Hi Penny, I keep thinking about the circa 1999 movie "The Avengers" (not to be confused with Marvel comics). It was based on the classic 1960s British series co-starring Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg.  The movie had a huge budget, a cast that included Uma Thurman, Ralph Fiennes, and Sean Connery, and seemed set to usher in a new era for Avengers fandom.

What happened was the movie was a huge flop, widely panned, re-edited at the last minute by the studio so that the narrative made very little sense, and had minimal impact.

Last year in England a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the series' beginning was held.  The classic fandom has continued to thrive even though the series is so far as I am aware no longer being shown on television either in the US or the UK. 

If nothing else, to become a fan of the original series of DS requires quite a commitment of time and energy.   As michael said, I think it will continue to be the preserve of a self-selected few.

What I'm wondering is whether Depp Shadows will signal the death knell for the so-called DS "franchise."  Time will tell..

G.

I totally agree, Claude!  I'll never forget the first time I saw Ray's episode as an adult.  When he showed up, my jaw dropped, I hit the rewind button and then paused a few times.

"Who is this enchanting dreamboat?"  I wondered.  I also regret that he didn't become a semi regular. 

As I recall, Ray's IMDB entry is pretty scant, too.  Along the lines of Brian Sturdivant's?

Thanks for the memory,

Steve

Sorry if I upset you and Midnite by posting the link, MB.  I didn't think the spoilers were all that much beyond what is stated in the official synopsis released long ago by TPTB, but perhaps you've even avoided reading that.  I seem to lack the faculty for being spoilt--or even understanding what is meant by "spoiler," and I do try to play it safe here.

To Phil, I had the same thoughts you did about that character's fate in the film.  It might have been done deliberately as an homage by Burton.  I don't know that the screenwriter is DS savvy enough to come up with such thing.  I guess we'll all see when the movie actually comes out.

G.

Love the glimpse of Roger and Julia!  HBC really looks like she's channeling Grayson in that shot.

Fun!

G.

Just love Grayson's big smile as Julia in today's scene.

I think it is the one time in the movie that Julia actually looks happy for a moment.

G.

It just hit me how weird it is that the first test screening is happening and there's NO mock-up poster on the Facebook announcement linked above.

I can understand (sort of) the delay in releasing the trailer, but why be so fussy about the poster? 

You would think they would at least have the standard DS logo bannering across the silhouette of Collinwood... how hard can this be??

Anyway, apologies for flogging a dead horse...

G.

Did you guys read the dialogue transcription from the long trailer seen by the Ross person?

There was no doubt in my mind that that was intended to be a trailer for a product in the "horror comedy" category.

Elsewhere I said that the dialogue read like the work of one of Sasha Baron Cohen's staff writers.

cheers, G.