Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins

[The Ghoulish Gallery]

Hi all,

Just heard an interesting rumor that’s all the buzz in Hollywood right now. Apparently Tim Burton will reportedly direct a film version of 1960’s TV show "Dark Shadows" for Warner Bros. starring Jonny Deep as Barnabas Collins. While Depp’s not 100% confirmed for the role, his production company Infinitum-Nihil and GK films are producing and Depp has previously expressed interest in this role. Seems like a done deal to me.

For those not familiar, "Dark Shadows" was a highly atmospheric, spooky soap that featured gothic horror staples like vampires, monsters, witches, werewolves, ghosts and zombies. It ran for many years and over 1000 episodes in total.

Your thoughts?

[SomeThingInTheIce]

OH HE// YES! I loved Dark Shadows, Burton and Depp, I can't think of anyone more suited to do this. My sister is going freak, she would rush home from school to watch the show. Thanks for posting this.

[professornightmare]

Oh man!

Johnny D. as Barnabus?

That's like having Rod Stewart fill in for Rob Zombie......

[damon carson]

I think it will work. Johnny Depp is starting to show his age. And with a little makeup ect it will work. It will be like the chiropracter that Ed Wood got to play Bela after he died. LOL!
Damon

[Jim Warfield]

But did you know the trivia that Rod Stewart's "day job" was that of a grave digger?
I bet Mr. Zombie never turned graveyard dirt.
So who is going to play Barny Collin's brother Tom?

[drfrightner]

I never really watched Dark Shadows...wasn't that a vampire show. I think I've seen some but that was a long long time ago. As for Depp, he's just one of the best actors period! So anything he does I'll see. Larry

[Jonathan]

I got wind of this news and reported it a few months ago on Rotting Flesh Radio but I agree that Depp and Burton work together as a team.

I think that a good enough story brought to the screen for the Dark Shadows show could be fun to watch and bring back the old days of fun Horror if that makes sense.

Larry, even if you weren't a fan of the org. show or never really watched it, I think the film has good potential don't you agree.

[Matt Marich]

If you read into IMDB and Jonathon Frid's Website, you can see that this is going to happen. i THINK TIS COULD BE A GREAT MOVE FOR DEPP!

Larry, this show was a soap opera and got terrible ratings. It's on shining star was that it took place in the past giving it a Gothic, Victorion look. They decided to add a Vampire, Witch, Werewolf, and more, it became a success with over 1,225 episodes and two feature films. The show is pretty corny today, because it was shot live.

http://www.jonathanfrid.com/

http://www.darkshadowsfestival.com/

http://www.collinwood.net/

Matt

[professornightmare]

Larry Said

I never really watched Dark Shadows...wasn't that a vampire show. I think I've seen some but that was a long long time ago. As for Depp, he's just one of the best actors period! So anything he does I'll see. Larry


Ok...would you go see him in a remake of "Howard the Duck"? Be Honest..

[Jonathan]

Howard the Duck was the best!!! Rock On!!!

[HauntVentFX]

I remember watching the original Dark Shadows soap opera back when I was in high school (yes, it was a guilty pleasure!), and since the show was shot live, I remember many instances whent he actors flubbed their lines and then tried (sometimes in "vein") to get back on track. There was this one character played by the late Thayer David (as Professor T. Elliot Stokes) who had earlier on in this one particular episode cut the cheese so to speak. (No, it's not what you're thinking.... he had a plate of cheese and crackers as part of the scene.) While the credits were rolling at the end of the show, he was seen coming into the background, said something about forgetting his plate of cheese and crackers, looked right at the camera (remember, it was shot live, including the credits), realized he was on camera, and made a rather quick departure. Anyone else have some funny moments they would like to share regarding Dark Shadows?

[professornightmare]

I was only 5 when

I was only 5 when this was on and I would race home from school to watch!! It used to scare the hell out of me. Now it's so funny to watch. When they shut a door, the whole set shakes!!! Barnabus was a scary dude!!!

[Jim Warfield]

As I remember most of those shows that I saw, the "timing" was very s l o w , sort of like watching paint dry waiting for something to actually happen.
TV was so cheap back then, hiring scary looking people who didn't need make up! (Jonathan Frid) He was the saving grace on the sceen for me.

[damon carson]

It moved slow because it was a soap opera. Ive never seen one move quickly. But it was pretty cool. And I always loved the theme music. It always sounded really spooky. I think it would be great if they made the movie and Burton has Depp as Barnabas Collins. I think the whole box set of the orininal show is out of dvd. I would like to have it!
Damon