Here’s a new image of Johnny Depp and co-star and former Bond Girl, Eva Green from their new movie Dark Shadows with Eva sporting a lovely blonde barnet. Dark Shadows is the latest from Tim Burton which probably goes without saying when you look at the styling of the image below and those we’ve seen so far from the movie. I’m about to wriote the rest of the cast down. Can you guess who it might be?! OK, let me put you out of your misery.

Te movie also stars…. Michelle Pfeiffer, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Bella Heathcote, Chloe Moretz, Gulliver McGrath and someone called Helena Bonham Carter who you may know from every other Tim Burton movie ever!

The image comes from Luces Carmara Blog with a nod to the dudes at ComingSoon. We can expect Dark Shadows on the 11th May.

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 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 Brouchard. 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 has called upon live-in psychiatrist, Dr. Julia Hoffman, to help with her family troubles.

Another image of Johnny Depp in Tim Burton‘s retelling of the 1966-1971 classic gothic soap opera, Dark Shadows, has been released this week. No trailer yet, but Depp looks better and better each image we see, so for most that’s already enough to look forward to on its own.

Dark Shadows follows Barnabas Collins (Depp), a wealthy playboy who is transformed into a vampire and buried by a jilted lover, Angelique (Eva Green). After being dug up 200 years later, Collins attempts to reintegrate with his descendants, led by Elizabeth (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Roger (Jonny Lee Miller), whilst he also crosses the path with various monsters, witches, werewolves and ghosts, all of whom have secrets.

Burton recently talked about his project, calling it “a weird soap opera.” The film also stars Helena Bonham Carter and Chloë Grace Moretz, and is set to be released 11th May.

Here’s the new image, as well as one of the whole cast. As usual, click to enlarge:

(Source: Collider)

Warner Bros. has shared a new photograph of Johnny Depp and Michelle Pfeiffer this week, showing the undead couple in Tim Burton’s retelling of the 1966-1971 classic gothic soap opera, Dark Shadows.

The film follows Barnabas Collins (Depp), a wealthy playboy who is transformed into a vampire and buried by a jilted lover, Angelique (Eva Green). After being dug up in 1752, Collins attempts to reintegrate with his descendants, led by Elizabeth (Pfeiffer) and Roger (Jonny Lee Miller), whilst he also crosses the path with various monsters, witches, werewolves and ghosts, all of whom have secrets.

Dark Shadows also stars Helena Bonham Carter, and Chloë Grace Moretz, and is set to be released 11th May.

(Source: Bloody Disgusting)

The road to getting a live-action Hollywood remake of Katsuhiro Otomo’s original manga and anime, Akira, has been a long and hard one. In the past year, the project seems to have been gaining some traction, with Unknown’s Jaume Collet-Serra signing on to direct the film, and some brilliant casting possibilities has been coming in recent months.

At the end of last week, though, it was reported that the production studios in Vancouver that were getting ready for the film, which was scheduled to start shooting in February/March, had been shut down. Initially, it was unclear if this was for budgetary reasons or for a script rewrite, but now it seems as though the project is still very much alive at Warner Bros.

Variety report, via ComicBookMovie.com, that none other than Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan’s brother and fellow scribe on The Dark Knight, The Prestige, and this year’s highly anticipated The Dark Knight Rises, is being eyed by the studio to do the rewrite, with Green Lantern’s Michael Green also being considered:

“As for “Akira,” which has only “Tron: Legacy” star Garrett Hedlund locked, the studio is by no means pulling the plug. Insiders said a new writer will probably be brought on over the next two weeks to focus on character elements and particularly on the pic’s look. While no one’s yet been offered the job, studio is said to be eyeing Jonah Nolan (“The Dark Knight,” “The Dark Knight Rises”) and Michael Green (“Green Lantern”).

WB prexy Jeff Robinov met with the “Akira” team to discuss several issues, including who would land the second lead opposite Hedlund. Choices had been narrowed down to Michael Pitt and Dane DeHaan, but the studio wanted to wait until after the holidays to decide. Now that decision will be delayed further.”

Though casting news has been coming for some time, Hedlund is the only one who’s officially signed on, but some very talented people have been in talks for the other leading roles alongside him, including Ken Watanabe, Kristen Stewart, and Helena Bonham Carter, and hopefully they’ll be signing on soon too.

The report also sheds light on the casting of the male co-lead opposite Hedlund, singling out Michael Pitt and Dane DeHaan as possibilities, which throws new names into the hat, after the likes of Logan Marshall-Green, Toby Kebbell, and Paul Dano were thought to be testing too back in November. (I’ve been rooting for Kebbell, myself; he was so good in RocknRolla.)

I’m naturally well aware that reception of the Akira project is mixed. Many fans don’t think the original needs an adaptation, and particularly one that has only Watanabe so far as a Japanese actor involved in the film. Personally, I’m willing to overlook any and all potential criticisms, because I think this has a huge potential to be immense, and I can’t wait to see how it turns out.

Nolan is of course a very talented writer, and it would be amazing if he were to come on and do a rewrite for the script. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. As always, more news as we get it.

The remake of Katsuhiro Otomo’s original classic manga and anime, Akira, can’t seem to catch a break. The project has been struggling in development for years, but things have been looking up for the Hollywood remake in the past few months.

Back in July, Unknown’s Jaume Collet-Serra signed on to direct the film, and we’ve seen some brilliant casting news recently, with Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Ken Watanabe, and Helena Bonham Carter all being courted for leading roles, all of which you can catch up on here.

Now, however, production offices in Vancouver have been shut down, and the below-the-line talent and crew are being told to go home, THR report. The reason for this remains unclear, with different sources citing different reasons.

One insider describes the problem as being budget-related. Collet-Serra has already reduced what was a substantially larger budget to bring it down to a more modest $90m. range for Warner Bros. But this insider says that that figure is still too high, with an aim to bring it down further to the $60-70m. range. Another insider, though, says that the budget isn’t the problem, which is to remain at $90m., and production is being halted because of script issues.

It sounds as though script work is going to be done, with THR noting that the producers will be working with Collet-Serra to iron out the script over the next two weeks, and it is currently unclear whether Steve Kloves, well known for his work on the Harry Potter films, will come back to work on the rewrite he did for the project.

Whether it is the script or the budget that’s currently causing the problems, I’m just hoping that the film will still be able to go ahead, and stay close to its initial production estimates. Filming was originally expected to begin in February or March this year, so hopefully some productive work can be done in the next few weeks to make that still happen.

One positive note for those, like me, who’ve been looking forward to this remake for some time:

“Sources close to the project say Akira isn’t dead yet.  “It’s a very resilient movie,” says one insider. “Warner Bros. just won’t let it die.””

That Warner Bros. want this to happen too definitely makes me optimistic. Of course, they’ll only want to make it if they think that it will be good and that it will make them a return on their money. The worldwide audience that already knows or has heard of the original manga/anime should give them a substantial built-in audience for the film if it’s good, and add to that the big names that are set to lead the cast. So keep your fingers crossed that they’ll remain resilient with the project, and that it will keep all of its current expected stars, because that’s a cast list I’d love to see all together on this. More news as we get it.

In the past year, director Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) has seen himself become almost overnight a huge success, with The King’s Speech topping many critics’ and individuals’ Films of the Year lists last year, along with earning himself the Best Director award at the Oscars earlier this year.

His next project, a film adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel, Les Misérables, is lining up to be pretty damn brilliant, with a cast that currently includes Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne, and rumours of Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter to boot.

Talking to the BBC, Hooper has now put to bed the possibility of the project being released in 3D, saying,

“I can definitely announce it’s good old-fashioned 2D.”

He confirmed that he had been doing some testing with shooting it in 3D, but ultimately decided against it, which I think is a good move for him. Justifying the decision, he said that he wanted to make a film that everyone could connect with:

“One of the things I’m most proud of with The King’s Speech is how it managed to do that, whether you’re eight or 80 years old.

“So I slightly worry with 3D that some people will physically struggle with it. If you have a certain type of eyesight it can be more demanding than watching a normal movie.

“With a two-and-a-half hour film, I didn’t want to make something that anyone might think ‘That’s not for me, because I don’t like the medium’.

“I wanted to make a film that would touch everyone. I believe the story is so strong, 3D is not essential.”

Personally, I’m not a huge fan of the 3D medium, in part because the 3D glasses on top of my regular glasses just doesn’t feel comfortable and often ends up giving me a bit of a headache, so I can definitely appreciate Hooper’s reasoning here. Granted, I definitely would’ve still gone to see the film however it was released, but I’m glad that he’ll be sticking to 2D, and it’s that much better for ticket prices on our end.

Hooper also added that we should be getting some more casting news soon for the roles of Cosette and Éponine, both of which I believe are child roles, and hopefully we’ll get confirmation of Rush and Bonham Carter’s involvement with those announcements too.

“I’ve never done a film where big star actors are as obsessed with being in it as this!”

The cast is already fantastic, and I can’t wait to see how it turns out when it arrives on the big screen next year. Shooting is scheduled to begin in March, with a release date currently set for December of next year, perfectly lining it up for consideration for the Oscars at the start of 2013. As always, more news as we get it.

Three Horcruxes down and long past the point of no return, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) – alongside best friends Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) – are busy planning their next assault on Voldemort’s (Ralph Fiennes) divided soul. With Gringots Wizarding Bank and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry both harbouring Horcruxes, the trio must draw on their six years of education, their combined ingenuity and a number of assorted peers and allies if they are to destroy He Who Must Not Be Named and liberate the wizarding world once and for all.

Film: Eight movies in A Nightmare On Elm Street had spilled over onto Camp Crystal Lake, James Bond was on its third 007 and The Land Before Time VIII: The Big Freeze was languishing at the bottom of bargain bins on home video. Harry Potter, meanwhile, has acheived a feat of which there has been no precedent: it has continued to grow both in scale and quality, maturing in tandem with an ever-increasing ensemble of returning characters and cast-members. Whether the latest – and last – instalment in Hollywood’s most lucrative franchise was a good film in its own right or not, it was already ear-marked as a movie-making (and story-telling) achievement of truly staggering proportions.

Apparently despite the so-called law of diminishing returns, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II is one of the most exciting, moving and spectacular films of not only the franchise itself, but the year so far. Boasting a truly breathtaking array of explosive set-pieces, one of the most organic and tender romances of all time and a final confrontation which pays dividends to just about everything that came before, returning director David Yates has crafted what is simultaneously the perfect conclusion to a much loved cinematic series and a truly astonishing film in its own right.

While the film, importantly the second instalment in a two-parter, might resume with somewhat of a muted introduction, the audience is efficiently and effectively brought up to speed at Shell Cottage before they – along with Harry, Ron and Hermione – are thrust back into the action with a spell-binding assault on Gringotts. Such issues as needless tension (why do they cause a scene at the bank when they could just present Bellatrix’s wand and progress unnoticed?), incongruous mispronunciations (can Alan Rickman really not pronounce pensieve? Sirius?) and unfortunate deviations from the book (am I the only one who wanted to see Sybil Trelawney bombard werewolves with her crystal balls?) are easily forgivable, however, as the rest of the film proves so thoroughly entertaining. Even the epilogue – a scene which most fans would have quite happily seen lost in translation – is wonderfully realised.

There are quite simply too many memorable moments to note: The Battle of Hogwarts is flawlessly executed, Ron and Hermione’s embrace in the Chamber of Secrets is utterly charming and our brief insight into Severus Snape’s enigmatic past proves hugely rewarding. Radcliffe too impresses with an unexpectedly astute and nuanced performance, his reaction to a last-act revelation reminding you just how complex a character Harry Potter actually is. While a few deaths and character beats may fall unfortunately by the wayside, it is to Steve Kloves’ credit that so few characters fall victim to the equally impressive but potentially overwhelming stunt-work and special effects. Whether it’s Seamus Finnigan (Devon Murray), Professor Minerva McGonagall (Maggie Smith) or Molly Weasley (Julie Walters), each of Rowling’s creations gets at least a line or scene in which to shine.

Boasting assured and franchise-best performances from the central cast, welcome and carefully woven references to the extant series, a truly magisterial score from composer Alexandre Desplat and a core relationship that roots the action and adventure in very human territory, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II is one of very few films that lives up to the hype. Beautifully sold – and incidentally reviewed – by its advertising campaign, this really is the motion picture event of a generation.

Extras: While the culmination of thirteen years’ solid investment – as stated by J.K. Rowling in a welcome introduction – alone should be enough to make this DVD nothing short of essential buying, the filmmakers have gone to great lengths to ensure that you remain entertained long after the credits have finally rolled. Perhaps most revealing is a documentary titled When Harry Left Hogwarts, an eight-part series chronicling production on the final movie. Set amidst the ruins of Hogwarts at Leavesden Studios, we pay witness to cast interviews, read-throughs and discussions with workmen who are just looking to finish up and get home for the night.

Also nestled among the special features are focus points which cover everything from an introduction to Aberforth Dumbledore, to costume changes and the creation of Hogwarts’ magical shield, a heartfelt and insightful spotlight on the women of Harry Potter, the usual deleted scenes and a set of adverts for both the Pottermore website and the tour in London. With an indelibly misty-eyed atmosphere, if you thought the première footage was devastatingly nostalgic and unexpectedly upsetting, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

***** (5/5)

The past few weeks have seen some excellent progress being made on the Akira remake front. Garrett Hedlund has been selected to star as one of the film’s two male leads, given the role of Kaneda. Gary Oldman and Helena Bonham Carter have both been approached to star. And just last week, Kristen Stewart was offered the lead female role of Kei, which I think is a brilliant choice.

News now comes from Collider that there are some great names in the mix for the other male lead, Tetsuo, with seven names having tested for the role yesterday and the day before: Logan Marshall-Green, D.J. Cotrona, Toby Kebbell, Richard Madden, Rami Malek, and Paul Dano and Alden Ehrenreich retesting for the part.

Unknown’s Jaume Collet-Serra is taking the helm for the project, which has a $90m. budget, and it’s definitely something I’m looking forward to. I think Hedlund and Stewart are both going to be awesome in this, and the list of co-leads has some excellent names on it.

Personally, my vote is torn between Marshall-Green and Kebbell. I admit I don’t have much experience with the others’ roles, but Marshall-Green and Kebbell have both been so great in what I’ve seen them in that I’m rooting for either of them.

Marshall-Green may not be a household name, but with a leading role in Ridley Scott’s upcoming Prometheus, I think he’s going to be quickly rising by the time next summer rolls around.

And Kebbell was nothing short of brilliant in Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla, and I’d love to see him in more and more roles in the future. We’ll next be seeing him in the Clash of the Titans sequel, Wrath of the Titans, next March. And he’s currently filming the indie film The East, alongside Ellen Page, Alexander Skarsgård, and Brit Marling, and that stellar cast makes me think that that film’s going to be so good.

With the Akira testing having been done over the past two days, I’m hoping it won’t be long before we’ll get confirmation of who’s been chosen. This is definitely a film to be keeping your eye on, and as always, we’ll be bringing you more news as and when we get it.

Though some might disagree, this is a project that’s been shaping up pretty damn nicely in my eyes recently. Based on Katsuhiro Otomo’s original Japanese manga/anime, Akira is set to make its big-screen American adaptation with Unknown’s Jaume Collet-Serra in the driving seat behind the camera.

TRON: Legacy’s Garrett Hedlund, who I think has deservedly been making a name for himself lately, has been tapped in one of the two male leads as Kaneda, and Gary Oldman and Helena Bonham Carter have both been approached with offers.

Kristen Stewart has now also been approached with an offer, Collider report, to play the female lead, Kei, a love interest for Hedlund’s Kaneda.

The specifics for Steve Kloves’ script are still being kept under wraps, though it’s been known for some time that the location of the originals has been moved from New Tokyo to New Manhattan – you’d perhaps think that the names of the characters would change to match that switch, but maybe not.

Regardless, I think Stewart would be a fantastic choice for the remake. Though I admit that I’ve never yet seen any of the Twilight films, I’ve loved her work in other films, and think she would be great in this. With the Twilight series almost over, Stewart has been actively seeking roles that go beyond what she could have been typecast as, which I think is both brilliant and brave.

She’ll next be seen in the first part of the Twilight conclusion, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part I, before starring as one of the female leads in Walter Salles’ adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s On The Road. She’s also been hard at work filming Snow White and the Huntsman of late, and moving on to Akira in the new year, with production expected to begin in February/March next year, sounds like a perfect fit. More news as we get it.

We’ve just been sent the first image of Jeremy Irvine as Pip in Mike Newell’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Great Expecations.

We recently saw Helena Bonham Carter as Miss Havisham and now we have a look at Irvine in his role as Pip. Newell is in the middle of shooting the film now and the cast is suitably impressive, along with Irvine we have Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Flemyng and Sally Hawkins. Irvine will next be seen leading Steven Spielberg’s tear-jerker War Horse  David Nicholls has adapted Dickens’ classic tale and Newell arrives fresh from his recent blockbuster Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.

The synopsis looks like this,

Young orphan Pip is given a chance to rise from his humble beginnings thanks to a mysterious benefactor. Moving through London’s class ridden world as a gentleman, Pip uses his new found position to pursue the beautiful Estella; a spoilt heiress he’s loved since childhood. Yet the shocking truth behind his great fortune will have devastating consequences for everything he holds dear.

Here’s the pic,

It seems that Hollywood is finally starting to wise up to a little fact that moviegoers have known for quite a while; Gary Oldman is simply put, a badass.

Oldman has already taken up some iconic roles with films like The Fifth Element, Leon: The Professional, and Nolan’s Batman flicks to name a few.  However it seems like his newest role as an M16 espionage specialist in Thomas Alfredson’s new Cold War drama, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, is generating quite a bit of awards buzz, as well as putting him in high demand for some studios.

According to Deadline one such studios, Warner Bros., is now linking Oldman to two of their upcoming 2013 releases.  The first, will be alongside Helena Bonham Carter and Garrett Hedlund as the rugged Colonel Shikishima in the perhaps inescapably Americanized retelling of the classic Anime/Manga, Akira.  More recently, Oldman has also signed on for perhaps an even more iconic role as Merlin for Dave Dobkin’s film, Arthur & Lancelot.

Now I can’t personally speak as to whether or not Oldman will finally grab himself that ever elusive Oscar, after all, I still have yet to see Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.  However if this win does actually come to pass, I am predicting dark times in the future for Mr. Oldman.  More often than not we see actors follow up award-winning performances with a slew of terrible films that aren’t even worth their weight in 1′s and 0′s (Remember Jamie Fox’s and Halle Berry’s careers after their wins?).  Akira has just about every fandom nerd worried and has been teetering on the edge of disaster for years now.  Then you have this other film, Arthur & Lancelot, which if David Dobkin’s last 3 films are any indication, will be yet another piece of comedy drivel that fails to hit home.

I will try though to stay the optimist and hope for nothing but the best from Oldman in the upcoming years.  He’s proven his worth time and time again, so perhaps he can find it himself to conjure enough of that special something of his to keep these Warner Bros. projects from collapsing in on themselves.

Helena Bonham Carter seems to be able to pull off the Queen of Darkness look with ease – you only need to watch her performance as Bellatrix Lestrange in one of the Harry Potter films to see it – and it looks like she’ll be taking advantage of that in her upcoming role as Miss Havisham in Mike Newell’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ well-known novel, Great Expectations.

The first images of Bonham Carter as the bride left at the altar in her youth, who has worn her wedding dress ever since through the succeeding three decades, have now appeared over at Deadline, and they’re pretty excellent.

As you can imagine, the look has a slightly Tim Burton-esque feel, with Bonham Carter in her darkened mansion, sitting by her desk, looking more than a little bit terrifying – if you were the young Pip, you’d be pretty damn nervous walking into that room.

BAFTA-winning director Mike Newell, whose credits include Four Weddings And A Funeral and Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire, is at the helm of this adaptation, with David Nicholls, writer of the novels of One Day and Starter For 10 (as well as their film adaptations), penning the script.

Alongside Bonham Carter is a pretty great cast that includes Ralph Fiennes as the escaped convict Magwitch, Jason Flemyng and Sally Hawkins as Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gargery, Robbie Coltrane as Mr. Jaggers, Ewen Bremner as Wemmick, and the young stars Jeremy Irvine as the protagonist, Pip, and Holliday Grainger as his love interest, and Miss Havisham’s adopted daughter, Estella.

The BBC Films-backed adaptation is due to come out about this time next year, with filming scheduled to finish by Christmas. Before then, we can look forward to seeing Bonham Carter collaborating once more with Tim Burton and Johnny Depp on Dark Shadows, due out on 11th May next year. Without further ado, here are the two first images from Newell’s adaptation. (If you want to see them in full size, you can click over to Deadline and click the individual images; the files are literally too big for me to upload.)

The final film in the epic Harry Potter saga,  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 swept across the world this summer and brought to an end the story of the Boy who Lived and his snake nosed nemesis.

Of course the story isn’t quite over with the home entertainment release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows due in just under a month and we’ve got our hands on a clip from one of the extras that will be available on the Blu-ray to share with you today.

The battle of Hogwarts was a striking finale and the effects team, who have done some excellent work in the previous films, had a mammoth task in bringing this final fight to the screen. The clip which follows breaks down some of the shots for us along with a commentary from director David Yates.

Here’s your clip and once you’ve watched it, click here to check out our interviews with some of the cast that we conducted earlier at the brand new Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour London. You’re going to love it!

To see the clip in HD click here.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 releases on Blu-ray, DVD and Triple Play December 2nd and we can’t wait. Click here to pre-order your copy and here to rent it from LOVEFiLM.

Casting news should always be taken with a pinch of salt when in relation to Warner Bros’ Akira remake – Leonardo DiCaprio, Zac Efron and Morgan Freeman have previously been linked to the project to little effect – so don’t get all riled up just yet, but Gary Oldman and Helena Bonham Carter have allegedly been offered roles as The Colonel and Lady Miyako respectively.

With Tron: Legacy‘s Garrett Hedlund leading up the contenders for the film’s leading parts, Oldman and Bonham Carter – if cast – would see the former responsible for unleashing the powerful Akira and the latter aiding rival Kaneda in his quest to put a stop to the resultant destruction.

Both actors have a history with the studio, having starred in its immensely lucrative Harry Potter franchise, and as such it isn’t beyond the realms of possibility that they might accept. With around six months remaining until director Jaume Collet-Serra plans to go before the camera, however, it is likely that it will still be some time yet before we have casting news of any real certainty.

IndieWire had it first.

We got our first photos from the set of Tim Burton’s next film, Dark Shadows, last month and they gave us a brief glimpse at Johnny Depp’s return to the gothic world of Burton’s mind as Barnabas Collins, an eighteenth century man-turned-vampire dug up in 1972.

The first official photos from the film have now surfaced over at Empire, and they give us an interesting look not just at Depp’s character, who in fact looks rather different from the set photos, but also show us the rest of the cast looking fantastic in their costumes too.

The film, based on the 1960s TV series of the same name, revolves around Depp’s character, Barnabas:

“In 1752, the Collins family sails from Liverpool, England to North America. The son, Barnabas, grows up to be a wealthy playboy in Collinsport, Maine and is the master of Collinwood Manor. He breaks the heart of a witch, Angelique Bouchard, who turns him into a vampire and buries him alive. In 1972, Barnabas is freed and returns to find his manor in ruin. It is occupied by dysfunctional descendants and other residents, all of whom have secrets.”

The script for Dark Shadows is written by Seth Grahame-Smith, author of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, both of which are being adapted for the big screen. Grahame-Smith has said of the film’s setting in 1972,

“Tim and Johnny took a long time explaining exactly why it had to be 1972. 1969 was too early and 1973 was too late. 1972 is right at the time when the hippie movement and all its peace and love is dying out and being replaced by this  me-me-me generation in the ’70s who are all about showing their wealth and having everything.”

Definitely interesting stuff. Along with Depp, the terrific cast includes Eva Green, Christopher Lee, Jackie Earle Haley, Chloë Grace Moretz, Johnny Lee Miller, Bella Heathcote, a cameo from Alice Cooper, and of course, frequent collaborator of Burton and Depp’s, and Burton’s partner in real life, Helena Bonham Carter.

These fantastic new photos give us a look at the majority of this cast, and show Depp in the first photo looking a little different to how we first saw him in the set photos. His hair is looking particularly excellent in this, and with Depp having a way of bringing such different characters to life, I’m always eager to see what his next performance is going to be like. Dark Shadows is due to come out on 11^th May next year in the States, and we can hopefully look forward to a similar release date here in the UK. Without further ado, here are the new official photos to enjoy. As usual, click to enlarge.

Believe it or not, but there are still some people out there who haven’t seen Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2! I know this for a fact because my wife is desperate to see it and was thwarted in our attempt to go along to our local multiplex three weeks after our first son was born! She is however excited for this weekend, Potter mayhem strikes back as many cinemas across the UK are still showing it.

As a special treat, those of you who go and watch Potter 7.2 this weekend (Friday 30th September – Sunday 2nd October) will be entitled to come home with your very own limited edition animated poster. I’ve been sent one and I have to say it is rather awesome with the hologram flitting between Voldemort and Harry Potter.

I’ve placed a gif (remember those!) of the poster below and below that is a list of participating cinemas. You’ll be entitled to the poster while stocks last so make sure you get in there early.

As far as our Potter coverage goes, you can keep track of it all here and we have some very very exciting news which we’ll hopefully be able to share with you next week so keep your eyes peeled!

You can pre-order your DVD / Blu-ray box set here.

The following is a list of cinemas are participating (scroll down for more):

Warner Bros. have released the first clip / featurette from the Blu-ray release of their eight and final movie in the Harry Potter franchise, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. In the short clip, we get to see Director, David Yates narrate the kiss that Rupert Grint (Ron) and Emma Watson (Hermione) have to share in the depths of Hogwarts. He describes them as being like brother and sister and how Watson wanted to nail it in one take. It’s quite funny when you watch their faces before and after the scene.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is directed by David Yates, stars Daniel Radcliffe , Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Jim Broadbent, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Ciarán Hinds, John Hurt, Jason Isaacs, Matthew Lewis, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Bonnie Wright and is set for home entertainment release 2nd December. You can pre-order your copy here.

Dark Shadows will see Johnny Depp joining up with director Tim Burton for the 784th time in their careers, collaborating once again for a project with dark, gothic tones.

Dark Shadows was a cult TV show that ran in the latter half of the 1960′s, containing such genre staples as vampires, zombies, witches, werewolves and ghosts. It is of course massively unsurprising to find Burton and Depp interested in this sort of thing.

Depp will play Barnabas Collins and shooting is underway as the snaps below amply testify. Dark Shadows will be released into the gloomy twilight in May next year, finding itself up against pretty much every superhero on the planet in the process. It will be interesting to see if it can hold its own. Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Bella Heathcote, Chloe Moretz and Gulliver McGrath are all on board as well.

Source: Coming Soon.

The epic ends, the magic lasts.

Harry Potter may have had its final bow on the big screen this summer, but that doesn’t mean the magic has to end too. The final instalment of the film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, will be released on DVD, Blu-Ray, and Blu-Ray 3D on 2nd December, and is available for pre-order from today, just in time for you to take it home for Christmas, whether it be for a loved one or a treat for yourself.

Judging by the film’s record-breaking box office takings of more than $1.3bn. across the globe, there can’t be a large number of people who haven’t seen the film already, directed by David Yates and written by Steve Kloves. Nonetheless, here’s a quick synopsis for the few that haven’t.

“In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort. It all ends here.”

Embedded below is a lovely five-minute video entitled, A Look Back, that is a collection of the trailers for all eight films in the Harry Potter series, which really makes you feel a little bit nostalgic, reminding you of moments you’d forgotten, moments you love, and reminding you that these films have been with us for, literally, a decade.

““Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2” will be available on Blu-ray 3D Pack; featuring the film on a Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray in hi-definition and on DVD in standard definition as well as a standard definition digital copy of the 2D main feature. It will also be available on Blu-ray Triple Play; featuring a hi-definition, a standard definition, and a digital copy of the film and on 2 Disc Special Edition DVD in widescreen format.

Also available on 2nd December is “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1” on Blu-ray 3D. Additionally, for the first time “Harry Potter: The Complete 8-Film Collection” featuring the complete Harry Potter film series will be available on Blu-ray and DVD and also as a Limited Edition, individually numbered, featuring a 48-page collectable photo album.”

It’s interesting to note that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, which was released in cinemas only in 2D, will be re-released on the same day in 3D. The film was originally to be released in cinemas in 3D as well, just like Part 2 was, but when the 3D conversion couldn’t be completed in time for its theatrical release, Warner Bros. decided to release it only in 2D instead, now completing the 3D version for fans of the series.

As always, Part 2 will come with a fantastic array of special features to feast your eyes on, including,

• The Goblins of Gringotts – Hosted by Warwick Davis, you’ll see the entire process of becoming a goblin” in a Harry Potter film, from auditions and casting to makeup and prosthetic tests as well as filming the final scenes.

• The Women of Harry Potter – A look at the remarkable women in Harry Potter’s life and the critical role they play in the films.

• When Harry Left Hogwarts – BAFTA award-winning filmmaker Morgan Matthews has been given unprecedented access to the creative decision-making processes that have been kept as a closely guarded secret – until now.  Hear the personal stories of the faces we know, and those we don’t, as we come to the end of one of the most successful eras in cinema history.

• WB Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter

• Deleted Scenes

And exclusive to Blu-Ray:

• Maximum Movie Mode hosted by Matthew Long (Neville Longbottom) and other cast members (80 minutes) – As the epic showdown between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort approaches, don’t miss a single detail as the forces of Good and Evil clash one final time throughout the grounds of Hogwarts.

• A Conversation with JK Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe – Join J.K. Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe for an exclusive conversation about bringing the character of Harry Potter to life, the last decade of films and how their lives have changed by the fame that they’ve both experienced.

The Blu-Ray exclusive of the conversation with JK Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe sounds like it has quite a bit of potential to be an interesting extra, and could definitely be worth the upgrade to hi-definition, if the improved picture quality isn’t already enough to sway you. And for PS3 users, there should also be a game demo of LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 when you download the film.

To commemorate Part 2’s final release,

“The release of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2” will also be marked by a special celebration at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort, where the Harry Potter stories live on.  The Harry Potter Home Entertainment Celebration will consist of a series of special events to be attended by cast and filmmakers from the Harry Potter films.  The three-day celebration will take place from Friday, November 11 to Sunday, November 13.”

So if you’re fortunate enough to be going to Orlando in November over that weekend, you may well find yourself bumping into the stars of a film series that has truly taken the world by storm in the last ten years, with its all-star cast of adult actors and actresses including Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, John Hurt, Jason Isaacs, Matthew Lewis, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis, Julie Walters and Bonnie Wright.

And of course, we cannot forget how the series has made a name for Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. Their faces are well recognised the world over as those of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley, and they went from anonymity to global success all but overnight. For now, I shall leave you with the look back at all of the Harry Potter films, in which you can see these three growing up over the years. Enjoy.

No surprises here people but Deadline hae just released this press release from Warner Bros. stating that the eighth installment of the Harry Potter franchise, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part has become the highest worldwide grossing movie of 2011. People are still going to see it at the cinema in droves and you can expect these figures to keep rising.

“As of August 8, the film had earned $344.8 million domestically and $801.5 million internationally, for an astounding worldwide box office gross of $1.146 billion, making Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2the third-highest-grossing film worldwide of all time.”

Crazy numbers but a crazy franchise! Will we ever seen numbers like this again in our life-time? I guess we’ll have to wait and see! – or just wait until J.K. Rowling brings out another book!

If you missed all our Potter coverage, you can go back and look at the multitudes of posts right here.

BURBANK, CA, August 9, 2011 – Warner Bros. Pictures’ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 has now become the top-grossing release of 2011 in all categories: domestic box office, international box office and worldwide box office. The announcement was made today by Warner Bros. Pictures President of Domestic Distribution, Dan Fellman, and President of International Distribution, Veronika Kwan-Rubinek. The last installment of the blockbuster motion picture franchise has broken numerous box office records around the world in just under a month since its July opening. As of August 8, the film had earned $344.8 million domestically and $801.5 million internationally, for an astounding worldwide box office gross of $1.146 billion, making Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2the third-highest-grossing film worldwide of all time.

Veronika Kwan-Rubinek stated, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 can truly be called a global phenomenon. The filmmakers and cast, who dedicated their talents to the success of these films for over a decade, share in this piece of cinema history. We congratulate and thank them all.”

Dan Fellman said, “This is another incredible milestone for the last chapter of this historic film series, and for the Harry Potter franchise as a whole. In a crowded and very competitive summer, it is a tribute to both the film and the people behind it that moviegoers are still turning out to enjoy it—whether for the first time or for a repeat viewing.”

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 is the final adventure in the Harry Potter film series. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson reprise their roles as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The film’s ensemble cast also includes Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Ciarán Hinds, John Hurt, Jason Isaacs, Matthew Lewis, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis, Julie Walters and Bonnie Wright. The film was directed by David Yates, and produced by David Heyman, David Barron and J.K. Rowling. Steve Kloves adapted the screenplay, based on the novel by J.K. Rowling. Lionel Wigram is the executive producer. It is the first Harry Potter film to be released in both 3D and 2D. Concurrently with its nationwide theatrical distribution, the film is being released in select IMAX® theatres. The film is being distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. It has been rated PG-13 for some sequences of intense action violence and frightening images.