Alec Newman already has quite a fan following from his lead roles in the "Dune" and "Children of Dune" miniseries.

Barnabas Collins isn't Alec's first monster of a character - he played "Frankenstein" in a recently-completed production. Vampires also shouldn't be too unfamiliar to him, as he made an appearance in a March 2004 episode of the WB's Angel.

In case you're curious, Scotland-born Newman is 29 years old, having been born in November 1974.

The character he will be playing, Barnabas, is a man from another time. A man with a bloodthirsty secret...

The role of Victoria Winters was the first announced as cast, and the role went to Marley Shelton.

Marley's previous roles include major roles in the movies "Valentine" and "Sugar and Spice." She also will be playing a role in the upcoming movie based on Frank Miller's comic book classic Sin City.

Victoria Winters is hired as the governess of Collinwood, to look after and teach young David. She'll be the newcomer the viewers will likely identify wit the most.

Blair Brown will be playing the reclusive matriarch of Collinwood, Elizabeth Collins Stoddard.

Ms. Brown is best known for her lead role in the television series The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd. She's done a wealth of stage work, and has appeared in many television series. She might be remembered to WB viewers as "Rachel Dunleavy" in the second season Smallville episode "Lineage."

Martin Donovan has been in many films, including "Insomnia" and "The Opposite of Sex." He is also an accomplished stage actor.

He will be taking the role of Roger Collins, a somewhat stuffy, conflicted man with ghosts (or phoenixes) in his past. He's more separated from his son, David, than most fathers and sons would be, and he's immediately suspicious of Barnabas.

Jessica Chastain has done a great amount of work on the stage, where she's done plays including The Seagull, Trojan Women, Grapes of Wrath, As You Like It, Richard the II, and Sir Patient Fancy. She's also made a guest appearance on ER, but she is a relative newcomer to the world of television.

She plays Carolyn Stoddard, daughter of matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard. Carolyn dreams of escaping her mother's shadow and spending more time with her boyfriend, Joe Haskell.

Kelly Hu, who most people might remember best as "Lady Deathstrike" in the movie X2: X-Men United, is television's latest Dr. Julia Hoffman.

Kelly's previous TV credits include recurring roles on Threat Matrix and Nash Bridges.

Dr. Hoffman is a physician who uncovers the secret of Barnabas and attempts to cure him.

Ivana Milicevic recently could be seen on an episode of the hit series CSI Miami. She also starred in the TV series The Mind Of The Married Man and in the movies "Head Over Heels" and "Love, Actually."

Frequent viewers of the WB might have caught Ivana in episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed.

Angelique is a witch (really!) who had dealings with Barnabas over 200 years ago. So what is she doing in present-day Collinsport? Watch and see...

Tommy Hilfiger model Jason Shaw will be playing Joe Haskell. You may have also seen Jason as a fashion presenter for E! Entertainment Television or in one of his two episodes of Charmed.

Joe is the shipyard-working boyfriend of Carolyn Stoddard.

Interesting trivia: Jason, who has been one of the most in-demand male models of recent years, was once engaged to Paris Hilton.

Days Of Our Lives star Alexis Thorpe, who played Cassie DiMera on DOOL, is on board as Dark Shadows 2004's first new character, Kelly Greer. Nearly 24 years old, Thorpe also has two years of The Young And The Restless in her past, and she has appeared in several films including "American Wedding."

Kelly is a friend and potential bad influence to Willie Loomis, and their working together might open the mausoleum door to what comes from the dark shadows within.

Sheriff George Patterson, played by such folks as Dana Elcar, Dennis Patrick, and Michael Cavanaugh in the past, will be played by Michael D. Roberts this time around.

Roberts' past television appearances include episodes of Beverly Hills 90210, Knight Rider, Baretta, Manimal, and The District. Past movies include "Rain Man," and he's currently filming the movie "Hostage."

Matt Czuchry was one of the stars of the WB's short-lived but well-loved Young Americans. He appeared in the pilot episode of Jake 2.0 as Jake Foley's roommate, but that didn't work out very well, because his character was written out immediately after. (So THAT's why it was cancelled after 16 episodes!) Matt immediately made the jump to CBS's Hack, and all was good in the world... until now, where he'll have an even better role.

Matt plays Willie Loomis, the young man who first welcomes Victoria to Collinwood. Willie also happens to be the one who will release Barnabas out into Collinsport...

The Collins' housekeeper, Sophia, will be played by Jenna Dewan. We've definitely come a long way from having a plain-looking, older "Mrs. Johnson" here! Jenna is an accomplished dancer who has appeared in videos with Kelly Clarkson, Missy Elliot, Janet Jackson, Toni Braxton, Mandy Moore, and the A-Teens. She's also appeared on Boston Public and in the movie "The Hot Chick." Her official website can be found here.

Alexander Gould is by far the youngest member of the new Dark Shadows cast. His most famous role to date is providing the voice of "Nemo" in the hit movie "Finding Nemo." Past TV credits include episodes of Boomtown, Malcolm in the Middle, Ally McBeal, and Freaks and Geeks.

And... check it out... in this photo he even has that classic David Collins hair, as sported by David Henesy in the original Dark Shadows.

Alexander's character, David, is a troubled young boy who seems to get caught up with the supernatural.