Tim Burton's "Dark Shadows" *Depp Gives Update to Vanity Fair*

[JamesG]

SDCC: Tim Burton's Next is Dark Shadows
Source: Blake Wright
July 23, 2009

Tim Burton announced at the San Diego Comic-Con that once he's done with Alice in Wonderland, his next project will be Dark Shadows.

The film will be based on the cult '60s supernatural TV show created by Dan Curtis. Johnny Depp is attached to play Barnabas Collins, the vampire patriarch of the series.

With over 1,225 episodes, "Dark Shadows" was a highly atmospheric, spooky soap-opera that featured gothic horror staples like vampires, monsters, witches, werewolves, ghosts and zombies that ran from 1966 - 1971 and featured actor Jonathan Frid as vampire Barnabas Collins.

http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news...s.php?id=11170

[JamesG]

Depp, Burton: Dark Shadows in 2010
Source: Sci-Fi Wire
December 7, 2009

After a year of speculation and some chirps from Tim Burton about his involvement in the Johnny Depp-produced Dark Shadows, co-producer Graham King confirmed over the weekend, "We're actually going to shoot that film next September/October with Tim Burton and Johnny."

This has been the first solid word that Burton was slipping into the director's chair, making it his next project after Disney's 3-D Alice in Wonderland. John August is at work on the script, giving it some revisions.


Dark Shadows, based on the '60s television soap involving creatures of the night, will undoubtedly carry Burton's stamp making this something to look forward to. Especially with Depp playing Barnabas Collins!

http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news...s.php?id=13081

[80sTrivia]

It will be interesting to see Tim and Johnny's take on Dark Shadows and Barnabas!

[Retro4Life]

Tim Burton + Dark Shadows =

[catlover79]

I won't judge it until I see it - but the only two in the business I can totally see doing justice to DS are Tim Burton and Johnny Depp.

[Retro4Life]

Originally Posted by catlover79

I won't judge it until I see it - but the only two in the business I can totally see doing justice to DS are Tim Burton and Johnny Depp.

I've liked some of Burton's stuff. I liked "Ed Wood" a lot, and "Edward Scissorhands" was good, too.

But Burton burned me badly on "Batman" and because of that I worry about Barnabas and his clan in his hands. Somehow, Burton always seems to get the "look" of his pieces right, but can get the "heart" wrong, if that makes any sense.

If I were king, I'd choose one of the following for a DS revamp (though I honestly don't think it needs revamping).

1) Chris Carter - He does 'creepy' well, and obviously can write romantic tension. Not sure how comfy he'd be with DS's huge cast, though.

2) Joss Whedon - Excellent at character and dialogue, and I've gotten some darned good scares from "Buffy", too. He'd have to tone down his great sense of humor for this show, though. DS wasn't known for it's laughfests.

3) J.J. Abrams - He does romantic triangles well and has achieved some truly creepy moments in Lost. And he's proven to be successful at revamping classic TV shows for the big screen (the new ST wasn't perfect by a long shot, but it was definitely watchable). The jury might yet be out on his ability to craft a big screen melodrama, though.

Feel free to discuss.

[catlover79]

Ooooh, Joss Whedon is a good choice, too. I wouldn't mind seeing him at the helm. Could you imagine Nathan Fillion as Quentin Collins?

[MickeyMac]

Yet another reason for me not to go to the movies.


Hollywood can kiss my ass!!!!

[Retro4Life]

Originally Posted by catlover79

Ooooh, Joss Whedon is a good choice, too. I wouldn't mind seeing him at the helm. Could you imagine Nathan Fillion as Quentin Collins?

That would be neat casting.

[JamesG]

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

But Burton burned me badly on "Batman" and because of that I worry about Barnabas and his clan in his hands.

What didn't you like about Burton's Batman? Just wondering...

Do you also mean to include Batman Returns or just Batman?


I have seen all of Burton's directed features and the only one that i really did not care for was his remake of Planet of the Apes. Nothing stood out in it at all and it was totally unnecessary.

[Retro4Life]

Originally Posted by JamesG

What didn't you like about Burton's Batman? Just wondering...

Do you also mean to include Batman Returns or just Batman?


I have seen all of Burton's directed features and the only one that i really did not care for was his remake of Planet of the Apes. Nothing stood out in it at all and it was totally unnecessary.

Where to begin?

First of all, the casting. If I were making a casting call for the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman, I would have shied away from a hyper, balding, thin, comedic actor. Nothing against Keaton, who I've enjoyed in other things, but I absolutely never believed for one second that he was Batman. His scene with the Joker where he raised the fireplace poker in a fit of anger honestly had me laughing; it was so absurd to consider him a threat.

Nicholson is a favorite, but he completely chewed the scenery as the Joker. He had some good lines and he's always fun to watch, but honestly, he overshadowed the hero and that's never good.

Thirdly, Batman does not kill, as he did wantonly in "Batman".

Changing the origin story (having the Joker kill Batman's parents) is also tantamount to blasphemy for a comics' fan. It's like they decided the REAL origin story just wasn't compelling enough and needed to change it so that casual fans wouldn't be confused by two villains. If it ain't broke, why fix it, and in this case, it certainly wasn't broke.

These last two blunders made me wonder if Burton really understood the character at all. And it didn't make me respect the rest of the film much, either.

The romance angle was also very weak and unbelievable, and seemed to be shoehorned in just for the sake of itself.

For me, the seminal Batman origin movie is "Batman Begins". Much better casting, much closer adherence to the true and effective comics story, and a very faithful portrayal of the character's essence.

Your mileage, may of course, vary.

[Retro4Life]

P.S. I honestly did not see "Batman Returns".

If it helps, I did enjoy "Batman Forever" quite a bit more, and thought the casting of Kilmer was particularly good.

[Retro4Life]

Originally Posted by catlover79

Ooooh, Joss Whedon is a good choice, too. I wouldn't mind seeing him at the helm. Could you imagine Nathan Fillion as Quentin Collins?

As long as we're talking casting (and since we're dreaming here, we might as well dream big; this isn't an endorsement of the revamp, just wishful thinking), how would you feel about the following?

Barnabas - Gary Oldman
Elizabeth Stoddard Collins - Lynda Carter

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

As long as we're talking casting (and since we're dreaming here, we might as well dream big; this isn't an endorsement of the revamp, just wishful thinking), how would you feel about the following?

Barnabas - Gary Oldman
Elizabeth Stoddard Collins - Lynda Carter

Interesting - how about Renee Zellweger as Angelique?

[Retro4Life]

Originally Posted by catlover79

Interesting - how about Renee Zellweger as Angelique?

Hmm. I've always seen Zellweger as a bit "softer" than Angelique, but it might actually work. She'd probably welcome something to combat her overly "cutesy" image.

Maybe Terry O'Quinn as Professor Stokes?