Warner Bros. Animation developing Dark Shadows as adult animated series

tvJun 26, 202621580

Warner Bros. Animation announced it is developing an adult animated series adaptation of the 1960s gothic soap opera Dark Shadows centered on vampire Barnabas Collins. The reimagining will lean into gothic horror, the supernatural, and romantic intrigue that defined the original ABC series. Warner Bros. frames the project as a continuation of the Collins family saga rather than a straight remake. The announcement positions the property as part of Warner Bros. Animation’s push into mature-skewing animated projects alongside other recent development teases.

Bloody Disgusting

@bloody-disgusting.com

DARK SHADOWS is coming back to life. Warner Bros. Animation has announced an adult animated series based on the classic 1960s show. Blending gothic, horror & supernatural genres, this adaptation promises all the dark twists & romantic intrigue that defined the series.

15745d ago

Alan McMillian4

I'm not sure why this property gets disinterred every decade or so. Its a Vampire Soap Opera. Still, an animated version does promise to be different.

Kastia| The Farmer And The Wolf3

They're probably already staffed but PLEASE. I WANNA WORK ON THE SPOOKY SHOW

scott-macshlibber.bsky.social1

Your man there Jonathan Frid was at RADA in London with Martin Landau

Quoting this

✨ Hamish Steele ✨ Pre-Order Go-Man 2!56

Somewhere Norma is freaking out

Nicole aka Nimasprout36

Holy crap, WHO DO I NEED TO TALK TO TO GET IN ON THIS DREAM PROJECT!?!?! I DO BACKGROUNDS AND PAINT AGGHHHH

aquila 🍉 most normal frankenstein enjoyer34

i have the perfect animation studio to suggest for this

Michael Varrati29

Rarely would I be so bold as to publicly post “how do I get into that writing room,” but, like, ”…how do get in that writing room?!”

Neon Genesis Ewangelion15

kinda fascinated by this tbh, the original was not great. really curious what they think they're going to get from (hehe) reanimating it

The Haunted David9

I’ve been so ready for this. #DarkShadows #HauntedDavidArt #BarnabasCollins #Collinwood

🪼Jellyfishlines, re(tired) AP performer🪼8

LET ME IN I PROMISE I CAN BE A NORMAL VOICE ACTOR FOR THIS SHOW!

dorian “dorian” scar 🧛🩸6

who will be brave and correct enough to hire dorian on this

Ben Jeddrie, yeah?4

This is intriguing. But also the phrase 'adult animated series' immediately makes me think 'bland visuals and lifeless voice acting'. Hope to be wrong every time!

Betty Finn4

No way this stands up to the original series…but please let it be good

Animation on HBO Max

@animationonmax.bsky.social

"ABSOLUTE BATMAN" is in development at Warner Bros. Animation and DC Studios. Writer Scott Snyder serves as showrunner and artist Nick Dragotta is a producer on this adaptation of their popular comic that reimagines the Dark Knight as a working class hero up against impossible odds. #AnnecyFestival

13746d ago

Animation on HBO Max2

The series has yet to be set up at a network or streaming service.

Rattleboneses 🎲💀1

Wow that was a fast turnaround!

Quoting this

Sam, the Geeky Citizen28

As awesome as this sounds, I'd be more interested if she was getting a show...

Collier “CJ” Jennings5

Well hot damn. I hope if this takes off the other Absolute series get shows. This whole universe feels ripe for animation!

Mowzer 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 ⚫️🟡🟡2

We're going to get Batman cartoons numbering in the double digits before we get one Wonder Woman cartoon

[No//Thrones]2

Seems a bit rushed to be adapting a run that is actively still being published?

The SeanShards Show2

Finally, we'll get to hear the immortal line.

ToonHive

@toonhive.bsky.social

A animated adaptation of ‘Dark Shadows’ is in development at Warner Bros. Animation. The series will continue the Collins family saga, blending gothic horror, the supernatural, and romance.

5045d ago

Quoting this

Bob Chipman ("MovieBob")26

Ahhh. So, pre-merger WB is doing that 2010s Netflix thing where you announce a HUGE deluge of cool-sounding cartoons to paper over your growth into an obnoxious tech slop titan a handful of years later, huh?

Ryan3

THIS IS NOT A DRILL PEOPLE

Cartoon Brew

@cartoonbrew.bsky.social

Warner Bros. Animation and DC Studios showed off their superhero pipeline today in Annecy, unveiling a new series adaptation of Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta’s 'Absolute Batman' comic book series, along with a raft of other teases and previews. www.cartoonbrew.com/series/absol...

3646d ago

Quoting this

What Keeps ElNarez Alive?9

hit comic to animated series in a couple of years? my god DC has learned the manga pipeline

Lazy Girl4

Peak is coming! If you haven’t read the Absolute DC series you should, you’ll love the comics.

Benjamin Birdie’s Bible Bonkers2

at first i was like “oh that’s neat” and then i realized absolute batman is a manga and was like “oh this is going to be bigger than dragonball z”

Alex Zalben

@azalben.bsky.social

There it is: Absolute Batman animated series in development with Scott Snyder as showrunner and Nick Dragotta as producer.

Absolute Batman (Series Development, Adult)
Network: TBA
Description: Absolute Batman boldly reinvents the Batman mythos for a new generation of fans, reimagining the Dark Knight as a working-class hero up against impossible odds (and the most terrifying foes ever), on a mission to prove that even in an era of wealth, power and corruption, one good person can change the world.

No manor, no money... all Batman. When you take away the manor, the money, the advantages, what you’re left with is something absolute.
Executive Producer: Scott Snyder
Studio: Warner Bros. Animation, DC Studios

2746d ago

Quoting this

Krakenstein must live3

If I don’t get Batman doing Stan Hansen Lariats and Kenny Omega One Wing Angels, I don’t know man.

Liam McGuire2

Scott Snyder, it's okay to rest sometimes! (this is exciting tho)

Angel2

it was inevitable but DAMN i didn't expect it so soon???

James Harvey @ The World's Finest

@worldsfinest.bsky.social

DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation announced at the Annecy International Film Festival that an "Absolute Batman" animated series is in the works, along with a "Joker: Laugh Riot" anime series (DC Studios' first) and an all-ages "Krypto" cartoon. #DCAnimation #Batman #Joker #Krypto

2346d ago

Quoting this

Camila con C (y el libro misterioso)3

que grandes anuncios tan interesantes de DC hubo en el Annecy, ahora a ver con que nos sorprende Marvel #comicsky #Marvel

Reaf3

3 new DC animated series? Wow. Absolute Batman as well, which is wild to think about given the comic only came out October 2024.

R.Case

@rcase.bsky.social

My mom was a huge Dark Shadows fan growing up. She said she would run home after school so she wouldn’t miss it. I think I get my enjoyment of spooky things from her, along with scifi and fantasy

2245d ago

The Hollywood Reporter

@thr.com

Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) is bringing Dark Shadows back from the grave.

1345d ago

Quoting this

Jeff Abbott6

as i've mentioned before i'm watching the #DarkShadows series right now (over halfway through 1225 episodes), have many thoughts on the classic storylines and new directions, and frankly i would love to work on this @wbacareers.bsky.social

The Horror Fan

@horrorfan101.bsky.social

And a new Dark Shadows animation as well!!!! #Horror #Horrorsky

2045d ago

Phil Nobile Jr.

@philnobilejr.bsky.social

As the rights holders have been proving for 56 years, DARK SHADOWS is a case of “it’s the singer, not the song.” The plot/characters aren’t what made it special, but the cast and their circumstances. It was a half-hour live play telecast into homes each day. www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/w...

2045d ago

𝕖𝕔𝕜𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕚𝕟

@ecksteinish.bsky.social

Barnabas Collins from "Dark Shadows" (The Original TV Series, not the film)

1244d ago

Kathy1

Now here's a blast from the past...

Drawing Doll

@mathraptor.bsky.social

Wanting to be excited as a lover of Dark Shadows, but worried it will be in that ugly American faux-anime style. Personality over weird cartoon realism, please?

1545d ago

Animation Magazine

@animag.bsky.social

Warner Bros. Animation is bringing Barnabas Collins back in a new 'Dark Shadows' adult animated series announced at Annecy. #DarkShadows #WarnerBrosAnimation #AnnecyFestival

1245d ago

Errol Lewis

@errollewis.bsky.social

Warner Bros. Animation is developing a new TV series adaptation of "Dark Shadows," based on the classic gothic soap opera and the father of the modern-day vampire, Barnabas Collins. #DarkShadows #BarnabasCollins www.soapoperanetwork.com/2026/06/warn...

345d ago

Eric Ansley Díaz

@geekboyeric.bsky.social

Lestat & co. on TV, the Lost Boys on Broadway, it was only a matter of time before Barnabas Collins got reinvented. I suppose an adult animated series sets "Dark Shadows" apart from the rest. All this makes me wish Buffy didn't get aborted even more tho. www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/w...

644d ago

3 sources

soapoperanetwork.comWarner Bros. Animation Announces Development On 'Dark Shadows' Adaptation Based On Cult-Classic Soap Opera hollywoodreporter.comWarner Bros. Reanimating 60s Cult TV Show ‘Dark Shadows’ (Exclusive)inbella.comDark Shadows Cult TV Show to Become Animated Series - INBELLA

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Warner Bros. Animation developing Dark Shadows as adult animated series

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