A cursed pilot so good it died — now it's a cult graveyard treasure.
The pilot for a proposed remake of the '60s gothic soap opera. It was produced in 2004 for The WB network, but was not picked up and has never aired on television. The pilot instead premiered in 2005 at the Dark Shadows Festival in Los Angeles and has screened at various such festivals in the years since.
Production
Lavish mansion sets that deserved a full series
Costume
Angelique's witchy wardrobe screams main character energy
Acting
Newman's Barnabas balances aristocrat and monster
Director
P.J. Hogan
Alec Newman
Barnabas Collins
Marley Shelton
Victoria Winters
Jessica Chastain
Carolyn Stoddard
Alexander Gould
David Collins
Martin Donovan
Roger Collins
Ivana Miličević
Angelique
Matt Czuchry
Willie Loomis
Jenna Dewan
Sophia
Blair Brown
Elizabeth Collins Stoddard
Michael D. Roberts
Sheriff George Patterson
Alexis Thorpe
Kelly Greer
Kelly Hu
Dr. Julia Hoffman
Jason Shaw
Joe Haskell
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Jessica Chastain's first screen role of any significance — she was cast fresh from Juilliard and reportedly beat out several established actors for Carolyn.
The WB passed despite strong internal buzz, fearing gothic horror wouldn't play with their young female demo — then Supernatural became their longest-running hit two seasons later.
US
