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I'm Gonna Have a Drink and Walk Around

By Cindy Davis | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (14)

haley.jpg

It’s a Groundhog Day miracle, y’all.

Tim Burton and Johnny Depp have been pulling together the pieces for the upcoming film adaptation of that old campy, vampy soap opera, “Dark Shadows.” Now just because your best friend and domestic partner are both actors, doesn’t mean you have to cast them in every single film you make — but indeed, Tim Burton loves his frequent collaborators. So while we wait for news that She-Who-Is-Already-Dressed-And-Coiffed-For-The-Part is going to play matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, we can take solace in this latest news that Burton is capable of thinking outside his dark, dreary and a little too well-used casting box.

Deadline reports that Jackie Earle Haley (“Human Target,” A Nightmare on Elm Street — Hey, how cool is that? JD was in the original.) is up for the role of Willie Loomis, a con man and drifter who takes up residence at Collinwood estate. Loomis is the character who inadvertently releases vampire, Barnabas Collins (Depp) and is forced into evil servitude. Haley has mastered the art of the bad guy with a soul (see Little Children, Watchmen) and I’d love to see him take this role.

Meanwhile, Australian actress Bella Heathcoate (“Neighbors”) is in discussions to play governess and Collins’ romantic interest, Victoria Winters.

While I’m hoping for Dark Shadows to keep a bit of the original camp, it would be good to see Burton go seriously dark and dangerous (as opposed to silly or goofy) and I think Haley would be an excellent turn in that direction. It will be interesting to see where the film goes in terms of storyline. The original had elements of Frankenstein and time travel, ghosts — heck, even a parallel universe. Maybe he could send Helena there.









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Comments

Yay for the Concrete Blonde lyric!

My favorite band ever.

And yay for Jackie Earl Haley. I always liked the guy from his "Bad News Bears" and "Breaking Away" days and thought he was fantastic as Chris Peterson's smarmy, faux-successful cousin in that one episode of "Get A Life".

I'm happy to see him get his career back on track, especially since he was such a kick-ass Rorschach.

Look how positive I am. Emulate, bitches.

Posted by: Forbiddendonut at February 3, 2011 5:32 PM

Jackie Earl Haley is fantastic; he was unbelievably great in "Breaking Away." I'm so happy to see him have a career in acting again.

Posted by: Edith at February 3, 2011 5:51 PM

Burton did such a great job without Johnny or Helena in a major role in Big Fish, I'm sure he can have continued success with strong actors such as Haley. I like the movies he has done with Depp and Carter, but if he doesn't branch out more often his films are going to get stale and predictable.

Posted by: Viking at February 3, 2011 5:56 PM

I want to start camping out (in both senses) for tickets.
HBC as Doctor Julia Hoffman.
It's inevitable and natural,like Rachel McAdams as Lois Lane.

Posted by: thecurious at February 3, 2011 7:04 PM

but if he doesn't branch out more often his films are going to get stale and predictable.

They have been. For the past decade or so.

Anyway. After Little Children, I don't think I can ever look at Jackie Earle Haley in the same way again. Just way, way too creepy.

Posted by: Figgy at February 3, 2011 11:07 PM

Helena was in Big Fish. And it was a pretty major role, in my estimation. As far as the roles went.

Posted by: Maryscott O'Connor at February 3, 2011 11:33 PM

Jackie Earle Haley is the bees knees in Human Target - he's technically one of the good guys but is always working in a what might be termed a 'morally grey area'.

Human Target is a guilty pleasure of mine. True, it's a little dumb sometimes, but the 3 leads work so well together.

Posted by: Simon at February 4, 2011 2:30 AM

If Depp is already in the movie, and Bonham Carter is certain to be cast in it sooner or later, then how exactly has Burton stepped "outside his casting box"? Those two can't play every role.

Posted by: Todd at February 4, 2011 9:32 AM

Tim Burton is the world's greatest Art Director, but I 'll ve damned if I can understand why people think he has the bona fides to write or direct. A magnificent and unique aesthetic does not a director make.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at February 4, 2011 10:24 AM

Oh, good news on that. Sorry he didn't step further outside the box and leave off his crutches regular actors, as well.

Posted by: Reba at February 4, 2011 11:10 AM

I second the love for Concrete Blonde, my favorite band.

I also love the original Dark Shadows, so hearing about the casting JEH gives me hope that this may turn out OK.

Posted by: CptCrckpot at February 4, 2011 12:17 PM

It's not just cool; Johnny Depp and Jackie Earle Hayley are friends, and Johnny Depp gave JEH a ride to audition for Nightmare On Elm Street, the original.

JEH didn't get the part but the casting director liked Depp...the rest is history.

Posted by: Nadine at February 4, 2011 12:55 PM

I just finished a Human Target-marathon, and there he is, my new personal Guerrero, looking at me/us from a Pajiba picture.

Coincidence?

I love him. I am scared shitless by his eyes and his acting (especially in Little Children... I'll need another decade to actually stomach that one), but I love him. And I like Tim Burton, and his movies. And Johnny Depp, and his acting. Hell, this post is full of things I like quite a lot. Time to retire to the Dominican Republic while I am this content, eh.

Posted by: Rooks at February 4, 2011 4:23 PM

No, Tim Burton is incapable of not camping up his shit.

Posted by: Protoguy at February 5, 2011 5:23 PM