Johnny Depp In 'Dark Shadows' Set Pics (PHOTOS)

HIstorically, the teaming of Johnny Depp and ostentatious costuming has made for major success.

"Edward Scissorhands," his creepily sweet mad scientist creation, is now a cult classic. His Willy Wonka character helped "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" earn $474 million, while his four "Pirates of the Caribbean" films have earned nearly $3 billion and "Alice in Wonderland" topped a billion by itself.

This fall, Depp is dropping the makeup for "The Rum Diary," an adaptation of his friend Hunter S. Thompson's novel, but have no fear: freaky Depp is quickly coming back.

Amongst his plethora of upcoming projects is a big screen remake/adaptation of the late 60s/early 70s TV show "Dark Shadows," which will be directed by his frequent (and freaky) collaborator, Tim Burton. He'll play vampire Barnabas Collins, who helped make the show wildly popular and win its daytime TV slot often during its run, which ended in 1971.

Depp was captured on the set of the film by photographers, and early glimpses show that he's really going for the gold -- and white makeup -- in this one.

PHOTOS:

Comments

[shelby73]

10:09 AM on 10/27/2011

Well, Barnabas would never be outside in the sunlight, so maybe he's on his way to the set of Collinswood (was that the name of the house?) which was always dark and gloomy, and the makeup won't look so garish.

[PhoenixProg]

11:33 PM on 10/26/2011

Tim Burton is interpreting Barnabas Collins? Say it isn't so.

[ludichris212]

12:48 PM on 10/04/2011

Yay, another vampire movie...

[wyndchas78]

07:56 PM on 10/04/2011

But this is not the moody and somewhat creepy stalker I sparkle in the daylight vampire movie. Have you seen Dark Shadows? It's classic.

[ludichris212]

08:14 PM on 10/04/2011

Yes, I saw reruns in the 70's when I was a kid, so I really didn't catch the appeal of it. It was soap opera after all.

I do like when Depp and Tim Burton collaborate, but the vampire genre is way over-saturated to me. Studios are over-reaching and diluting the appeal of vampires, which they have been for a long time. It's kind of like serial killer movies in the 90's onward...when do you stop and come up with something frightening but original?

[Daniel Bollen]

11:52 AM on 10/04/2011

The makeup is way too much, Barnabus Collin's always tried to blend in and this abnormally white pasty face does not do the original character and actor justice. I was dying to see the movie now it just might be out of curiosity.

[bonschwein]

10:07 AM on 10/04/2011

As an avid watcher of the original 'Dark Shadows' in the 60's, I can't imagine anyone trying to re-create the ambiance of that show - and true, Barnabas Collins wasn't made up like a circus clown. I dare say Depp looks like Batman's
Penguin character instead!

[Twila Sharp]

08:16 PM on 09/19/2011

This is "The First Barnabas Collins":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-_HOfCL040

[sjmir]

01:59 PM on 09/18/2011

Loved Dark Shadows as a kid..Would come home everyday from school at watch..4:00 pm Monday through Friday..

[shiny73]

05:20 PM on 09/15/2011

It's not Madonna??

[BVictor1]

03:28 PM on 09/15/2011

It's like Michael Jackson having a kid with The Joker.

[gneep]

12:55 PM on 09/15/2011

guess who.....as if anyone had to guess.

[MsMsBurning]

08:17 AM on 09/15/2011

Yeah I'm gonna pass on this one...

[andrewsongs]

12:12 AM on 09/15/2011

Dark Shadows was a unique show, a Gothic Soap Opera which introduced complex characters and introduced the supernatural to daytime television. The vampire Barnabas Collins was a particularly fascinating character, starting out an unleashed monster and evolving into the actual protagonist of the series. The shifting of the audience's initial loathing of Barnabas into believing him as the sympathetic hero is the true challenge of any remake of Dark Shadows. Burton and Depp have suggested that they respect the spirit of the original so I'd suggest reserving judgement until the film comes out.

In the spirit of the original character of Barnabas, I wrote a song called "Barnabas Collins". You can hear it in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jXQ652Q7LM

[wanda200]

10:55 PM on 09/14/2011

Yeah,now everybody gonna start to criticize him for only one picture,only one!..for all those that don't like what they see here,go home and watch your old Dark Shadows and leave him alone.And I don't know why the people are surprised ? This is not the first time we see Johnny with lot of make up..what is the big deal? He is a good actor and I'm gonna see it,I don't care what the people say.

[writestuffla]

08:22 PM on 09/14/2011

This digests me to no end. Dark Shadows was an TV institution and I for one am getting mighty tired of the Burton/Depp pairing turning everything into a creepiest. Johnny, you're overexposed. Take a powder.

[JhNyc]

02:01 AM on 09/15/2011

Burton/Depp can't require you to see any of their films, so hopefully you won't continue to be 'digested' (though that image could serve as inspiration for another of their movies).

[shawnepink]

09:32 AM on 09/15/2011

good one

[catboycolo]

11:12 AM on 09/15/2011

This is their niche, but they can't all be crackerjack....

[Lin Shukla]

07:52 PM on 09/14/2011

I was a fan of the TV Barnabas, and the one (Jonathan Frid) was a very sexy older/middle-aged gentleman. I was really hoping for similar from Depp. Looks to me like he's afraid of showing any age. That's very unfortunate. He could have been a very sexy Barnabas; instead, it looks like another Burton 'cartoon'. Didn't work with 'Alice'. I'm expecting as bad with this. Very, very, very sad.

[wanda200]

07:48 PM on 09/15/2011

Didn't work with Alice?..really? Alice made more than $1000 millions around the world and you say that?..come on! I hope you are so wrong about his new version..