Dark Shadows Slowly Moving Our Way
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at 2:40PM A big screen adaptation of television's cult oddity supernatural soap opera "Dark Shadows" has been in development for ages now but it looks like it's finally happening. Tim Burton is finalizing his cast. In previous years this news would have thrilled me to no end. But it's been a long time since I could love a Burton film without reservation and adapting long form serials to the two hour demands of the big screen is wrought with... ahem... issues, no matter how talented the team. But maybe it's worth hoping that Burton could regain some early 90s glory? The last "vampires" (of sorts) that Tim Burton trained his camera on were actors playing them in his superb biopic Ed Wood (1994) so let's take that as a good omen.
And this:
"Elizabeth Collins Stoddard" and Michelle PfeifferDeadline reports that both Michelle Pfeiffer (wheeeeeeeee) and Helena Bonham Carter (duh! It's a Burton film) are both lined up for the major roles of Elizabeth Collins Stoddard and Dr. Julia Hoffman respectively.
The best part of this news might be this sentence at The Hollywood Reporter.
Pfeiffer is finding herself very much in demand this new year.
Music to a pfan's ears.
Since I've never seen an episode of Dark Shadows (have you?) I had to look these roles up. Elizabeth sounds like a beauty of a part. She's the regal shut in matriarch of the mansion where the story takes place and Wikipedia says "Despite her imperious and reserved exterior, Elizabeth is a deeply passionate woman who harbors several dark secrets." Ice queen with deep wells of inner fire? That's what you call Pfeifferian. It's not exactly a stretch but let's pray that Burton gets performances as good as he got for Ed Wood (which won Martin Landau the Oscar as the drug-haunted, faded star Bela Lugosi).
Dr Julia Meet Dr HelenaAs for Helena's role, she's a doctor who specializes in blood disorders who discovers the vampiric lead character Barnabas Collins. Over the course of the series her relationship to the vampire changes apparently but since this is a feature film with only two hours to tell the story who knows if she's friend or foe.
Some of you may recall that my friend Susan wrote a piece on this movie a couple years back at the old Film Experience blog and wherein she saw HBC coming in this exact role, writing.
Dr. Julia Hoffman's questionable methods and attitude make her my favorite character (so far) from the original series. The epitome of Barnabas’s foolishness is that he can’t see how fabulous the not-so-good doctor is since he’s blinded by the boring (but youthful) babes. If Burton ends up directing this, I’ll expect Helena Bonham Carter to take on this role, and since she doesn’t have to sing, I think she’d be a pretty good choice.
I presume I don't have to tell you which movie star has the lead role of Barnabas Collins. Who else would it be? Yes, him. Eva Green as the witch Angelique and Jackie Earle Haley as the con artist Willie Loomis have also joined the ballooning cast.
Have you ever seen Dark Shadows? Do you like the casting?
Reader Comments (17)
I don't understand who the intended audience for this movie is. Who was asking for a film version of Dark Shadows?
The answer: Johnny Depp. That's right, after so many years of Depp doing movies for Burton, now Burton is actually doing one for his muse. If the casting wasn't so great, I'd say "Run! Now!"
I was definitely asking for it. I have seen every episode of the original series, and ever since Depp mentioned this project several years ago, I've been eagerly anticipating it.
I knew that Bonham Carter would be considered for Julia Hoffman--she would be IDEAL casting. Eva Green as Angelique is not bad either, though I would have preferred a black actress (which would have been a major departure from the original). The role is a beautiful French(-speaking) servant from Martinique who is a vengeful sorceress. In the original series, Angelique was played by blonde Lara Parker, who somewhat resembled Elizabeth Montgomery.
Deep is childhood fan. I'm a fan, one generation later. So it's for the fans. There's a convention every year, the entire series is on dvd. 2 spin-off films. There was a 1991 tv revival, and another WB pilot that never got picked up.
HBC has to be Dr. Hoffman!!
Burton must do penance for Alice in Wonderland. Until then, I'll remain as skeptical as if the title included the words, "A Bedtime Story by M. Night Shyamalan."
My mom for one-plus, this story definitely should translate well to the big-screen. I'm actually excited for this, and the last time I said that about a Burton film, it concerned a certain headless horseman.
FYI
Elizabeth Collins Stoddard:
1966 - Joan Bennett (silver screen legend; Emmy nod for her work on DS)
1991 - Jean Simmons (two-time Oscar nominee and Emmy winner)
2004 - Blair Brown (Tony winner)
2011 - ?
Julia Hoffman:
1967 - Grayson Hall (Oscar nominee)
1991 - Barbara Steele (horror icon and star of 8 1/2)
2004 - Kelly Hu
2011 - HBC?
Barnabas Collins:
1967 - Jonathan Frid
1991 - Ben Cross (Spock's dad in the 2009 Star Trek)
2004 - Alec Newman
2011 - Johnny Depp
Angelique:
1967 - Lara Parker
1991 - Lysette Anthony
2004 - Ivana Milicevic
2011 - Eva Green
Willie Loomis:
1966 - John Karlen (Emmy winner for Cagney & Lacey)
1991 - Jim Fyfe
2004 - Matt Czuchry (best known for Gilmore Girls)
2001 - Jackie Earle Haley
So happy for Eva Green!
On the other hand, it appears that Helena Bonham Carter has once again been locked up in Burton's dungeon of actors, so to speak.
I really can't find myself getting too excited for Burton films anymore. It is really sad to think about because he used to be so good. I am not familiar with the story but it sounds like something Winona Ryder would fit really well into. I know she is doing voice work for one of his animated films but since Beetle Juice I really want to see her act in one of his films again.
Bryan -- yeah, i'm not totally sure why Helena would want to do it. It seems that right now is the time to strike out and let other people cast her for a change, especially when at this very moment people aren't only thinking of her as Tim Burton's regular.
Let Michelle’s Oscar fate befall Natalie Portman.
Interesting that they cast Michelle Pfeiffer as Elizabeth -- I see her more as an Angelique, which (at least in the series) was a better part. For the most part, I think Joan Bennett never got to do much as Elizabeth (at least in the episodes I watched, though she did have a bit more fun in flashback episodes). Maybe the fact that they cast MP signals a more robust version of the character.
And yeah, the choice of HBC as Dr. Hoffman comes as no surprise. Actually, both of these casting choices are promising, because they signify that Burton sees these two characters as the real equals to Barnabas.
In any case, as I expressed earlier, I'm still concerned about the project and Burton's ability to get the tone right. If Depp can keep it controlled (versus totally over the top) it could be great. I hope that his respect for the show and the character will keep him from going too far into the camp arena.
Susan, HIIIIIIIII. i need to follow your lead and watch the series. maybe i'tll suck me in?
i do hope Burton realizes how much Pffeiffer's invention as an actress could benefit him again.
Since the show was broadcast live-to-tape, the special effects in the original series were often so cheesy that you had to love them, especially when they failed. I hope Burton combines some old-fashioned elements with state-of-the-art CGI in this adaptation.
Oscar for Michelle? It would be soooo cool. :D
I'm guessing HBC is doing this simply because she doesn't care-why not continue to work with Burton? He is her paramour, after all. I just hope she balances things out and plays with other directors for a while too.
John T -- yes, probably. but by the same token she didn't seem, in the roundttables earlier this year, to actually love being directed by him.