IESB has the scoop that the most logical choice in the world for a gothic horror that will more-likely-than-not star Johnny Depp will be directing the film: Tim Burton. What's more, they have the double-scoop that John August (who worked with Burton on "Big Fish", "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Corpse Bride") will be penning the screenplay.

"Dark Shadows" is based on the incredibly prolific 60's soap opera that told of an enormous mansion and delved into all manner of supernatural elements, the most famous of which was vampire Barnabus Collins (who didn't actually appear until over 200 episodes into the series).

Burton, in the meantime, is working on a motion-capture version of "Alice in Wonderland" and a stop-motion remake of his earlier short film, "Frankenweenie". The status of his "Ripley's Believe It Or Not" project is still up in the air at the moment, but courted-star Jim Carrey said recently that they were still discussing it.

Though his involvement as an actor is still not confirmed, Depp would most likely tackle "Dark Shadows" after finishing up Mira Nair's "Shantaram". (I'd love to suggest that it would be after shooting "The Rum Diary", but I'm beginning to think that one's never going to happen.) He'll appear next on-screen in the already-wrapped "Public Enemies" and "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus".

My guess would be that production will begin on "Dark Shadows" the very instant Depp and Burton find a matching hole in their schedules. Until then, try to enjoy the daylight.

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