If you’ve been waiting patiently for some more news on Tim Burton’s adaptation of the cult 1960’s American series DARK SHADOWS then Warner Bros have answered your prayers today, with 3 pieces of news. First up is a new member to the cast in the shape of British actor Jonny Lee Miller (Dexter, Trainspotting) whom he will play we don’t know just yet, but he will join an impressive cast which includes Johnny Depp (no extra points for guessing he’s in it), Mrs Tim Burton Helena Boham Carter, Eva Green, Michelle Pfeiffer, Chloe Moretz, Gulliver McGrath, Bella Heathcote, and Jackie Earle Haley.
Second piece of small news, the principle photography on the movie has now started and the actual filming will start officially very shortly, in UK. But today also in the final piece of news, Warner Bros have released the official Synopsis, which is very detailed, giving some insight into the actual story and characters. I’ll be honest, I don’t really know much about this television series, I don’t even know if it was shown in UK. I was born in the 1970’s and wouldn’t have taken much notice of television until I was older in the 1980’s; but I did however know the shows name and its cult status, so I am curious to see how close Burton will adapt the new version to the original show. Will it be 1960’s campness or something a little more darker?
DARK SHADOWS is due out May 11 2012.
Here’s the press release/synopsis:
FILMING BEGINS ON TIM BURTON’S “DARK SHADOWS”
Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer and Helena Bonham Carter head an all-star cast.
BURBANK, CA – May 18, 2011 – Filming begins this week on Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Village Roadshow Pictures’ “Dark Shadows,” which brings the cult classic television series to the big screen under the direction of Tim Burton. The film’s all-star ensemble cast includes Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Bella Heathcote, Chloe Moretz, and newcomer Gulliver McGrath.
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 Bouchard (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.
Burton is directing and producing “Dark Shadows” from a screenplay by Seth Grahame-Smith, story by John August and Grahame-Smith, based on the television series created by Dan Curtis. Also producing are Oscar® winnerRichard D. Zanuck (“Alice in Wonderland,” “Driving Miss Daisy”), continuing his long association with Burton; Oscar® winner Graham King, (“Rango,” “The Departed”), continuing his collaboration with Depp; Johnny Depp, Christi Dembrowski, and David Kennedy. The executive producers are Chris Lebenzon, Nigel Gostelow, Tim Headington, and Bruce Berman.
The behind-the-scenes creative team includes cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel, Oscar(R)-winning production designer Rick Heinrichs (“Sleepy Hollow”), Oscar(R)-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood (“Alice in Wonderland”) and editor Chris Lebenzon (“Alice in Wonderland”). The score will be composed by Danny Elfman.
“Dark Shadows” is being filmed entirely in England, both at Pinewood Studios and on location.
“Dark Shadows” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.
Thepeoplesmovies.com 
Roger is being played by Johnnie Lee Miller? No no no, he is too handsome for that. I could see the actor who played Miles on “Frasier” playing Roger. Johnnie Lee Miller would make a good Burke Devlin. Jude Law would have made a good Nathan.
Eva Green is a wonderful choice as Angelique. A 50-ish Elizabeth Taylor would have been wonderful as Elizabeth. Lindsey Lohan would have made a great Caroline as Caroline too was very rebellious with Ashton Kutcher (similar character he played in “Bobby”) as her fiance, Buzz. Marion Cotillard would have been good as Victoria.
You may laugh, but in the couple of spoofs SNL’s Bill Hader has done where he has played serious roles, I can absolutely see him as Barnabas!! I am interested to see Depp as Barnabas though, seeing that he wanted to be Barnabas as a child.