Dark Shadows

I am SO excited that Dark Shadows begins filming in May!  If you aren't aware, this is Tim Burton's latest film.  It's due to be released sometime in 2012.  The film is an adaptation of the Dark Shadows television show that aired in the mid-60's to early 70's (there was also Dark Shadows Revival, which came out in the early 90's, but I don't know much about that one).  The film is based around the original show.  The series is an extremely cheesy soap opera with (drumroll please) vampires!  If you have Netflix, there are a ton of the episodes online (which I've started watching).  It's definitely worth checking out.  The acting is terrible, the sets are not well made, and there are vampires (as previously mentioned)!

So, I know there have been a surplus of vampires lately with Twilight (gag.  Just a side note, I haven't seen any of the films or read the books.  I am just well aware that it's creepy for the moms of teenagers to think Robert Pattinson is hot) and True Blood (which I haven't seen either.  I don't have cable or any TV.  I survive on Netflix).  But, let me tell you, I have a feeling this movie will be different.  For one, Tim Burton is doing it.  He has never been one to do a movie based on what is "in" and relevant in pop culture (for example: Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, and pretty much every other movie he has done).  Secondly, this movie has been in the works for a few years now (before vampires became "in" and they developed a separate book section at Barnes and Noble for them).

Originally, John August was writing the script.  He's done a lot of work with Tim Burton (Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Corpse Bride).  For some reason, he isn't the screenwriter anymore, which I find pretty disappointing since I loved all three of the films he wrote for.  The new screenwriter for Dark Shadows is Seth Grahame-Smith who wrote the books Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter.  He is also writing the script for the movie adaptation of Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter.  I really hope he does a good job because I cannot wait to see this movie!

(I can't take credit for this image, I found it on Google)