Tim Burton's upcoming "Dark Shadows" movie, with Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Johnny Depp won't be giving himself much of a break once he hangs up his Jack Sparrow costume.

The 47-year-old Sweeney Todd heartthrob—who's currently filming Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (that is, when he isn't busy giving British schoolchildren the thrill of a lifetime)—will reportedly begin filming his next project, a big-screen adaptation of the vampire soap opera Dark Shadows, in February.

As previously reported, Depp will take up the role of 175-year-old vampire Barnabas Collins, who in the original series found himself living in Collinwood, Maine, with his extended family after being sealed in his coffin by his father since 1795. Helming the movie will be longtime Depp collaborator Tim Burton, who's worked with the actor on the aforementioned Sweeney Todd, Alice in Wonderland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Edward Scissorhands.

Depp has said of the project,

"Tim and I have tossed the idea for Dark Shadows over the years. It was a TV program in the States in the late 60s and early 70s that I remember watching as a kid. I was obsessed with this character, Barnabas Collins, who was a vampire. I came to find out many years later that when he was a kid, Tim ran home like I did to watch that Gothic soap opera. It was a very strange thing back then.We looked at ways to go, story-wise. We've started to come up with something interesting."

http://www.celebuzz.com/johnny-depps-dark-shadows-movie-s261361/

[CBGLuthier]

1. Oh please be a joke, oh please be a joke

That's what I was thinking as I opened this.

Will Tim Burton ever in his sad life have an ORIGINAL idea?

Sweeney Todd, Willie Wonka, Alice in Wonderland, and half the damned dirty Planet of the Apes would like to know.

[Biker13]

2. Wow!

I hadn't heard of this one! I LOVED "Dark Shadows"!

Thanks for the heads up! I can't wait!

Biker's Old Lady

[jobycom]

3. Hm. Tim Burton is one of the most original, best directors in Hollywood EXCEPT

when he's working with Johnny Depp. Although Ed Wood was brilliant. And Depp is a very good actor, but his worst performances lately have come in Tim Burton films. I think someone should file a restraining order to keep those two apart.

But of course I will see it. Come on, it's Burton, Depp, and Barnabas Collins!! Resistance is futile.

[XemaSab]

4. Tim Burton's Secret Formula

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFzLRP8e4vE