In the best vampire-soap-opera remake news of the day...

You just can’t keep a good vampire down, which seems to be the case with Barnabas Collins. Since he was introduced to American audiences in the second season of campy/gothic 60s soap opera Dark Shadows, Barnabas has remained the most popular and best-remembered part of the series. From the series spawned a comic book series, two feature films, several novels, a revival series in the 90s starring Ben Cross in the titular role, and a failed pilot filmed for The CW. And now, the often-rumored film adaptation from the collaboration team of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp is finally in production. And we have the new pictures from the set.

A few weeks ago, fans were aghast when set pictures were leaked featuring Depp in ghostly-white make-up dressed like Michael Jackson (which should cause sheer terror in anybody). But the new pictures look closer to what we should expect from a good vampire movie. The first is a cast photo, with Depp looking very similar to Jonathan Frid (the original Barnabas). The second is a picture of Depp, looking a little like Max Schreck from Nosferatu. As for the film itself, Shadowlocked has found out that the story will be set in 1972. The reason for which is explained by screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith, "Tim and Johnny took a long time explaining exactly why it had to be 1972. 1969 was too early and 1973 was too late. 1972 is right at the time when the hippie movement and all its peace and love is dying out and being replaced by this me-me-me generation in the ’70s who are all about showing their wealth and having everything."

We also have the long synopsis for the film, which seems to cut some added baggage in order to fit the story into a feature film. According to the synopsis:

In the year 1752, Joshua and Naomi Collins, with young son Barnabas, set sail from Liverpool, England to start a new life in America. But even an ocean was not enough to escape the mysterious curse that has plagued their family. Two decades pass and Barnabas (Johnny Depp) has the world at his feet—or at least the town of Collinsport, Maine. The master of Collinwood Manor, Barnabas is rich, powerful and an inveterate playboy…until he makes the grave mistake of breaking the heart of Angelique Brouchard (Eva Green). A witch, in every sense of the word, Angelique dooms him to a fate worse than death: turning him into a vampire, and then burying him alive. Two centuries later, Barnabas is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972. He returns to Collinwood Manor to find that his once-grand estate has fallen into ruin. The dysfunctional remnants of the Collins family have fared little better, each harboring their own dark secrets. Matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer) has called upon live-in psychiatrist, Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter), to help with her family troubles. Also residing in the manor is Elizabeth’s ne’er-do-well brother, Roger Collins (Jonny Lee Miller); her rebellious teenage daughter Carolyn Stoddard (Chloe Moretz); and Roger’s precocious 10-year-old son, David Collins (Gulliver McGrath). The mystery extends beyond the family, to caretaker Willie Loomis, played by Jackie Earle Haley, and David’s new nanny, Victoria Winters, played by Bella Heathcote.

While I am a little sad to see the multiple story lines and character interactions removed – especially the whole time travel element – I understand that certain elements must be excised for a neat and tidy film. I am happy to reveal that the movie will not be filmed in 3D, which will appease many who disliked Burton’s last effort, 2010’s Alice in Wonderland. The reasoning is that they don’t want the film categorized as another 3D extravaganza, which makes sense, because this film should do well on its own without any gimmick. With Burton’s sense of artistic direction and Depp’s talent, I have very high hopes for this film.

Dark Shadows is out on May 11, 2012.

/Film

See also:

Tucker & Dale, The Tunnel lead Telluride Horror Show selections

Johnny Depp gigs through 'Dark Shadows' with Megan Fox?

Depp to bring the Vault comic out of the comic vault

Danny Torrance returns as Dr. Sleep

Mel Brooks returns to horror

No Ash for Evil Dead remake

The Thing: First clip here

Goyer to remake the Invisible Man

Why no 'Night Gallery' remake?

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