This article contains spoilers from the Salem's Lot and Dark Tower novels.
King openly ing this Salem's Lot adaptation.
Several years after the publication of Salem's Lot, King published The Gunslinger, which launched The Dark Tower series that connects to many of the characters, locations, and storylines in the author's other stories. Flanagan, who has adapted many of King's works, including Doctor Sleep and The Life of Chuck, is now helming a television series adaptation of The Dark Tower. While The Dark Tower features many connections to other King stories, there are particularly important connections to Salem's Lot.
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Father Donald Callahan’s Story Continues In The Dark Tower
His Story Does Not End In Salem's Lot
The story of Father Donald Callahan, one of Salem's Lot's most important characters, continues in The Dark Tower books. After the priest fails to defeat the vampire Kurt Barlow, an ashamed Callahan leaves Jerusalem's Lot, with his fate after his departure left unaddressed by the end of Salem's Lot. It was not until the Dark Tower novel Wolves of the Calla, which was published in 2003, that Callahan's post-Salem's Lot fate was addressed.
Callahan becomes an important character and ally to Roland and his ka-tet in Wolves of the Calla, Song of Susannah, and The Dark Tower, with Callahan's story culminating in the series' final installment.
The Dark Tower's protagonist, Roland Deschain, and his ka-tet encounter Callahan in the village of Calla Bryn Sturgis. After leaving Jerusalem's Lot, Callahan is revealed to have gone to New York City, where he learned to identify and hunt vampires. Callahan's actions attract the attention of The Dark Tower's overarching antagonist, the Crimson King, leading to a series of events that take him to Calla Bryn Sturgis. Callahan becomes an important character and ally to Roland and his ka-tet in Wolves of the Calla, Song of Susannah, and The Dark Tower, with Callahan's story culminating in the series' final installment.
The Dark Tower Provides Closure For 2 Other Salem’s Lot Characters
The Fates Of Ben Mears And Mark Petrie Are Revealed
Father Callahan is the main connection between Salem's Lot and The Dark Tower, but the series also provides insight into what happened to the writer Ben Mears and to young Mark Petrie. Ben, Mark, and Callahan are the only characters to survive the horrors inflicted by Barlow and the other vampires in Salem's Lot. While Callahan leaves the town before Barlow is defeated, Ben and Mark do not flee until they defeat Barlow, although they return in the epilogue, lighting a fire to destroy the town and the remaining vampires.
In Wolves of the Calla, Ben and Mark's fates after the epilogue are revealed as Callahan attended Ben's funeral, with Ben being in his fifties, meaning the writer lived for two decades after Salem's Lot. It is also mentioned that Callahan saw Mark, now a young man, at the funeral, where Mark delivered a eulogy in honor of Ben. Wolves of the Calla provides closure for Ben and Mark, confirming that they lived for many years after the trauma they endured and had each other.
How 2024's Salem's Lot Movie & Mike Flanagan's Dark Tower Will Complement Each Other
It's A Great Time To Be A Stephen King Fan
While 2024's Salem's Lot and Flanagan's Dark Tower are entirely separate projects developed by different creative teams, both share the promise of being faithful and rewarding adaptations of King's work. King's of Salem's Lot helped the 2024 remake finally release on Max after being delayed for 2 years following the author speaking highly of the adaptation. Flanagan's long-gestating Dark Tower series should be a stellar adaptation as well, with 's positive reviews once again proving he is well-suited to adapting King's stories.
The Salem's Lot remake will be available to stream on Max on October 3, 2024.
When Flanagan's The Dark Tower eventually reaches Father Callahan entering the story, a new actor will likely be cast, although it would be fun if the series cast John Benjamin Hickey, the same actor playing Callahan in 2024's Salem's Lot. Wolves of the Calla also features a fascinating moment where Callahan discovers a copy of the book Salem's Lot due to the multiverse in the story, a detail that Flanagan's Dark Tower should include. Salem's Lot and The Dark Tower are among the many current and adaptations that make it an exciting time to be a Stephen King fan.
Salem's Lot
- Release Date
- September 25, 2024
- Runtime
- 113 Minutes
- Director
- Gary Dauberman
Cast
Lewis PullmanBen Mears
Alfre WoodardDr. Cody
WHERE TO WATCH
Salem's Lot is a 2024 remake of the movie of the same name released in 1979. The latest adaptation of Stephen King's 1975 novel stars Lewis Pullman, Makenzie Leigh, and Bill Camp, with Gary Dauberman writing and directing the Max original film. The plot revolves around a writer who discovers a vampire in his hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot upon returning home for inspiration.
- Writers
- Gary Dauberman, Stephen King
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