Dark Shadows Gets a Supernatural Reboot in Adult Animation
The shadows of the past are about to dance in a whole new light. Warner Bros. Animation is set to resurrect the iconic 1960s cult television phenomenon, Dark Shadows, not just as a nostalgic throwback, but as a sophisticated adult animation series.
This is the series that captivated audiences for decades, following the tormented vampire Barnabas Collins and his spectacularly dysfunctional family. Created by Dan Curtis, this show quickly established itself as a television giant, airing on ABC from 1966 to 1971, eventually becoming ABC’s highest-rated daytime program in 1969.
The original series was far more than just melodrama; it was a sprawling tapestry of the supernatural. Spanning over 1200 episodes, Dark Shadows plunged viewers into a world teeming with ghosts, werewolves, zombies, witches, warlocks, and dizzying time travel across parallel universes. It offered nuanced and wild explorations of the darker corners of human experience.
The legacy of the original series is undeniable, evidenced by its successful film adaptations, most notably Tim Burton’s 2012 feature film, which starred a stellar cast including Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Eva Green, and Helena Bonham Carter.
Now, the story is being reimagined for a modern sensibility. The new adaptation promises to deliver all the romantic intrigue and dramatic darkness that defined the original run, blending gothic horror and supernatural genres into an adult animation format.
The core promise of this transformation is captured in the new logline: “Blending gothic, horror, and supernatural genres, this coming adaptation promises all the dark twists and romantic intrigue that defined the transformational series across its 1200-plus episode run.”
Guiding this ambitious project is Lisa Holdsworth, who will serve as both executive producer and showrunner. The production also benefits from a strong team of creative talent, including executive producers Cathy Curtis, Tracy Curtis, Eric Homan, Kevin Kolde, and Fred Seibert.
Credit: Dark Horizons
