Johnny Depp's Dark Shadows Film

[Greg Cox]

With the exception of rare cases like Gus Van Sant's Psycho, a remake doesn't just take the original teleplay an repeat it verbatim with new actors. There are changes to the characters, story, even the premise - so I wouldn't find them quite comparable.

Funny Games U.S. and the second version of 12 Angry Men are the only two other examples of scripts that were remade verbatim that I can remember. Unless there's a wealth of other examples out there, it's definitely extremely rare that filmed remakes do this.

Maybe also the tv remake of FAIL-SAFE?

 

[Harvey]

I haven't seen that one. Wikipedia seems to suggest that it has been changed from the original version, but that's hardly a defintive explanation given the source. If true, though, that's two Lumet films that have been remade completely using the same script.

 

[KB24]

Doesn't Burton only do macabre and gothic films? IF he has so much on his plate, I think he should sell the rights. Who had them before for the pilot? I don't think its a question of interested, or even adaptation styles. It's probably money as usualy. In theory, if he paid the most for it, Burton should get to the big DS spectacble eventually. That's not necessarily quality.

 

[QuasarVM]

Doesn't Burton only do macabre and gothic films? IF he has so much on his plate, I think he should sell the rights. Who had them before for the pilot? I don't think its a question of interested, or even adaptation styles. It's probably money as usualy. In theory, if he paid the most for it, Burton should get to the big DS spectacble eventually. That's not necessarily quality.

Depp has the rights. He bought them because he was a big fan of DS growing up -- so, he has an emotional and nostalgic reason for wanting to make DS.

So, for that reason, I support him wanting to do it. But if he can't get it done within a reasonable timeframe then yes, I think he should sell the rights...to someone else who is ready to go with the movie.