation’schanges from theSalem’s Lotbook,I am relieved that the movie finally got released after all the work Dauberman and the cast and crew put into the project.Salem’s Lot’s eventual 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 keep interest inSalem’s Lotalive during the two-year delay, along with making its eventual release a reality.
Salem’s Lot
Cast
Salem’s Lot is a 2024 remake of the movie of the same name released in 1979. The latest adaptation of Stephen King’s 1975 novel stars Lewis Pullman, Makenzie Leigh, and Bill Camp, with Gary Dauberman writing and directing the Max original film. The plot revolves around a writer who discovers a vampire in his hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot upon returning home for inspiration.
