Tim Burton, Johnny Depp to Collaborate on Dark Shadows

Director Tim Burton's next project apparently will be a movie adaptation of the soap opera Dark Shadows starring Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins (played by Jonathan Frid in the 1960's soap opera). After Burton and Depp finish filming Alice in Wonderland, says producer Richard Zanuck, the duo will move on to collaborate once again on Dark Shadows and begin filming in the summer of 2009 in London. Rumors of this collaboration surfaced almost a year ago, but all that was confirmed was that Depp's production company, Infinitum Nihil, had purchased the rights to the film, and it was desired that Burton should direct the big screen adaptation of Dark Shadows.

Both Burton and Depp are fans of the soap opera, which began in 1966 and told the story of a governess who went to work in a mansion, only to found it full of vampires, witches, werewolves, and similarly supernatural creatures. The show's run ended in 1971. It has since gained a following that rivaled the one it had during its run. It seems clear that Burton and Depp are determined to work together again for Dark Shadows - especially when you consider that Depp claims he has wanted to play Barnabus Collins for quite some time.

We can probably safely assume that Zanuck will produce Dark Shadows (he produced Burton's most recent effort, also starring Johnny Depp - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and according to IMDb, he also will be a producer on Alice). If Dark Shadows is not rescheduled, this it will be Burton and Depp's eighth collaboration (these eight films include Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and the work-in-progress Alice in Wonderland with Depp as the Mad Hatter). It also appears that John August has written the screenplay for the upcoming Dark Shadows adaptation.

As much as this news seems to be confirmation that Tim Burton and Johnny Depp will move straight from Alice in Wonderland to film Dark Shadows, we must remember that nothing in the entertainment business is set in stone - not necessarily even when it begins filming. At this point especially, it is far too early to call whether it is definite, or just wishful thinking. However, this comment by Zanuck does seem to be good news, as Zanuck is someone who has worked with Burton many times. Burton also expressed interest in Dark Shadows recently during an interview, but said he wanted to take his films one at a time. Doubtless, many people will be highly frustrated with yet another Depp and Burton collaboration, but fans of the duo will be thrilled.