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As you can see from this cast shot, Depp's bloodsucking pater familias Barnabas Collins actually borrows heavily from the aged-little boy look of original Dark Shadows star Jonathan Frid ? not that anyone would be happy to see this guy show up as your ...
Last week, long-range paparazzi shots of the actor wearing ghostly white makeup, large sunglasses and a pulled down fedora made fans of the original 1966-71 supernatural soap opera bristle nervously, with complaints he looked simply too strange.
As you can see from this cast shot, Depp?s bloodsucking pater familias Barnabas Collins actually borrows heavily from the aged-little boy look of original Dark Shadows star Jonathan Frid ? not that anyone would be happy to see this guy show up as your prom date either.
Still, this official First Look may reassure those die-hard fans of the original series, memorably offbeat ABC daytime drama about a vampire whose extended family are bedeviled by ghosts, witches, and other gothic woes.
Depp, who fought for years to make this movie, is one of those fans. ?I do remember, very vividly, practically sprinting home from school in the afternoon to see Jonathan Frid play Barnabas Collins,? the actor says. ?Even then, at that age, I knew ? this has got to be weird.?
Weird certainly sums up this particular family portrait ? a shot director Tim Burton, who also obsessed over Dark Shadows as a boy, staged in the early days of production.
?I remember seeing a group photograph of the cast of the original series,? he tells EW. ?For me it captured the weird Dark Shadows vibe in a single image. I had a brief window of opportunity to have our cast present at the same time, the day before principle photography began. We decided to stage a similar picture instead of rehearsing, to see if we captured the Dark Shadows feeling.?
Barnabas Collins (Depp) ? He was an 18th century gentleman, a businessman just before the Revolutionary War, who was transformed against his will into a vampire and buried in a tomb for two centuries. After he finally emerges, uncovered by construction workers in the year 1972, he seeks out his descendants ? as well as some long-ago foes and a possible lost love.
?He?s been alive this whole time and very hungry, with no idea what?s going on outside,? says screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith (author of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, which Burton is producing as a film.)
Barnabas is one vampire who is just as frightened of our times as we are of him, says producer Richard D. Zanuck: ?Two-hundred years later, he?s suddenly walking into the town he saw being built and seeing girls in skirts, cars for the first time. It?s a man-out-of-time, supernatural horror story, but I put ?horror? in quotes.?
Despite his confusion, he?s still a ladies man. ?In some sense he can be a terrifying killer; on the other hand, women have a weakness for him and he has a weakness for women,? Grahame-Smith says. ?He can be a very well-mannered, well-meaning vampire most of the time, until his stomach is empty or someone challenges his beloved Collins family.?
Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter) ? From Alice in Wonderland?s Red Queen, to the cannibalistic cook Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, Burton can?t help but cast the mother of his children as a deranged person. This prim and proper psychiatrist, who has taken up residence with the Collins family to care for their troubled youngest boy, might seem to break that trend ? but don?t bet on it. ?Dr. Hoffman?s been there for years, working with David [the little boy in the photo] but not making any progress. He still claims he sees ghosts and talks with his dead mother,? Grahame-Smith says. ?She?s crazy but brilliant. Obviously she?s an eccentric, and definitely likes a drink or two. She?s definitely a little bit off her rocker, and is a woman with a lot of secrets herself.? The writer teases: ?She?ll also become interested in Barnabas in more than one way. ?
Carolyn Stoddard (Chloë Moretz) ? Though she played a voracious child vampire in the acclaimed (but little seen) Let Me In, Moretz is on the human side of the spectrum in Dark Shadows ? though that doesn?t mean this cousin of young David Collins (and daughter of Michelle Pfeiffer?s character, seen on the far right) isn?t without her own peculiarities. ?Carolyn is your typical early-1970s teenager,? Grahame-Smith says. ?She likes her music and likes her magazines, and does not like anyone in her family. She likes to keep her door closed and keep to herself. She?s pretty normal, but appearances can be deceiving. I wouldn?t say there is a normal person in this photo.?
Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green) ? The Bond girl from Casino Royale turns up here as the villain of the story. ?Angelique is a witch who has known Barnabas since the 1700s, when they had an affair that went sour. She is the one who cursed him to be a vampire and locked him in that box,? Grahame-Smith says. ?Since he has been away, Angelique has made it her life?s mission to destroy the Collins family. So when Barnabas turns up again after all these years, she?s not very happy to see him.?
David Collins (Gulliver McGrath) ? Lonely, confused, and neglected by his pompous father (Jonny Lee Miller, over on the right next to Pfeiffer), David has no one to confide in except his bizarre psychiatrist ? and the dead people he claims to see. Grahame-Smith describes him as ?a sweet, curious, precocious little boy whose family has branded him as slightly crazy.?
Victoria Winters (Bella Heathcote) ? This young woman arrives to become David?s new governess, only to find herself swept up in the vampire-witch melodrama. ?When Barnabas meets Victoria, he?s instantly reminded of the woman he lost in the 1700s, before he was cursed to be a vampire,? Grahame-Smith says. ?I wouldn?t say he falls in love with her, but there?s an instant attraction, an instant connection.? Is she the reincarnation of his doomed lover Josette du Pres? ?We get the sense at the beginning she has a secret past, and that?s unraveled as it goes on,? the screenwriter says.
Mrs. Johnson (Ray Shirley) ? ?Poor old Mrs. Johnson ?? Grahame-Smith sighs when talk turns to the old woman seated in the back behind Depp. ?She is the mostly blind, mostly deaf maid, who has been with them for decades and decades. You might find her polishing a piece of silverware with a slab of baloney because she thinks it?s a polishing cloth. I don?t think she actually says anything in the entire film. She?s just sort of there.? He laughs: ?Adding her was Tim?s idea.?
Willie Loomis (Jackie Earle Haley) ? How awesome is it to play an actual Groundskeeper Willie? The Oscar-nominee for Little Children is a slightly more competent servant than Mrs. Johnson, but that?s not saying much. ?He?s the guy who takes out the trash, mows the lawns, and fixes the cars, except he?s usually so drunk and so disinterested that he doesn?t take his job seriously anymore,? Grahame-Smith says. ?The lawn is overgrown, the house has fallen into disrepair, and all the cars are on cinder blocks. His heart?s definitely not in the job anymore.?
Roger Collins (Jonny Lee Miller) ? This scion of the once-great Collins family is one of the main reasons the aristocratic clan has fallen into such disgrace. ?He?s a creepy, self-centered guy who likes to order Willie around, likes to pretend the family is still on top of his game,? Grahame-Smith says. Not only is he a bad father to David, but he is a poor manager of whatever meager wealth the family retains. ?When Barnabas shows up and has some very specific ideas about how to make things right, he?s obviously going to bump heads with Roger Collins.?
Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer) ? The mother of Carolyn Stoddard, and mother-figure to David, she?s the one adult member of the Collins clan who is at least slightly competent. ?Elizabeth is the rock of the family. She?s the matriarch,? Grahame-Smith says. ?She?s the keeper of the Collins history, and a fierce protector of what remains of her family. She?s the one that insists on the best care for the children, even though money isn?t what it used to be. She?s a very strong woman who unfortunately has been dealt a very difficult deck.? With a witch perpetually trying to destroy her, and a long lost vampire relative turning up to reclaim control, ?there?s just too much for her to handle,? Grahame-Smith says.
daji Thu 09/22/11 9:08 PMIf you haven?t seen Michelle Pfeiffer in Stardust from 2007 where she plays a soul eating witch or HAIRSPRAY ( the mom from HELL) from that same year than you are missing some great performances from her.BTW,I wanna share a good news to you.My best friend ,she just has announced her wedding with a millionaire man who is a celebrity !
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JOEEEEEEEE Thu 09/22/11 10:12 PMWow -look at Joeeeeeeeeee 4:13?- Daji-Talk about GET AN ORIGINAL IDEA. YOU COPIED WHAT I WROTE WORD FOR WORD-very sad.
Nita Fri 09/23/11 12:05 AMThis board is not for trying to ?sell? your website, or a site you may be involved with. This board is for posting comments regarding Dark Shadows ONLY. Your comment should be removed. We don?t know you, we don?t know your best friend, and we don?t care! Go TROLL somewhere else, but stay off this board.
spnfan Sat 09/24/11 1:47 PMYou guys DO realize that these aren?t trolls, right? It?s called a spambot, and is not a sentient being that can understand and/or respond to your complaints. Just ignore it and move on.
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Nita Fri 09/23/11 12:08 AMYou too, just like Daji & BeccaThis board is not for trying to ?sell? your website, or a site you may be involved with. This board is for posting comments regarding Dark Shadows ONLY. Your comment should be removed. We don?t know you, we don?t know your best friend, and we don?t care! Go TROLL somewhere else, but stay off this board.
Nita Fri 09/23/11 12:09 AMWhat is wrong with you people!This board is not for trying to ?sell? your website, or a site you may be involved with. This board is for posting comments regarding Dark Shadows ONLY. Your comment should be removed. We don?t know you, we don?t know your best friend, and we don?t care! Go TROLL somewhere else, but stay off this board.
abadstroller Thu 09/22/11 10:12 PMMy aunt loved this show when I was growing up. DS scared me and fascinated me. The one character from the original show that sticks with me today is Barnabas Collins. This new version looks like freaky wild fun!
di Sat 09/24/11 11:25 AMfirst Depp, then Jackie Earl Haley, he is one of my very favorites!!! I HATE that Human Target got cancelled. The romance between Chance * Ilsa was great but the younger girl was unnessary.
SBubba Mon 09/26/11 5:21 AMThis is a great cast and should be fun for people who liked the show. Burton is the perfect director to keep and enhance the mood.
I remember running home from school as a kid to watch this. It was on at 4pm and the Flintstones at 4:30. That hour was my favorite part of the day. I haven?t ever seen DS reruns so I am looking forward to it.
Marcie Thu 09/22/11 11:32 AMWaah! Where?s Quentin Collins? I realize he came on the show later, but I was in love with him. Aah, dear Quentin?..
Mia Thu 09/22/11 12:32 PMI agree, Marcie.When I saw SOCIAL NETWORK for the first time and the lawyer for the Winklevii twins appeared, first thing I thought was ?QUENTIN COLLINS!!!?
Lisa Simpson Thu 09/22/11 3:03 PMHe has aged well, hasn?t he? He was also in an episode of Mad Men. Quentin was always my favorite, and I do hope there?s a sequel so that we get his story. Though nobody could match David Selby.
Troy Fri 09/23/11 11:40 AMThe movie is going to based on the story of Barnabas Collins and how he came to be a vampire. I don?t know how close to the series the movie is going to follow but I suspect that much of the movie will be based upon the Barnabas ? Angelique ? Josette love triangleQuentin Collins didn?t made an appearance in the series at this point, (his first appearance was episode 1109 in the series). If there is a second Dark Shadows movie we Quentin would probably show up in that one (if not the next one)
Julie Fri 09/23/11 3:08 PMOMG! Quentin! I kissed his poster so much that I wore off his mouth!! LOL! Did any of you have the ?DS? Album? I still have it and the book Kathryn Leigh Scott wrote about ?our? show! Yep, and ran home from Junior HS every day to watch it. Was sad when SciFy stopped playing it. C?mon cable; someone pick it up again before the movie comes out !
Sandy Thu 09/22/11 12:38 PMsI hear you. David Selby was the best in that role (I had a big crush at the time), and what a role it was. Too bad the character, Quentin, is missing!
Donna Thu 09/22/11 5:02 PMI just saw on IMDB.com that Selby will be in this movie. It doesn?t give his character?s name though. At least you?ll get your Selby fix. ;o)
Troy Fri 09/23/11 11:48 AMDavid Selby?s role is unknown but it has been reported that it will be a cameo appearance, as well as Jonathon Frid (Barnabas), Lara Parker (Angelique) and Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie, Josette and more).This was reported at the San Diego Comic Con earlier this year.
meinnyc Thu 09/22/11 8:42 PMHahahaha?.Quentin Collins?.LOL?.LOVED this Show, as a kid?.did the same thing?ran home to see it..lol..They?re also forgetting another MAIN Character?lol?That HOUSE?and the Killa Creepy Music?lol?it BETTA be in the Film, it?s essential?.
di Sat 09/24/11 11:23 AMyes, we want a really great Quentin, I was so in love with him & the Victoria love match, e, my cousins watched this show religiously, We got into playing only Dark Shadows, I hnad made period costumes for our Barbies & Kens, drew the proper ahir of fangs on the faces, we had a doll for each & every character & still talk about how much fun we had as kids playing this!
SirLizard Thu 09/22/11 11:52 AMI knew she reminded me of someone in this pic. You are SO right? that?s who I was trying to think of.
mage?! Thu 09/22/11 11:47 AMI am so excited to see this, I hope that they can keep the creepy gothic feel that the series had, the original. Remembering my childhood and this show I vividly recall the tension present in most of scenes, like something unexpected was about to happen, and it most often did. The stories are slow by today?s standards and the NBC remake did not get it right either, so I am curious and excited to get to watch and see what Tim, Johnny and Helena have for us this time, I love the creepy feeling that it had.
liz Thu 09/22/11 1:01 PM?Tension present in the scenes, like something unexpected would happen?. Would that be a boom mike shadow in an actors face, forgotten lines or someone just wandering into a scene that didn?t belong there? That?s what made the show so great, those unexpected moments of hilarity when it all went so wrong. I?m psyched for the movie.
Lisa Simpson Thu 09/22/11 3:05 PMOh, yes. Is it wrong of me to hope we catch a glimpse of a boom mic or some production assistant walks through a door?
Angelique Thu 09/22/11 3:56 PMand the amazing overacting Grayson Hall who played Dr. Hoffman ? my husband and I have some of the tapes and it?
Coleman Thu 09/22/11 11:51 AM@Yo H.O.P ? Good call!I love Michelle P, and before seeing this picture I had no interest in Dark Shadows at all, but now I?m browsing through Netflix to brush up on it before the film!
JLC Thu 09/22/11 11:57 AMFunny, but it looks like a shot that could have been taken of the original 60s cast. Hopefully it will calm the haters (but probably not).
Sue1 Thu 09/22/11 12:04 PMThe fact that ?it looks like a shot that could have been taken of the original 60s cast? actually makes me a little sad.
JLC Thu 09/22/11 12:08 PMWhy? It shows they?re going for understated and Gothic, rather than over-the-top Burton excess, which is what people were fearing. More Sleepy Hollow than Alice in Wonderland, as it were. I think that?s a good thing.
Sue1 Thu 09/22/11 3:25 PMI know, there really are no new ideas, every story has been told before so what?s wrong with a remake every once in a while, or every other week. You?re also correct, if it?s going to happen, it?s good to see it?s going to be a Gothic tale. However, it just seems to be all about the money, cashing in on a very popular genre. Burton?s original films are wonderful, I wish he?d return to his own ideas.
kate middleton Thu 09/22/11 3:12 PMI agree with Sue1 ? I think that?s what makes it look awesome. Plus, it?s set in 72 so it needs to look somewhat realistic to that time period.I?ve never seen Dark Shadows, but my mom loved it as a teen. I can?t wait for this movie.
diana Thu 09/22/11 6:00 PMMe either I use to run home to watch Dark Shadows after school I had a crush on Barnabas Collins lucky for me Johnny Depp is a wonderful replacement.
LucyLoo Thu 09/22/11 12:01 PMI totally thought Michelle Pfeiffer was Kate Vernon in that pic. I can?t actually remember the last thing I saw Pfeiffer in, but I always thought she was good. I?m looking forward to this.
JOEEEEEEEE Thu 09/22/11 4:13 PMIf you haven?t seen Michelle Pfeiffer in Stardust from 2007 where she plays a soul eating witch or HAIRSPRAY ( the mom from HELL) from that same year than you are missing some great performances from her.
Tom Thu 09/22/11 7:44 PMAgreed. Strange that Pfeiffer, one of the most beautiful and talented actresses, is also one of the most underrated actresses.
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