Warner Bros. Animation is bringing Dark Shadows back to life in a new adult animated series centered on Barnabas Collins and the famously troubled Collins family. The Hollywood Reporter revealed the project on June 26, noting that the revival is still in its early development stages and does not yet have a premiere date.
The studio describes the new take as a blend of gothic, horror, and supernatural elements, aiming to capture the dark twists and romantic tension that helped define the original series across more than 1200 episodes. Lisa Holdsworth will serve as executive producer and showrunner, joined by Cathy Curtis, Tracy Curtis, Eric Homan, Kevin Kolde, and Fred Seibert.
Dark Shadows first aired from 1966 to 1971, created by Dan Curtis as a daytime soap focused on the wealthy Collins family of Collinsport, Maine. The show transformed overnight with the arrival of Barnabas Collins, played by Jonathan Frid, who was introduced when a caretaker opened his tomb and unleashed the vampire on the town. Originally intended as a temporary ratings boost, Barnabas quickly became the breakout character. His search for his lost love Josette, his kidnapping of Maggie Evans, and his gradual evolution from villain to tragic antihero turned him into the unlikely heart of the series.
The new animated revival marks yet another chapter in the long, unusual life of Dark Shadows, a franchise that has been resurrected many times since its original run. Fans will be watching closely as this latest incarnation takes shape.
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