It looks like the vampire bug has struck again and who better to play a sexy vampire than Johnny Depp? With so many vampire remakes, reboots and adaptations from Twilight to Cirque Du Freak to Buffy, it only makes sense that the cult hit Dark Shadows would also get a fresh breath of life, or rather, unlife (har har).
Back in the 60s there was a classic popular vampire show called Dark Shadows. Dark Shadows was a gothic soap opera that followed the lives of the Collins family and featured plots lines involving not only vampires but werewolves, ghosts, zombies, witches, warlocks, time travel (both into the past and into the future), and a parallel universe. Dark Shadows was known for it’s incredibly melodramatic performances, distinctive interiors, unforgettable story lines and an unusually vibrant music score. Even thought the show ended in 1971, it continues to have a large following of devoted fans.
What does this have to do with Johnny Depp? Well, Dark Shadows is being turned into a movie and Johnny will play the lead role of Barnabas Collins.
Johnny Depp was quoted saying, “’I was obsessed with the character as a child. It triggered my earliest desire to become an actor.’
He then added that he, along with director infamous director and writer Tim Burton, intended to come out with at least three Dark Shadows films.
Tim Burton also confirmed the film by saying, “That’s the plan. There was something very weird about Dark Shadows, it had the weirdest vibe to it. I’m sort of intrigued about that vibe. It’s early days on it, but I’m excited about it.”
The first of the three films is expected to come out some time in the next year and if we’ve learned anything from the previous seven times Burton and Depp have worked together it is that they never disappoint.
– Moonlight
I concur Johnny could play pretty much anything he’s a versatile actor, if he can pull of a drunken pirate he could do this with ease!!
I hope Johnny will be able to play a true version of a sexy, hot, blood thirsty killing machine and not a lame vamp wanna be… Not impressed w/ the old versions of Dark Shaddows soap…
You have to remember that this was back in the early 1970’s, you could have too much blood and gore and action at that time. Vampires have evolved since then, so you can’t really compare today’s vampire to then. I think that that was the bible for vampire series today.
Depp will be the perfect vampire!
As a kid I used to watch Dark Shadows, it was the only soap opera on with a bite. That probably was the seed that was planted for me to write my book. I wish the movie the best of luck, I will go see it you can bet on that!!