Tim Burton Takes on Dark Shadows

Posted by Robin Ruinsky (robin@filmschoolrejects.com) on June 3, 2008

Before Interview With the Vampire or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, there was a rather unusual soap opera called “Dark Shadows”. 1225 episodes of the series were shot between 1966 and 1971 with the first year of shows shot in black and white. The afternoon soap was not only a show case for the supernatural, but was known for actors blowing their lines and visible boom microphones.

It was also known for the beautiful female co stars populating the dark world of central character, vampire Barnabus Collins played by Jonathan Frid. There were werewolves, ghosts, plenty of undead and a dash of witchcraft to keep the storylines rolling. The show was popular enough that the complete series is available on DVD.

Now, decades after the last episode was filmed, a film version appears to be on the horizon and Tim Burton is attached to direct. There’s no better director for this kind of material and if as suspected Johnny Depp signs on as vampire Barnabus Collins, it will be the complete Burton film.

Depp is perfect for the role of the vampire Collins who was released from 170 years of imprisonment to take over the week day afternoons of Dark Shadows addicts forty two years ago.

He’s sunk his teeth into so many unusual roles that is seems fitting he gets a role where he sports a pair of fangs.

All that stands in the way of the project would be that bane of film making called scheduling. Both Burton and Depp are currently involved in other films. Burton is working on a motion capture version of “Alice in Wonderland” and Depp is working on “Shantaram” directed by Mira Nair.

A Burton/Depp collaboration is always welcome news. We’ll just have to wait and see if both will fall under the spell of Dark Shadows.

Read more articles by Robin Ruinsky