2 years after it was supposed to be released, an upcoming Stephen King horror adaptation gets first look

The first look at Salem’s Lot is here

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

Over two years after its proposed release date, the upcoming movie adaptation of Stephen King’s iconic vampire tale Salem’s Lot has finally unveiled its first look, and it’s just as spooky as the book.

In the first look images shared in an exclusive withVanity Fair, we get a first glimpse at the cast including John Benjamin Hickey’s Father Callahan getting grabbed by Mr. Barlow’s vampy clawed hand, Alfre Woodard’s Dr. Cody finding out one of her deceased patients has escaped from the morgue, and an undead figure staring with glowing eyes through the window at Jordan Preston Carter’s Mark Petrie. We also get a shot of the Marsten House overlooking Salem’s Lot AKA where the vampire plague starts. Check out some of the first-look images below or see more on Vanity Fair.

‘Salem’s Lot,’ based on the 1975 novel, the film follows author Ben Mears who returns to his small town in search of inspiration for his next book—and instead finds his fellow residents are being picked off one-by-one.Take an early look at the film: https://t.co/Gf5BMW7eLQ pic.twitter.com/Ny8aq8iracAugust 20, 2024

Alongside the first looks, it has also been revealed that the movie will skip a theatrical release and go straight-to-streaming on Max in October 2024. The movie was originally set for theatrical release on September 9, 2022, then was bumped to April 21, 2023, beforescrapping a big screen release altogether.

Based on King’s legendary Dracula-esque novel, the new Salem’s Lot adaptation is set in 1975 (when King’s book was first published) and follows author Ben Mears’ return to his hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot in search of inspiration for his next book. However, upon setting foot in the very place that haunted his childhood nightmares, the author finds the town is being preyed upon by a bloodthirsty vampire.

This is not the first time King’s legendary story has been adapted, however, as Texas Chain Saw Massacre’s Tobe Hooper directed the first adaptation back in 1979, then a mini-series starring Rob Lowe and Donald Sutherland followed in 2004. But the upcoming addition directed byAnnabelle Comes Home’s Gary Daubermanalready has King’s stamp of approvalas the author recentlytweetedpraise for the movie saying he has seen it and “it’s quite good” with a “slow build” and “big payoff.”

“You could do a very dry version of this movie, but that’s just not my personality,” said Dauberman who also served as screenwriter for other King adaptationsITandIT Chapter 2. “It’s trying to ride that wave’s ups and downs. You’re having fun with it, and then you can have a scare, and then you’re having fun again. Hopefully it feels like a complete ride at the end.”

Alongside Hickey, Preston Carter, and Woodard Salem’s Lot stars Lewis Pullman, Makenzie Leigh, Bill Camp, Nicholas Crovetti, William Sadler, Spencer Treat Clark, Cade Woodward, Debra Christofferson, and Pilou Asbaek.

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

Salem’s Lot premieres onHBOMax sometime in October 2024. For more, check out our list of thebest Stephen King adaptations, or keep up withupcoming horror movies.

I am an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for SFX and Total Film online. I have a Bachelors Degree in Media Production and Journalism and a Masters in Fashion Journalism from UAL. In the past I have written for local UK and US newspaper outlets such as the Portland Tribune and York Mix and worked in communications, before focusing on film and entertainment writing. I am a HUGE horror fan and in 2022 I created my very own single issue feminist horror magazine.

The studio behind Saw is developing a live-action adaptation of terrifying horror video game Outlast

Heretic star Hugh Grant believes that A24 horror movies are the perfect “antidote” for the current state of cinema: “They have brought real, fresh filmmaking back”

This zombie Yakuza spin-off is the perfect Halloween game for Like A Dragon fans, but it’s still rotting away on PS3