Fresh from running through the classics with a supernatural lance, it is being reported that Seth Grahame-Smith has landed the job of screenwriter for a new draft of Dark Shadows.
Tim Burton will direct this adaptation of the 60s daytime serial starring Johnny Depp as the vampire Barnabas Collins. The film is due to start shooting in January at Warner Bros, and we first heard of this one back in December, so it is good to see this one gathering momentum.
Deadline report that:-
Warner Bros has been trying for several years to get to the starting line on the movie adaptation of the TV series that ran on ABC from 1966-71 and had legions of fans frightened by the moody and atmospheric storyline. Barnabas Collins (played by Jonathan Frid) was the central figure in the groundbreaking supernatural soap. As for Tim Burton’s version, John August was the first writer hired to script the project, based on the Dan Curtis-created characters. Grahame-Smith will be writing a new take under Burton.
Grahame-Smith apparently got Burton’s attention off the back of his bestselling novel, Abe Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Burton and Timur Bekmambetov are looking to produce an adaptation of that book, with Bekmambetov in the frame to direct.
Lionsgate have optioned another of Grahame-Smith’s titles (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies), with David O. Russell (I Heart Huckabees, Three Kings) possibly on board as director and Natalie Portman starring as Elizabeth Bennett. Frankly, any film minded to add bloodthirsty zombies to a corseted costume drama has got to be worth a look.
Looks like Grahame-Smith is going to be one to keep an eye on.
David Roper reports.
