Deadline is reporting that Gary Dauberman (Annabelle Comes Home) will be directing New Line’s Stephen King feature adaptation of Salem’s Lot. Dauberman is adapting the screenplay for producer James Wan (Conjuring universe, Saw franchise).
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In the 1975 horror novel, author Ben Mears returns to Salem’s Lot to write a book about a house that has haunted him since childhood only to find his isolated hometown infested with vampires. While the vampires claim more victims, Mears convinces a small group of believers to combat the undead.
The novel is notable in that it was King’s second published novel following 1974’s Carrie, arriving on bookshelves two years before 1977’s The Shining.
Wan will produce Salem’s Lot alongside Roy Lee and Mark Wolper. Dauberman, who worked with Wan on 2014’s Annabelle and The Nun and is set to make his directorial debut with the sequel Annabelle Comes Home, will executive produce.
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Salem’s Lot was previously adapted in 1979 by horror maestro Tobe Hooper. That film starred James Mason and is considered one of the better King adaptations.
Dauberman will also serve as executive producer with Wan, Roy Lee, and Mark Wolper producing.
(Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for Warner Bros.)
