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[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies' author will write a 'Dark Shadows' remake for Johnny Depp and Tim Burton

by Darren Franich

In news guaranteed to satisfy a unique coalition of vampire obsessives, soap opera devotees, and Jane Austen lovers, Warner Bros. has put the long-discussed remake of Dark Shadows on the fast track with the hiring of a new screenwriter. According to Variety, Seth Grahame-Smith, the author of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, will work on a new adaptation of the 1966-1971 supernatural soap. Tim Burton will direct Johnny Depp for the millionth eighth time.
...

I haven’t watched very much of Dark Shadows, but from what little I remember about tuning into reruns of the show on the network formally known as the Sci-Fi Channel, the vampire melodrama was played pretty straight. Between Burton, Depp, and Grahame-Smith, you have to figure that the movie version will lean in a slightly more absurdist direction. Just imagine what sort of exciting new accent Depp will invent to play lead vamp Barnabas Collins!

Are you excited about this news, PopWatchers? Is this one vampire film too many, or do you think that this creative team will inject a little life into the genre?

http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/07/15/pride-and-prejudice-and-zombies-author-will-write-a-dark-shadows-remake-for-johnny-depp-and-tim-burton/

Comments

[foxy11814.livejournal.com]

I adored Dark Shadows as it played on the Sci-Fi Channel as a child. I watched it with my mom, because it was her favorite show when she was a teen. I found out like a year ago that they had plans to do Dark Shadows, so I was pretty psyched and I still am.

I won't lie, though. I'm a little nervous about how they will handle it. I don't want it to go in the "absurdist direction." I want them to be true to the story and give Barnabus Collins the same persona and loyalty that Jonathan Frid gave him back in the 60's. Even Ben Cross did a good job with the character in the 90's.

Now, that being said, I have no problem with Depp playing Barnabus. I'm sure he could pull it off and I can't wait to see him in the role. The only thing that calms my fears about how this story will be written is the fact that Johnny Depp was also a fan of Dark Shadows and he's always wanted to play Barnabus Collins. So, I think if the story goes too off the wall, Depp will reign it back in since he owns the rights to the show and its archives, anyway. :)

Absurdlutely Not!

[luvsbarn.livejournal.com]

I am in agreement with you, foxy11814, on how the character of Barnabas Collins should be played. Silly, or funny, for that matter, is not part of this undead seeking redemtion's nature. I've always been a bit on the fence regarding Depp and Burton's eventual take on this show and role. If Depp plays Barnabas as he did Jack Sparrow, I'll get out my dusty voo-doo doll and begin to practice a bit. I don't want it to be "campy" because that was not the intent of the original series. They were sincerely pledged to doing it as seriously, and straightforward as possible. Of course, by today's standards, some of the technical effects and on-air, unedited bloopers head it in the direction of camp. These issues of a live-to-video format should not be explored by Burton and Depp.

As for finding a story to start off with, why didn't John August begin with Barnabas, Angelique, and Josette in 1790's Martinique? From there, they could build a three-part story franchise...and, perhaps, even more. This sudden switch to tongue-in-cheek mockery of the show and it's very regal gentleman vampire will only put off existing fans and convince newer ones that this is the way "Dark Shadows" was featured originally. I fear that the newer fans won't venture beyond the Depp interpretation. Oh, what they will have missed! Even Ben Cross played the role straight, albeit with a little lightening of the character when circumstances called for it. For the most part, the story and characters were kept in check for the '91 Revival series.

"Dark Shadows" is a gothic romance, not a giddy sit-com.

Re: Absurdlutely Not!

[luvsbarn.livejournal.com]

"redemption"...Sorry for the typo.