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Johnny Depp Dark Shadows

Updated on October 9, 2012

Johnny Depp Is To Play Barnabas Collins In The Upcoming Dark Shadows Film

Johnny Depp has wanted to play Dark Shadows' 200-year-old vampire, Barnabas Collins, for quite some time. He's finally going to get his chance in Tim Burton's upcoming film version of the 1960s gothic soap opera. Dark Shadows is set to be released in 2012 , with filming primarily done at England's Pinewood Studios. Depp's Sister, Christi Dembrowski, is publishing this film along with Depp himself, Katterli Frauenfelder, Richard D. Zanuck, Derek Frey (all of whom produced Depp films Alice In Wonderland, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street and Charlie And The Chocolate Factory) and Graham King (having produced Depp flims The Rum Diary, Rango and The Tourist). Depp recalls how he would rush home to catch Dark Shadows on TV after school, being an old fan of the show. How will he do in this role that Jonation Frid made such a classic?

Dark Shadows Movie Trailer

A first look at Depp's Barnabus

Enter Fandango's sweepstakes to win a haunted getaway to Maine!

Even the trailer for the Dark Shadows Movie had a highly anticipated premier. This trailer was shown on the Ellen Degeneres show on Thursday, March 15. Starts off like a gothic horror. Then goes very camp.

More Vampires In Depp's Past

Johnny Depp once lived in and owned the former Hollywood Hills home of Bela Lugosi.

Set Photos leaked in September 2011 put both longtime Dark Shadows fans and the general public on edge when they revealed a Johnny Depp in white pancake makeup and funky blue sunglasses looking more like Michael Jackson than Barnabas Collins.


Whilst promoting the release of his October 2011 film, the Rum Diary, MTV questioned Depp about the extreme makeup that had Dark Shadows fans fretting so much. Depp answered that he and Burton wanted the character to look like a vampire.

All of the hullabaloo prompted to Warner Bros. to distribute the first original cast photo from the Dark Shadows film. Authentic looking enough for me!

Alice Cooper Recruited To Dark Shadows - June 26, 2011 - The 100 Club

Johnny Depp managed to give an impromptu performance at London's The 100 Club on June 26, 2011. He accompanied rock star veteran Alice Cooper, playing guitar for 'Eighteen'. Only several days later, it was announced that Alice Cooper will have a cameo role in Dark Shadows.

The Original Barnabas Collins - Jonathan Frid - I'll be with you always..

Green Tea, Vegan Diet

Depp is 'drinking gallons of green tea' and following a vegan diet to slim down for the role of Barnabas Collins.

There are a few roles Depp has played previously that might give a glimpse as to how his Barnabas Collins might turn out. I think the character will have some of the traits from Depp's roles in Sweeney Todd, Sleepy Hollow, The Libertine, Public Enemies and Ed Wood. Have a look at the trailers for these films and see if you agree.

I'm very excited to hear that Depp might be tending towards another Ed Wood in his role as Barnabas Collins,

"As naive as the early, early episodes are, in his approach to Barnabas, Frid was such a striking presence, there's definitely a sliver of him [in the new version.] What I'd like to do with him is maybe stretch him out a bit - in the extreme. Just ever so slightly take him a little further, beyond what may be considered "corny". I've always sort of liked that. The idea that maybe you've got to go through bad acting to get to what may be really bad acting or - something interesting." - Johnny Depp on his upcoming role in Dark Shadows.

"We start [Dark Shadows] in April and I can't wait to sink my teeth in. Bad pun, I know. I can't wait to start and get into that dark mode." - Johnny Depp

It sounds like Depp will style his Barnabas Collins after Frid's interpretation, with a few camp flourishes. What do you think? Should he portray a gothically cool vampire or a corny, campy Barnabus?

Should Johnny Depp portray Barnabus Collins as gothically elegant or corny and campy?

Ruben V. Nepales talked with Johnny Depp about a number of things, including the upcoming Dark Shadows movie, in his interiew of May 12, 2011 Why Johnny Depp Wants A Third Baby. Depp has cut his hair short for the film and gives a little more insight as to how he'll play Barnabas Collins.

"I cut it off for the next one, 'Dark Shadows,'" the actor said when complimented about it (his hair). "The filming is coming up very soon," he added, referring to the London shoot next month of his and Tim Burton's movie take on the vampire TV series that ran from 1966 to 1971.

My approach to Barnabas will be on the flaws and insecurities of a vampire," he revealed. "Having been in a coffin for 200 years, he experiences the absurdity of a world that he's just entered, where macramé owls hanging on a wall or fake fruits on a dish are widely accepted. From where he comes, in the 18th century, it would have been ludicrous. I want to see a vampire who's 200 years old or more, experience television for the first time.It's classic horror vampire-Nosferatu, Lugosi-esque vampire, without the accent."

Johnny Depp has arrived in London to begin filming on Dark Shadows.

The Daily Star, claimed that Johnny Depp Refuses To Stay In 5-Star Hotel In London. They did slightly retract that claim when they reported on Johnny Depp's 700 Pounds In Tips. That article, however, is still harsh. It judges Depp's generosity as "proof he has money to throw away while staying in the UK" and described how Depp allegedly "stunned fans with his wild cash-flashing antics".
The Daily Star's original suggestion was that rather than wanting less, that

"Johnny's very picky. He's also shipping over crates of home-made wine from his vineyards. He's demanded the cellar to be a particular temperature." Also that he's "demanded" a mansion instead of a hotel room. Not only that, but a mansion with a wine cellar. Anyone who knows anything about fine wine will know that storing it requires a specific temperature. Would you call someone picky about demanding their meat be cooked to a certain temperature? Absolutely not. Its the same thing with wine..

Keep in mind that Depp is shipping over his long-time girlfriend and two kids. Thats not really suited to just a hotel room. And yes, he does like his wine. But is a wine cellar that big of an extravagance?

Not long after, the Daily Star was proven to not be accurate. EntertainmentWise published an article about Mr. Depp's large tips at a local pub and how pleased the staff was. Saying how he avoided 4-star restaurants and opted instead for the local pub, they went on to report he left the pub staff a 300 pound tip the first night, then 400 pounds the second night.

And, unlike most celeb big shots, he's not afraid of stepping outside the lap of luxury. Steering clear of four-star hotel restaurants, he decided to hang out at The Thatched Tavern. Oh yeah. That's the local pub.


The Independent Online is also on Mr. Depp's side, stating Big Spending Depp Is A Firm Favourite. I think this one is a no brainer. Shame on the Daily Star!

Do you think Johnny Depp is a prima donna or is the Daily Star unfairly painting him as one?

See results

Thomas McDonell

The 'New Johnny Depp'

Actor Thomas McDonell of Disney's film Prom landed the role of a young Barnabas Collins in the upcoming Dark Shadows Movie. Of course, this was cast side by side with Johnny Depp's portrayal of Barnabas. MTV caught up with McDonell and quizzed him a little on his role as a 'young Johnny Depp'.

When MTV News caught up with McDonnell at the "Prom" junket we tried to pry a few details about the project out of him. And when I say "pry," I mean it. McDonell is a young man of very, very few words. See the video and exchange below for proof.

We're going to do a lot of rehearsals," McDonell said regarding how he's prepping for the role. "But we've got awhile before we do that."

Yes, I said, but we're excited for it.

- "Me too," said McDonell.

How are you preparing to channel Barnabus slash Johnny Depp?

- "Going to work on it when I see him," he mumbled. "I don't know, exactly. I don't want to reveal my process."

Nice. Will you be a part of a flashback? Is your role a part of the beginning of the film?

- "The film takes place in... it spans a long period of time so there's a lot of ways in which they deal with that."

So how meaty is your role?

- "It is a small role, but an interesting one."

Have you been told you look like Johnny Depp before? Is this a fun thing for you?

- "Yeah, that's a part about it. We have to look alike because I play a young him."

Have you met him yet?

- "We're going to meet each other soon."

Infinitum Nihil

Depp's Own Production Company Is Handling Dark Shadows

Johnny Depp's production company Infinitum Nihil (along with Graham King's GK Films and Daryl Zanuck) are producing the 2012 screen version of the 1960s gothic soap opera Dark Shadows.

Sources Cited

You can watch original Dark Shadows episodes on Netflix. Watch instantly on your TV now!

We know that he is the only choice for Barnabas in this movie. He and his sister, Christi Dembrowski, are both producing it. Most of the crew and certainly the director, Tim Burton, frequently work with Depp. Depp is a longtime fan of both the Dark Shadows series as well as Barnabas Collins himself. There is no question of a doubt that Johnny Depp WILL play the part of Barnabas Collins. But do you think he'll do a good job of it?

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