Eva Green cast as female lead in Dark Shadows

I like that, apparently, they're going to do more with the idea of Barnabas having to adjust to the twentieth century after being locked away in a crypt for 200 years. I was watching the first movie again a few weeks ago, and was struck by the fact that Barnabas didn't seem to have any sort of future shock at all, which seemed like a missed opportunity.

Granted, Collinsport is kind of a backwards place, but still . . . .

 

It just occurred to me: If this is set in 1972, that's after the show ended. Is this a remake or a sequel?

 

My understanding is that it's a remake, especially if Barnabas is supposed to coping with just waking up in the twentieth century . . ..

Besides, I don't really think there's a sizable audience for a sequel at this late date. Nobody but diehard fans remember where the show left off in 1971. You need to reintroduce the situation and the characters all over again.

The 1975 thing is probably just for nostalgia' sake, and to explain why the characters aren't dressed in more contemporary fashions.

Plus, the character descriptions at ew.com sound like they've made a few tweaks to the backstory (unless the article got some details wrong, which is also possible).

 

Hot diggity dog!

 

i like to think that Barnabas gets future shock anytime he gets behind the wheel of a car. everytime he does he runs over someone.

 

Excellent! Love the hairdos on Johnny & HBC!

 

YAY! That's more like it!

 

Yeah, probably. I mean, it would be possible to do a good story that is a sequel but that nobody needs to have seen the original show, but I'm sure they want to do the Barnabas-Angelique thing again... for the fourth time.

 

Not counting the off-Broadway stage version!

 

I'm sure they rushed to get this picture out because of the leaked "clown faced" Barnabus.

I like what I see though. I think HBC has that Julia Hoffman look down pat. I'm guessing the dude 2nd from the right is supposed to be Jason McGuire. Looks like him anyway.

 

thats Willie Loomis.

 

Actually, Willie Loomis is third from right. Second from right, next to Michelle Pfeiffer as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (!) is Roger Collins.

How in the HELL did Michelle Pfeiffer get to be old enough to be Elizabeth? I'll always think of her as that skinny blonde in Scarface.

 

Oh, that's Jonny Lee Miller as Roger and Jackie Earle Haley as Willie.

 

Hmm. Interesting look for Willie Loomis. One thing I'll say for the 90s Dark Shadows is that they had a great Willie Loomis.

I'll have to look into that. I may submit it to Company Theater as a suggestion for next season.

 

I remembering seeing a stage version in some tiny little loft theater back around 1987. I think I may still have the playbill about somewhere.

The one thing I remember about the production was that some of the performers were playing it straight, while others were camping it up . . . .

 

Really? You prefered Jim Fyfe to John Karlen? To me, Karlen will always be Willie Loomis.

 

word. i liked Fyfe in the revival, but Karlen will always be the Willie.

 

I don't see anything anywhere where I stated a preference.

 

Fair enough. But it was implied, I think. We'll let you off the hook this time, though.

 

For the most part, I dislike the idea of recasting characters and I dislike remakes, reboots and re-imaginings. Sufficient quality can always override that, of course, but the original is always the original. As far as the Dark Shadows of the 90s went, Jim Fyfe and Joanna Going were very well cast. Ben Cross also did a good job, but he just wasn't right for Barnabas.