The much-anticipated Salem’s Lot film adaptation will be released via streaming. Originally scheduled for a sole theatrical release, the film will now premiere on Max instead.
New Line had recently made this decision after the film spent a few years languishing in distribution hell. Salem’s Lot would have been released in September 2022, but was pushed to spring 2023 due to post-production COVID-19 delays. Eventually, the film was shelved from distribution, reflecting CEO David Zaslav’s business practices upon the Discovery merger.
Usually, Warner Bros. features tend to avoid releasing films straight to streaming due to a fear of losing revenue and ruining their reputation. While it isn’t entirely clear why the film will be distributed via Max, it could be related to a need to branch out to more audiences. In a Variety editorial last October, a source claimed that the SAG-AFTRA strikes had given a growing need for Max streaming. This need possibly spawned from making films quicker and easier for audiences to access without worrying too much about theatrical interruption by the strikes.
There is no explicit answer as to why Salem’s Lot is being moved to streaming only, but a 2024 release date is guaranteed. No matter the reason, fans of the original novel may finally get the feature-length adaptation that they have been awaiting.
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