James Wan and Gary Dauberman- the creative team behind numerous entries in The Conjuring cinematic universe- are setting their sights on world of vampires. Their latest project involves bringing Stephen King’s 1975 classic novel, Salem’s Lot to the silver screen. The Hollywood Reporter says that Wan will produce the film and Dauberman will serve as screenwriter and executive producer.
Wan and Dauberman first collaborated in 2014 on the first The Conjuring spinoff, Annabelle. Wan produced the film and Dauberman wrote the script. This arrangement continued with Annabelle: Creation and The Nun; and now Dauberman will also direct the upcoming Annabelle Comes Home. There is currently no director announced for Salem’s Lot.
This wont be the first time Gary Dauberman adapted a beloved Stephen King classic novel to the world of cinema. He wrote the screenplay for both It and It: Chapter Two. These achievements- coupled with his writer’s credit on the upcoming Are You Afraid of the Dark? feature film- means that Dauberman is a filmmaker to keep an eye on in the world of horror in the coming years.
This new film isn’t the first time Salem’s Lot made the jump from the pages of King’s novel to a live action production. First, there was a Tobe Hooper television movie with the same name in 1979, followed by 1987’s A Return to Salem’s Lot, directed by Larry Cohen. A lesser known television event was also produced in 2004, starring Rob Lowe and Donald Sutherland.
Stay tuned to Horror News Network for complete coverage of the new movie version of Salem’s Lot as soon as it breaks!
