First, the editorializing: at this point, there were really only two realistic outcomes for Gary Dauberman’s long-delayed adaptation of Stephen King’s ‘Salem’s Lot – it could head directly to Warner Bros.’ streaming service, Max, or it could end up in the landfill with all the other movies WB has shelved for tax-related reasons lately. Theatrical simply didn’t seem in the cards at this point.
Today, we’re finding out that the studio has chosen the former option. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Dauberman’s ‘Salem’s Lot will indeed hit Max later this year. No release date has been announced, but it seems safe to assume that this’ll be along somewhere within the so-called “Spooky Season.”
Does the decision to drop ‘Salem’s Lot on Max indicate a lack of quality? Well, not necessarily! Plenty of streaming-only movies are well worth our time, and some of them absolutely should have had their day in theaters. It does, however, seem to signal a lack faith on the part of Warner Bros. regarding the film’s box office prospects. Maybe that’s a quality issue; maybe the film simply doesn’t fit well within whatever release schedule WB has planned for the rest of the year.
Nothing further to report on Dauberman’s ‘Salem’s Lot at this time, but rest assured we’ll be keeping you informed as further updates roll in. Stay tuned, folks.
