The Salem's Lot movie is still happening and it's coming to Max this October!

As we inch closer and closer to the spooky season, we're getting more exciting updates regarding the horror lineup for the fall. One announcement that's come out today is that the new Salem's Lot movie is finally being released, and we don't have long now to wait to watch it! Vanity Fair went behind the scenes on the upcoming Stephen King adaptation and has broken the news that the movie will be released on Max this October. The exact release date is Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024.

Salem's Lot is written and directed by Gary Dauberman, who is best known for horror titles like Annabelle, The Nun, It, and It Chapter Two. The movie was first reported in 2019, and while filming took place between 2021 and 2022, it was caught in post-production issues which led to multiple delays. Though it was first set for a theatrical release, reports of it moving to streaming only began in 2023 due to a supposed need for more content on Max amid the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Get your first look at the Salem's Lot movie

It had been some time since we got any update on Salem's Lot, leaving many — even King himself — frustrated. Would we ever get to see the movie? Well, finally, we know we will be soon. And while I wish it would be released in theaters, I am excited to get to watch it at all. And by the first-look images exclusive to Vanity Fair, this definitely looks promising! You can click on the article in the tweet below to see all of the images the publication has shared.

Salem's Lot stars Lewis Pullman in the leading role, with Pilou Asbæk, Makenzie Leigh, Alfre Woodard, William Sadler, Bill Camp, and others rounding out the cast.

King's 1975 novel Salem's Lot follows a writer who returns to his hometown looking for inspiration and learns that it's been taken over by a vampire. Dauberman's is not the first live-action adaptation; horror fans will remember the 1979 miniseries directed by Tobe Hooper and starring David Soul and James Mason. The series premiered on CBS and received positive reviews, going on to become one of the best King adaptations. That spawned a sequel, A Return to Salem's Lot, which, unfortunately, was not met with a glowing response.

In 2004, another Salem's Lot miniseries premiered on TNT, a modernized version starring Rob Lowe and other familiar faces. That one received generally positive reviews, though nothing can beat the original. Can the new adaptation come close?

While speaking to Vanity Fair, Dauberman shared: “I’m excited it’s finally getting out there and people can see it.” We feel the same way!

Now that Salem's Lot finally has an official release date, we can save the date so we don't miss it. We're still waiting on the official trailer, which is expected to be released sometime by the end of September. No worries! We'll come back and share it with you as soon as it drops.