Johnny Depp Opens Up About the Role He’s Dreamed of Since He Was a Child

Johnny Depp once opened up about one of his most long-held dreams: playing Barnabas Collins in the 2012 film Dark Shadows. The movie, directed by Tim Burton, marked another collaboration between the two creative icons, who have worked together on several films over the years.

In a conversation with Collider, Burton revealed that the project had been discussed for years. “We’ve talked about it for many years, but this was the first project that I ever remember Johnny saying that he’d wanted to play this ever since he was a little boy,” Burton said.

Depp confirmed this, saying he had admired the character since he was “just a wee tyke.”

Dark Shadows is a Gothic comedy-horror film based on the 1960s television soap opera of the same name. Depp stars as Barnabas Collins, a vampire navigating the 1970s world after being trapped for centuries.

The film also features Michelle Pfeiffer, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Chloë Grace Moretz, Helena Bonham Carter, and Bella Heathcote. Notably, Christopher Lee appears in a small role, marking his 200th film and final collaboration with Burton. Jonathan Frid, the original actor who played Barnabas, made a cameo before his death, and producer Richard D. Zanuck passed away shortly after the film’s release.

The movie debuted in May 2012 in North America. While it struggled at the U.S. box office, international audiences responded more positively. Critics gave mixed reviews, praising the visuals and humor but criticizing the story’s lack of focus and character depth.

On Rotten Tomatoes, Dark Shadows holds a 35% approval rating, with the consensus noting that “the visuals are top notch but Tim Burton never finds a consistent rhythm, mixing campy jokes and gothic spookiness with less success than other Johnny Depp collaborations.” Metacritic scored it 55 out of 100, and CinemaScore audiences rated it a B−.

Some critics felt the film’s plot was inconsistent, and that the blending of horror, comedy, and drama didn’t always work.

Others argued that Burton and Depp’s repeated collaborations were becoming stale. However, many reviewers praised the movie’s visual style and 1970s aesthetic. Depp’s performance as Barnabas, in particular, was highlighted for its humor and the character’s reaction to modern life, while Pfeiffer’s work also received acclaim.

Roger Ebert gave the film two-and-a-half stars, noting that “Much of the amusement comes from Depp’s reactions to 1970s pop culture,” though he felt the movie lost momentum. Manohla Dargis of The New York Times called it “visually sumptuous and surprisingly effervescent,” despite not being Burton’s most fully realized work.

Peter Travers from Rolling Stone described it as a “spectacularly gorgeous heap” that struggled to maintain its initial energy. Ann Hornaday of The Washington Post criticized the film’s tone and focus, giving it just one-and-a-half stars.

Despite the mixed reception, Dark Shadows remains a memorable entry in the Burton-Depp partnership, and for Depp, it represented the fulfillment of a childhood dream to bring Barnabas Collins to life.

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