Dark Shadows Confirmed as Tim Burton’s Next Film

We finally have a solid confirmation regarding Tim Burton’s adaptation of the TV soap, Dark Shadows. Over at SciFi Wire they spoke to producer Graham King who pretty much confirmed the film’s production start date and Johnny Depp‘s casting. He also revealed what role the actor will play and gave a much needed script update.

King stated that after Burton wraps post production on next year’s Alice in Wonderland, they’ll begin shooting Dark Shadows. The producer has been hard at work prepping the film so when Burton and Depp become available they can jump right into work. Depp will star as Barnabas Collins the main character from the defunct series, which was originally played by Jonathan Frid.

As for the script’s progress, Burton has been heavily involved with its development even while working on Alice.

“We’ve been given a script. John August wrote the first screenplay. We’re making some changes, but the film’s going to be in production, as I say, September or October of next year.”

Dark Shadows was a Gothic themed soap opera that ran on ABC from 1966 to 1971. It reappeared briefly in the early nineties on NBC as a weekly prime time series, but the new format didn’t stick and neither did the viewers. The show was one of a kind and unlike other soaps concentrated on supernatural storylines as well as the usual long lost twin and baby switch.

What do you think of Burton and Depp gearing up for Dark Shadows?