As has been the case for a long time, Stephen King fans haven’t been lacking lately for film and TV adaptations of the author’s work. This year has seen the release of the Lisey’s Story and Chapelwaite TV shows on Apple TV+ and Epix, respectively, and 2019 saw the release of Doctor Sleep in theaters. As far as upcoming cinematic King offerings go, a Salem’s Lot movie is on the way, and it’s been announced that a Top Gun: Maverick actor has been hired to lead the feature.
Lewis Pullman, son of Independence Day’s Bill Pullman, will star in the Salem’s Lot movie as writer Ben Mears, the main protagonist, as shared by THR. This is Pullman’s biggest cinematic role yet, having previously appeared in movies like Battle of the Sexes and Bad Times at the El Royale, and he’ll pop up later this year as Bob, a pilot trainee, in Top Gun: Maverick. Pullman also starred as Major Major Major Major in the Hulu miniseries Catch-22, and will appear alongside Josh Brolin in the upcoming Amazon series Outer Range.
For those unfamiliar with the original Salem’s Lot novel, which was released in 1975, the story sees Ben Mears returning to his childhood home of Jerusalem’s Lot, nicknamed Salem’s Lot by the locals, after more than two decades away to find inspiration for his next book. However, Ben soon discovers that the town’s residents are being preyed upon by vampires, leading to him allying with others to fight off these bloodthirsty creatures. Salem’s Lot was Stephen King’s second published novel, following 1974’s Carrie, and the author revisited the Jerusalem’s Lot town in the same-named short story published in 1978 in the Night Shift collection (the Chapelwaite TV series is based off that short story).
Salem’s Lot has previously been adapted in miniseries form in 1979 and 2004, and in 1987, Larry Cohen made the movie A Return to Salem’s Lot, which was a sequel to the 1979 miniseries. The short-lived Hulu series Castle Rock also featured a bus stop in Jerusalem’s Lot in the episode “Past Perfect.” Now the original Salem’s Lot tale is finally getting adapted for film for the first time, and casting Lewis Pullman as the lead marks yet another big step forward in its development.
It was announced in April 2019 that Salem’s Lot would be brought to the big screen, with modern horror icon James Wan producing and Gary Dauberman, who wrote both IT movies and numerous entries in the Conjuring franchise, penning the script. A year later, it was announced that Dauberman would also direct Salem’s Lot, and filming is expected to begin next month in Boston, Massachusetts.
We’ll keep you apprised on more details about Salem’s Lot as they trickle in, including when its release date is unveiled. For now, browse through our 2021 release schedule to learn what movies are arriving later this year, which includes Lewis Pullman starring opposite Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick on November 19.
