Warner Bros. Animation Unveils ‘Dark Shadows’ Reboot and Expands Adult Genre Slate at Annecy
ANNECY, France — Warner Bros. Animation made a major statement at this year’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival, signaling a bold strategic expansion in its adult animation portfolio. During its high-profile adult animation showcase on Friday, the studio officially announced a new animated series adaptation of the cult gothic soap opera Dark Shadows. The move highlights a concerted effort by the studio to diversify its adult-targeted content far beyond traditional comedy, pushing into horror, sci-fi, and dramatic genre storytelling.
The newly announced Dark Shadows project is currently in the early stages of development. It aims to reimagine the beloved 1960s supernatural daytime drama, which originally followed the mysterious lives of the wealthy Collins family and their vampire relative, Barnabas Collins. Acclaimed British television writer Lisa Holdsworth—best known for her work on Call the Midwife, A Discovery of Witches, and as the creator of Channel 4’s Dreamers—is attached to spearhead the adaptation. By transitioning the gothic atmosphere of the original series into animation, Warner Bros. hopes to capture both nostalgic fans of the original IP and a new generation of genre enthusiasts.
In addition to the headline-grabbing Dark Shadows announcement, the studio treated attendees to exclusive sneak peeks of other highly anticipated projects in its production pipeline. This included a fresh look at Get Jiro!, an animated adaptation of the acclaimed Vertigo graphic novel co-written by the late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain and Joel Rose. Set in a dystopian, near-future Los Angeles where master chefs rule the city like mob bosses, the project promises a violent, satirical, and visually striking food-centric thriller. Warner Bros. also teased Hit Squad, a project developed in collaboration with the estate of legendary sci-fi creator Gerry Anderson (Thunderbirds, Space: 1999), showcasing the studio's interest in revitalizing classic properties with modern adult sensibilities.
This slate of announcements marks a pivotal moment for Warner Bros. Animation as it redefines its footprint in the streaming and television landscape. Historically dominated by adult comedies in the vein of Rick and Morty or Harley Quinn, the adult animation sector is undergoing a dramatic evolution. Industry analysts note that demand for mature genre storytelling—encompassing horror, action, and serialized drama—has surged globally. By leveraging established intellectual properties like Dark Shadows and experimenting with unique graphic novel adaptations, Warner Bros. is positioning itself at the forefront of this industry-wide shift toward sophisticated, multi-genre adult animation.