Casting ‘Shadows’
Johnny Depp is in (supposedly). So is his own personal Goth guru Tim Burton (reportedly). If we are to believe trade tattletales like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, the provocative pairing, currently working on a big screen adaptation of Alice in Wonderland (the former as the Mad Hatter, the latter as filmmaker), will follow up such spectacle with a re-vamp of Dan Curtis’ seminal horror soap opera, Dark Shadows. That’s right, Depp is lined up to bring tortured romantic and resident neckbiter Barnabas Collins to Twilight tweaked fan girls (and boys) everywhere. And given their exemplary track record - Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Sweeney Todd, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - expectations have a right to be high.
Yet, oddly enough, Shadows is not a solo gig. Sure, Barnabas resurrected the series when creator Curtis’ House of the Seven Gables goof was tanking in the ratings, and he’s an integral component to its lasting legacy and success. But without an accomplished cast around him, actors who can understand the dynamic that drove Shadows to classic cult status, the whole thing could turn out rancid. We’re not talking retro here - we don’t want to recreate the original players. But Curtis knew how to play to his company’s strengths, and if Burton is smart, he’ll do something similar with the cinematic version. Anyway, with Depp out of the way, here are our picks for the rest of the troubled Collins clan and their merry band of employees, enemies, and hangers-on:
The Men
Roger Collins - as played by “Big” Louis Edmunds, Roger was one of several Shadows’ characters of questionable conviction and perplexing personal ‘orientation’. The “was he/wasn’t he” argument rages on, even with subplots involving phantom wives and hateful offspring. So a modern actor of equal ambiguity needs to be found, and though he’s poised as a leading man, Jude Law could easily fill the (wo)man-crush character perfectly. Besides, being whiny and desperate are practically trademarks for the slight UK stud.
Quentin Collins - this one’s tough. David Selby walked the fine line between seduction and insanity for so long he appeared both romantic and ridiculous at the same time. When he wasn’t making cow eyes at anything in a skirt, he was battling his own inner lycanthrope (the character was cursed to be a werewolf, you see). We suggest Cillian Murphy, the amazing Irish actor who was Scarecrow in Batman Begins. If anyone can manage both real and ethereal animal magnetism, it’s this enigmatic, slightly askew actor.
Willie Loomis - ahhhhh…..Barnabas’ own sycophantic whipping boy, a character who literally feels the wraith-like wrath of the vampire’s pent up passions whenever the mood struck his master. If you’ve ever seen John Karlen whimper like a wounded pup, you’ll immediately understand why Paul Giamatti is the man to replace him. Willie has to be both resilient and weak, easily manipulated but frequently stricken by a strong moral code. The Sultan of Sideways could definitely bring that to the role - and much, much more. 
Count Petofi - every good thriller needs a villain, and NO, the living dead lothario is not the bad guy here. Shadows was subversive in frequently making the monsters the protagonists of their surreal story arcs. So this crazed warlock with a missing magical hand would be the perfect Burton-like nemesis. He’s flamboyant yet ferocious, evil with just enough irony to make him both loathsome and loveable. And who better than Phillip Seymour Hoffman to essay the role’s many maniacal complications.
Aristede - in the TV series, this character was nothing more than a well dressed dandy with murder on his mind. He did the dirty work while his master Petofi took all the glory. Plotwise, he makes a perfect parallel and juxtaposition to Willie. As for casting, the current Aristede would have to be someone with a piercing stare and a “Hello Sailor” aura. We go with Twilight‘s Rob Pattinson. He’s got the broody menace and undead façade down pat. 
The Women
Elizabeth Collins - as the moldy old matriarch of the Collins clan, Joan Bennett added a little Golden Era Hollywood glam to Curtis’ serialized spook show. She even got some good subplots now and again. For this go around, another grand dame would be suitable, and one imagines that Judy Dench would be just peachy. If you want to go American however, and a tad more hysterical, how about Meryl Streep? She’d look amazing in a black wig and widow’s garb. 
Victoria Winters - the eternal victim at Collinwood, this nanny turned plot necessity has to have hidden strength and outward helplessness. Maggie Gyllenhall showed both when she took over the role of Rachel Dawes in The Dark Knight (replacing another left-field possibility, Katie Holmes). Equally important, Jake’s older sister can easily act as the center of the storyline. Fans will never forget how original star Alexandra Moltke began each episode with the immortal lines, “My name is Victoria Winters…”
Maggie Evans - as one of two ingénue parts in Shadows, you just know Burton will be bucking to have his current sweetie (and mother of his children) Helena Bonham Carter as with Victoria or Maggie. While she’d probably make a better Angelique or Dr. Julia Hoffman (GOD forbid!), here’s hoping nepotism is cast aside, and someone like Kate Beckinsdale or, going less glamorous, Michelle Monaghan, is given a shot. Either one would make an easy, breezy interloper within the Collins family circle - and, even better, represent the Earthly presence of Barnabas’ long lost ghost love Josette. 
Angelique - in her prime, Kathleen Turner would have been perfect in this part. Our witch (wickedly essayed by Laura Parker) with a memory and vengeance-oriented mind like a steal trap had to get tongues wagging and spines tingling with her certifiably insane sexiness. With Ms. Body Heat well past her prime, a current crazed coquette needs to be found. And while Angelina Jolie would seem like a box office given, we’d prefer to see someone like Naomi Watts chewing up the supernatural scenery. Or how about Elizabeth Banks. She’s beautiful, and can play batsh*t! 
Dr. Julia Hoffman - it is literally impossible to replace the gaunt gal gravitas of Grayson Hall. She was all nicotine-stained bone structure and maiden aunt magnificence. Poised perfectly between early middle age and post-menopausal, Hall made Hoffman’s romantic lust for Barnabas into the most unique of unrequited loves. Taking her place would be tough, but here’s betting that someone like Joan Allen could handle the part brilliantly. She’s the right age, and carries the same combination of glamour and almost gone to seed as Hall. The Kids
David Collins - the natural inclination here is to pick one of the many overused faces in the contemporary wee one’s talent pool (Freddie Highmore, we’re looking at you). But we’d prefer to see someone who has been relatively overlooked since stinking up the place as the post-millennial Damien in the awful Omen remake. But looking at him now, almost three years since that flop film, Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick would make an excellent David. He already knows how to play evil. It’s all the other wimped out facets of the Collins kid that might cause him issues. 
Amy Jennings - with a lineage that’s as confusing as any character’s in the show (she’s the child of ancillary personnel in the Collins’ legacy, yet then maintains a direct relationship to the family…huh), Amy is David’s partner in high-strung crime. While Abigail Breslin could probably handle it, we’re looking for someone a little more haunted and inherently spooky. And as big Sis Dakota is looking a tad awkward these days (and way too old), we’d go with her pint-sized sibling Elle Fanning.
Comments
Joan Allen for Dr Hoffman is an interesting choice. Successive DS attempts have always wrestled with replacing Hall, she was unique and terribly effective as DR. Hoffman .. not quite as “gone to seed” as you indicate—she was a very vibrant and beloved member of the New York actors/artist community.
www.graysonhall.net
Comment by JuliaH from New York USA — December 8, 2008 @ 7:10 am
I thought Barbara Steele was a great new Julia on the ‘91 version. If they can get someone along those lines with a dash of Grayson = PERFECTION!
Comment by Taeylor — December 8, 2008 @ 12:57 pm
Please, spare me endless swarms of Brits in Dark Shadows. I’ve seen too many American stories remade with British actors, and Dark Shadows would just be taking it too far. Aside from that, many of the actors here are a bit too old.
Comment by ACDude800 — December 10, 2008 @ 2:10 am
It is with ultmost urgency to pick the “right” casting/people to portray such an mega Classic and established hit TV show such as DARK SHADOWS. The legendary cast is engraved in many of our hearts those that saw it in their youth/children & young adults when growing up. It is a treasure TV Classic of the mid 60’s/early 70’s and “all” the characters from the majestic COLLINS Family (Barnabas, Quentin, Elizabeth, Rodger, Carolyn, David etc.,.) and Jeb Hawks/Yaeger, Rev. Trask (sheer evil, he was!),Victoria, Aristrede, Loomis (a younger actor should play him/I “love” Willie), Dr. Hoffman (rest in harmony Grayson Hall), Angelique etc,. just to name a few of the heavy “strenghts” of the origional DARK SHADOWS Family should be picked with the ultmost care. I like the choice of Jude Law as Rodger, Cillian Murphy as Quentin ‘cause of his eyes/David Selby<>the origional Quentin has lovely piercing eyes that looks through the Soul and so does Angelique/Laura Parker. As far as the other people that were choosen/I would say keep searching but I must say Maggie Evens and the little Collins children I think are a good choice and Aristrede & obviously Johnny Depp as the Star Lead BARNABAS are “excellent” choices. Thank you, can’t wait to see the new movie on DARK SHADOWS in 2010!
Comment by Ruby Red — December 10, 2008 @ 10:56 pm
doesnt Rob Pattinson look a lot like the original Quentin? close in height too. switch around. Pattison as Q. Collins.
Giamatti seems very mature to play Loomis, that role should go to a current-unknown working in an LA or NYC diner somewhere right now.
the role of Count Petofi should go to Shia LaBeouf. he’s always cast in roles completely out-of-his-league anyway, so why not?
the Roger Collins pick was spot-on. wouldn’t have even thought of that, very good choice.
the Aristede role to a current-unknown.
Angelique could be played by her separated-at-birth twin Charlize Theron, their faces are very similar and Theron has the range for disarmingly crazy, that Parker sure could act.
of course the female-child role should only go to one of the Fanning sisters. since they are the only 2 female-child actors on the face of the entire earth. why give someone else a chance at success? they admittedly both are amazingly lucid for their ages though, as the original Amy/Nora/etc actress was, so maybe that’s the right choice after all.
not sure who Victoria should be portrayed by. but definitely, definitely not Maggie Gyllenhall.
Cate Blanchett as Hoffman. or someone. maybe Joan Allen’s okay. Hoffman is really hard to cast for, the mold was broken after Grayson Hall wasn’t it.
maybe i watch too much 60’s TV.
but those are my thoughts.
Comment by b-thought from right here — December 26, 2008 @ 7:22 pm
oh, and Will Smith as David Collins.
kind of a return-to Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, meets Abbott and Costello versus the Lochness Monster.
Comment by b-thought from right now — December 26, 2008 @ 7:29 pm
of course, now i remember! there possibly IS one best choice for the Hoffman role after all. it’s (drum-roll please)
Alyson Hannigan.
she’s has the slightly-off-beat timing to pull it off. good cast looks-wise. younger than the original Hoffman, arguably more appropriate for the current Barnabas and look of the movie.
hope i’m not hogging the board. comments on any of my picks would be interesting to me.
Comment by b-thought from right away — December 26, 2008 @ 7:42 pm
Alyson Hannigan? Absolutely not. I like her but come on. . .
Comment by JuliaH — December 26, 2008 @ 8:26 pm
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i did get a first response, and regarding precisely the character whom i thought it would be.. in under an hour no less
i’ll try here and now, to do something i’ve promised i’d never even attempt to do: describe the Hoffman character to someone, anyone
the reason for the Hoffman-casting predicament is because the role developed due to the actress Grayson Hall herself - being married to the head-writer of DS was merely a coincidence, Hall really was a unique performer
now remember everyone, the Hoffman character was enigmatic from the start - and a man!!!! as it turns out someone had the stroke-of-genius to cast Hall to it. then the character developed tailor-made to the actress.
back to Hannigan, questioning veracity is understandable, however note she was not just quirky-perky Willow. and American Pie was just making a good living. re-watch season 6 (of you-know-what). there is a range there, that can be worked with. the clothing and makeup departments can assist with the impression of gravitas where necessary.
i remember my initial reaction (more like abreaction) to Mozart being portrayed by that-guy from Animal House. then the sheer surprise by how brilliant the performance was! is Hannigan a similarly good choice for Hoffman, who knows, it’s worth considering.
i must also bring up what i consider to be an overemphasized aspect to the character. the primary feature of the Hoffman character is NOT where she is on the menstrual-timeline—this seems to be a preoccupation about the character, but missing the point entirely - it is that she is an ISOLATIONIST character who is utterly IMMERSED in social settings - this is what Hall was able to portray so PERFECTLY, and any actress taking up the role would need to as well. this is why so many borderline-post-menopausal actresses suggested just do not fit. at all.
Alyson: redhead, Hoffman: redhead
Alyson: around 5’7” Hoffman: around 5’7”
Alyson: played an isolated yet socially-immersed character secretly obsessed with a male character she knows intimately
Hoffman: is an isolated yet socially-immersed character secretly obsessed with a male character she knows intimately
Alyson: looks really young for her age
Hoffman: well, they couldn’t all match up could they?!?!
the movie casting director(s) and agents are obviously considering many more choices than any ‘outsiders’ could possibly know about - this is just an attempt to think outside-the-box about what is the elusive essence that makes casting the Hoffman character so very difficult
of course, the new movie might return to the original idea, and cast Hoffman as a man once again!! in which case, i recommend Shia LaBoeuf for the role. he’s always cast completely out-of-his-league anyway, so why not?
Comment by b-thought from right left — December 27, 2008 @ 6:14 am
This actors are a bit terrible and the choice for Aristede is a disgrace to Dark shadows. I say keeping looking for a Quentin Collins, the one choosen doesn’t have the roughness to his face as David Selby did. The Angelique doesn’t look good, I would definitely say Angelia Jolie for her. Count Petofi looks like a good chose and Roger is questionable. Willi Loomis, no. If you want this movie to be good try looking harder for the ‘right’ cast.
Comment by Jade — December 28, 2008 @ 10:18 am
Angelique needs to be played by a young blond, beautiful, talented unknown, 18-25 who can convincingly speak in a french accent. The essence of Angelique is that she is deeply angry and resentful at being so beautiful, smart, young, and supernaturally gifted and yet the highest position that fate has given her is a rich lady’s maid. She is very intelligent and yet young enough to lack the perspective to accept that despite the fact that Barnabas broke her heart, there can be other great loves in her future if she gives them a chance. That youthful lack of wisdom, her broken heart, and her powers of witchcraft lead her down the tragic path she follows.
Comment by spackar — January 13, 2009 @ 8:16 pm