I know absolutely nothing when it comes to the original 1966-71 “Dark Shadows” television show other than the fact it had something to do with a vampire and now Tim Burton and Johnny Depp are remaking it. So, with Entertainment Weekly debuting the above photo of all ten of the family members as something of a response from Warner Bros. to the set photos of Depp as you see to the right (see more here), playing Barnabus Collins, who just before the Revolutionary War, was transformed against his will into a vampire and buried in a tomb for two centuries. Apparently the ghostly white face, fedora and large sunglasses turned off some of the original series’ fans. Well, what do you think now?
Apparently, after Barnabus emerges from his 200-year-old grave, 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. Here is a little more information on the folks you see above from EW’s write-up so you know who you are looking at.
Psychiatrist Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter), a human cousin of young David Collins, Carolyn Stoddard (Chloe Moretz), the one who cursed Barnabus, Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green), son to Roger Collins, David Collins (Gulliver McGrath), the possible reincarnation of Barnabus’ lost love, Victoria Winters (Bella Heathcote), the family maid Mrs. Johnson (Ray Shirley), family servant and groundskeeper Willie Loomis (Jackie Earle Haley), family patriarch Roger Collins (Jonny Lee Miller) and finally Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer), mother of Carolyn Stoddard, and mother-figure to David.
EW has loads more information on each character and several quotes from the film’s screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith (author of “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”, which is being adapted into a movie Burton is producing) so click here for even more information.
The one striking thing for me is just how tame everything looks outside of the set photo of Depp as Barnabus. For some reason the set design also reminds me of Lemony Snicket, though I may be imagining things.
Dark Shadows hits theaters on May 11, 2012.
