Dark Shadows Movie Takings Pass $235 Million

• As it approaches the end of its initial cinema run, the Dark Shadows movie has grossed over $79 million within the United States. Box Office Mojo reports that domestic grosses for the film stand at approximately $79.7 million, with an additional $156.8 million from overseas territories, making a total of $236.5 million worldwide. As we reported previously, the film comes to DVD and Blu-Ray in October.
• The upcoming behind-the-scenes book for the Dark Shadows movie has been brought forward in the schedules and will now be released on October 26. Re-titled Dark Shadows: The Visual Companion, the final cover design is shown above. Featuring contributions from Johnny Depp, director Tim Burton and late producer Richard D. Zanuck, The Visual Companion can be pre-ordered at a discount price by clicking here. UK readers can also order the book from Amazon.co.uk by clicking here.
• Joel Harlow Designs have released a selection of concept images from Dark Shadows, showing early prosthetic make-up designs for Chloe Grace Moretz as Carolyn Stoddard, along with other unused ideas. To view the gallery online, click here.
• And finally, website Retail Jeweller has interviewed Stephen Einhorn about his work on Dark Shadows, which included Johnny Depp's Barnabas ring and Angelique's key pendant. "I had to make two different sized rings for Johnny," says Stephen. "Tim Burton and Johnny Depp liked the ring so much they wanted it to be worn throughout the film, one for his extended finger and one to wear over his gloves."

New Dark Shadows Costume Accessories

Costume company Elope have announced two new additions for their range of licensed Dark Shadows items. Following last year's Barnabas Collins cape, wig and ring, the company have confirmed that they are expanding their catalogue with a set of Barnabas fangs and a reproduction of the character's distinctive walking cane.

The Barnabas Collins fangs are out now and can be ordered online by clicking here. The walking cane, which will be made from wood with a metal alloy handle, is due out in January, with a suggested retail price of $32.95. It can be pre-ordered now by clicking here.

Actor Appearances

• Lisa Richards (Sabrina Stuart) is currently appearing in the play To Quiet The Quiet, which runs at Santa Monica's Elephant Stages until September 1. "Richards' multi-layered sojourn within the fractured psyche of life-rejected Kathy offers a tangible personification of a living tragedy," praises critic Julio Martinez of the Pacifica Radio Network. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
• David Selby (Quentin Collins) is to appear at New York's Paley Center for a premiere screening of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. David voices Commissioner Gordon in the new animated feature. The event takes place on September 20 and more information can be found by clicking here.
• And finally, Lara Parker (Angelique) and Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans) will be appearing in Atlanta at the Buckhead Barnes & Noble store on September 13 from 7.00pm to sign Dark Shadows books and meet fans. For more information, contact the store directly on (404) 261 7747.

Dark Shadows Movie Comes To Blu-Ray and DVD

The recent Dark Shadows movie from Tim Burton has been announced for home video release on October 2, just in time for Halloween, available on DVD and special edition Blu-Ray. Warner Bros. have confirmed the following bonus features for the Blu-Ray version:

• Becoming Barnabas Johnny Depp discusses his re-imagining of this iconic character.
• Welcome to Collinsport! Explore the detailed fishing village created for the film at Pinewood Studios.
• A Melee of Monstrous Proportions behind the scenes of the film's ambitious closing battle sequence.
• Angelique: A Witch Scorned Johnny Depp and Eva Green discuss their characters and the century-spanning passions that bind them.
• Reliving a Decade Strut through the Collinsport of the 1970s and discover the topsy-turvy world that Barnabas finds himself in.
• Dark Shadowy Secrets Behind the scenes with Tim Burton’s spectacular props and special effects wizards.
• The Collinses: Every Family Has Its Demons Explore the film's quirky characters, with Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and the rest of the cast.
• Cooper Rocks Collinsport! Shock rock the night away with Alice Cooper, as Johnny Depp and the cast invite him to Collinwood.
• Vampires, Witches and Werewolves, Oh My! Tim Burton reveals how he adapted some of his favourite classic movie monsters for Dark Shadows.
• Deleted Scenes Dr. Hoffman and Elizabeth discuss Barnabas; David and Barnabas discuss dinosaurs; Carolyn and Victoria – Girl talk; The police warn Willie and Barnabas; Dr. Hoffman offers Victoria help.

The only additional content on the DVD edition will be The Collinses: Every Family Has Its Demons featurette. To pre-order Dark Shadows on Blu-Ray at a discount price, click here; To pre-order on DVD, click here. Shown below is cover artwork for both editions. Click on the thumbnails for a larger view.

Warner has also released high resolution cover artwork for the classic Dark Shadows movies House of Dark Shadows and Night of Dark Shadows, which as we recently reported, will come to BluRay and DVD in October. To pre-order House of Dark Shadows on Blu-Ray, click here; To order on DVD, click here. To pre-order Night of Dark Shadows on Blu-Ray, click here; To order on DVD, click here.

Dark Shadows Stars Face Dr. Mabuse

Three classic Dark Shadows actors have been reunited for the forthcoming independent film Dr. Mabuse, based on the classic character made famous in the films of Fritz Lang. Jerry Lacy (Reverend Trask) stars in the title role, with appearances from Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans) and Lara Parker (Angelique).

"I've wanted to make a Dr. Mabuse film since I was 16 years old," says the film's writer and director, Ansel Faraj, who developed the project with the Dark Shadows cast in mind. "The whole time I was writing, I kept thinking 'Wouldn't Jerry Lacy be diabolical as Mabuse?', but I never thought I'd ever get him – it was just a pipe dream. The same thing happened with Madame Carrozza and Madame Von Harbau. As I was writing, I kept imagining Lara and Kathryn in the roles. Imagine my excitement when they all agreed to play these parts." 

Ansel has nothing but praise for his actors. "Jerry is unnerving as Mabuse – the way he uses his voice and his eyes... he's very threatening. Kathryn and Lara's characters are quite complex, but with just a glance or a gesture they convey so much. There's a lot more to them than meets the eye, and they both really nailed that. I think Dark Shadows fans are going to be excited to see Jerry, Kathryn, and Lara on screen together in these roles. It's been a great thrill to work on this movie with this cast."

We are pleased to share some exclusive backstage images of the Dark Shadows actors performing blue screen special effects shots. Shown are Jerry Lacy (Dr. Mabuse) and Lara Parker (Madame Carrozza); Kathryn Leigh Scott (Madame Von Harbau), Lara Parker and Nathan Wilson (Inspector Lohemann); And finally, Derek Mobraaten (Tom Smith) and Jerry Lacy. Click on the images for larger views. For more information about Dr. Mabuse, visit the production's official website. 

Images © Hollinsworth Productions

Dark Shadows News Bites

• NorthJersey.com recently profiled original Dark Shadows script writer Malcolm Marmorstein, who is still active and working on new projects at the age of 83. Malcolm discusses his time on the show and the introduction of Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins: "We started with different basic ground rules... I said, 'Jonathan, don't do anything – don't act, don't try to be scary. Just be a nice man, and that's the way you get your victims.'"
• Veteran artist Kenneth Bruce Bald, who drew the early 1970s Dark Shadows newspaper strip for its entire run, will be a guest at the Baltimore Comic-Con, taking place on September 8-9. For more information on the event, click here.
• The Dark Shadows Festival has announced that it is hoping to run a Dark Shadows cruise in 2013. The logistics are still being investigated and further details should follow when confirmed. Elsewhere, BroadwayWorld has published a gallery of images from the Festival's recent gathering in Tarrytown, which can be viewed by clicking here.
• And finally, a new collection of 1960s Dark Shadows comic books is released later this month. Dark Shadows: The Complete Original Series – Volume Four reprints over 200 pages of classic strips in hardcover with digitally-restored artwork and other content. To order the book at a discount price, click here.