Tim Burton Talks Dark Shadows

In an interview with MTV's Movie Blog, director Tim Burton has touched briefly on the development of the new Dark Shadows feature film. "I'm working on the script... It's been kind of a long time coming, but I think I'm getting a script that I like. I don't really like talking because I'm not really sure what's happening yet but I'm excited about it. I think, yes, finally for me, it's getting to be the right tone."

Dark Shadows is due to begin filming in April 2011, starring Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins. To read the full interview, which also discusses Burton's other upcoming projects Frankenweenie and The Addams Family, click here.

News in Brief

• The 2011 Monsterpalooza convention is to feature a Dark Shadows cast reunion, with actors Jerry Lacy (Trask), Lara Parker (Angelique) Christopher Pennock (Jeb) and Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie) set to appear. The event takes place at the Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel, in Burbank, California on April 8-10. For more information, visit the event's website.
• David Selby (Quentin) was one of the celebrities taking part in the Los Angeles Memory Walk on November 7; The annual charity event raises funds for the Alzheimer's Association.
• Journalist Ed Gross, who has written extensively about Dark Shadows, has launched a new blog devoted to the series. Blog of Dark Shadows includes features and interviews, including Jim Pierson talking about his role as consulting producer on the new Dark Shadows feature film. To pay a visit, click here.

Addison Powell: 1921-2010

It is with sadness that we report the death of actor Addison Powell, who died in Vermont on November 8 at the age of 89. Addison played Dr. Eric Lang, Dark Shadows' first bona fide mad scientist in 1968, along with occasional appearances the ghost of Jeremiah Collins, Judge Matigan in 1795 and Judge Wiley in 1840.

His long career on stage and screen included roles in the films Three Days of the Condor, with Robert Redford, and The Thomas Crown Affair, plus television roles in The Adams Chronicles, The Mod Squad and latterly War & Remembrance, which reunited him with Dark Shadows creator Dan Curtis. He also featured as the Gorton fisherman in a long-running series of commercials for Gorton's during the 1980s.

The Burlington Free Press has published an intimate obituary, which can be seenhere. Thanks to regular site reader John Hall for writing in with the news.

A New Look

Regular readers will notice that this blog has received a facelift, with a new design and features, to coincide with the latest announcement about the forthcoming Dark Shadows feature film.

You can also now follow the blog, using the panel in the right sidebar, and keep abreast of the most recent updates, plus share news stories on Twitter, Facebook and by email, using the buttons below. The coming months promise to be a truly exciting time for the world of Dark Shadows, and the Dark Shadows News Page will continue to chart all the latest developments.

Dark Shadows Movie to Begin Filming in April

After a number of false starts, Deadline Hollywood reports that the new Dark Shadows feature film is finally due to go before the cameras in April 2011, with Tim Burton confirmed to direct. Johnny Depp will play Barnabas Collins, with a script by Seth Grahame-Smith.

We'll continue to report on the development of the project in the coming months, but suffice to say, it looks like Dark Shadows will be celebrating its 45th anniversary in grand style.

Win a Signed Script!

Big Finish Productions have just released their latest Dark Shadows audio drama, The Doll House, starring Marie Wallace as Jenny Collins and Terry Crawford as Beth Chavez. To celebrate, we have an original script from the production to give away, signed by both actresses! For your chance to win, just answer this simple question:

Which member of the Collins family was Jenny married to?

Send your answer, along with your name and postal address to webmaster@collinwood.net before November 30. The Doll House is available on CD and download from the Big Finish website.

A Halloween Treat

A glimpse of the unseen 2004 Dark Shadows pilot episode has surfaced online, as part of the demo reel of VFX artist Dave Rinder. The mute clip features an impressive computer-generated opening shot of Victoria Winters on the train to Collinsport. To view the sequence, click here; The Dark Shadows portion begins at 5:43. Thanks to site reader David Ciminello for the tip.

News Bites

• The 1991 Dark Shadows Revival Series DVD has been re-packaged a third time, this time with a more romantic cover of Barnabas and Josette, to capitalise on the appeal of Twilight; The discs themselves remain unchanged. New stock should begin trickling through to various retailers.
• Barbara Steele (1991 Julia) was interviewed as part of BBC Four's documentary series A History of Horror. Barbara spoke about her work with Roger Corman and Mario Bava in the show's second episode.
• The Greystone mansion, which was the filming location for Collinwood in 1991, is set to appear in this week's episode of CBS' The Mentalist. The episode airs on October 28.
• Horror magazine Fangoria has devoted some coverage to Dark Shadows in recent months. Their August issue featured an interview with Jerry Lacy (Trask) and a chat with Chris Pennock (Jeb Hawkes) is slated for publication soon.
• Sotheby's are to auction a rare piece of furniture once owned by Grayson Hall (Julia), as part of their Impressionist and Modern Art Day Sale. The piece is a decorative table by Diego Giacometti, valued at $80,000; to read the sales listing, click here.

Classic Model Kit Reissues

Model kit company Round 2 have announced that they are to re-issue three classic 1960s plastic Dark Shadows model kits, originally produced by MPC. The prototypes for the new editions were displayed at the recent IHobby Expo. Round 2 specialise in retro and cult-themed models, and have made many classic kits available to new audiences in recent years.

The original kits faithfully reproduced Barnabas Collins and a Werewolf, complete with glow-in-the-dark parts, and somewhat less faithfully presented young hobbyists with the Barnabas Collins Vampire Van, a dragster-style hearse for Barnabas to zip around Collinsport in. All three models will be reissued in deluxe collector's editions, available from Spring 2011.

Halloween DVD Sale

Halloween is just around the corner, and Amazon are celebrating with some great discounts on the Dark Shadows DVD series. For a limited time, each four-disc volume is available for only $19.49, a saving of nearly 70% on the retail price. Here are ordering links:

Dark Shadows: The Beginning (pre-Barnabas episodes): Collection 1, Collection 2, Collection 3, Collection 4, Collection 5, Collection 6

Dark Shadows DVD Collections (episodes from Barnabas' arrival onwards): Collection 1, Collection 2, Collection 3, Collection 4, Collection 5, Collection 6, Collection 7, Collection 8, Collection 9, Collection 10, Collection 11, Collection 12, Collection 13, Collection 14, Collection 15, Collection 16, Collection 17, Collection 18, Collection 19, Collection 20, Collection 21, Collection 22, Collection 23, Collection 24, Collection 25, Collection 26

People News

• David Selby (Quentin) can currently be seen in the chart-topping new film The Social Network, which chronicles the rise of Facebook. The film is playing across the United States and opens in the UK this weekend.
• Joseph Gordon-Levitt (1991 David) has reported the death of his brother via his Twitter account; Dan Gordon-Levitt died on October 3 aged 36. Our condolences go out to Joseph and his family.
• Donna Wandrey (Roxanne) is to appear in a new production of The Glass Menagerie at the Vermont Stage Lake Regional Theatre. The production runs until October 24. For more details and to book tickets online, click here.
• The Sag Harbor Express recently featured a column by Harvey Jacobs discussing Dark Shadows. Jacobs was working for ABC-TV when he was drafted in to work on the show during a technician's strike in 1967. To read the piece, click here.

February Start Date for Dark Shadows Movie?

News on the development of the new Dark Shadows movie has been thin on the ground recently, but Collider reports that the project is on track to begin filming in February 2011. The same website reports that actor Johnny Depp's commitment to the project may scupper plans for him to appear in the upcoming Tom Hanks film Triple Frontier.

Dark Shadows is set to star Johnny Depp as Barnabas, with Tim Burton directing a script by Seth Grahame-Smith. The film is currently slated for release in 2012.

Win Barnabas!

Jonathan Frid made a special return to the role of Barnabas earlier this year in The Night Whispers, an original audio drama featuring John Karlen and Barbara Steele. Courtesy of Big Finish Productions, we have two copies of the CD to give away. To be in with a chance of winning, just answer this simple question:

Which character did Jonathan Frid play on Dark Shadows other than Barnabas?

Send your answer, along with your name and postal address to webmaster@collinwood.net before October 31. For more information on Big Finish's range of Dark Shadows audio productions, click here.

New Chris Pennock Comic Book

Chris Pennock (Jeb) has just written and drawn the latest volume of his autobiographical comic book series Fear and Loathing... and the Chakra Shack in Idyllwild, California, is hosting a launch party to mark its release, with Chris in attendance. The event takes place on October 23 and copies of the new title, Fear and Loathing on Facebook will be on sale. For more information, click here.

Audio Dramas Update

Big Finish Productions have recently released Kingdom of the Dead, the long-awaited sequel to their first series of continuing Dark Shadows audio dramas. The four-part serial is available as a boxed set and as individual discs.

The cast includes David Selby as Quentin, Lara Parker as Angelique, Kathryn Leigh Scott as Maggie, John Karlen as Willie and Jerry Lacy as Reverend Hartswood. The guest cast includes appearances from Nancy Barrett (Carolyn), James Storm (Gerard), Marie Wallace (Eve), Alec Newman (2004 Barnabas), Lysette Anthony (1991 Angelique) and Emmy Award winner David Warner. Kingdom of the Dead is written by Stuart Manning and Eric Wallace, and directed by Darren Gross. For more information and to purchase on CD, click here.

Debuting at the end of this month is The Doll House, which explores the doomed bride Jenny Collins. The CD was recorded in New York City in May, with Marie Wallace returning to the role of Jenny, alongside Terry Crawford as Beth Chavez. The script is by James Goss, whose Doctor Who audio CD Dead Air has just been voted Audiobook of the Year by the Audiobook Store. To pre-order The Doll House from Big Finish, click here.

The Doll House concludes 2010's Dark Shadows audio releases, but more titles are planned for 2011, including a full-cast sequel to Kingdom of the Dead. For more news and information on therange, plus exclusive recording photos, visit the Big Finish Dark Shadows Audio Dramas Group on Facebook, by clicking here.