According to Deadline, director Tim Burton, set for Warner Bros. ‘Dark Shadows’, is turning to the familiar for his leading ladies. The director is in talks with actresses Michelle Pfeiffer, whom Burton directed as “Catwoman” in ‘Batman Returns’, and his wife Helena Bonham Carter whom he directed in ‘Alice In Wonderland’ and ‘Sweeney Todd’.

Pfeiffer is up for the role of the reclusive family matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard. While Carter is considering the role of Dr. Julia Hoffman. The role of Hoffman is a specialist in psychology and rare blood disorders who moves into Collinwood and initially is a threat to the vampire Barnabas. However, she eventually becomes his ally who might be able to cure him of his thirst for blood.

Bond girl Eva Green (‘The Golden Compass’, ‘Camelot’) is said to be negotiating to play the role of the powerful witch Angelique, while Johnny Depp (‘Alice In Wonderland’, ‘Corpse Bride’) will play vampire Barnabas Collins.

Additionally, actor Jackie Earle Haley (‘Human Target’, ‘Watchmen’) is being considered for the part of con artist Willie Loomis and Bella Heathcoate (‘Now’) for the part of governess Victoria Winters.

The original television series, which ran from 1966-1971, was a gothic soap opera about the wealthy Collins family of Collinsport, Maine and the strange happenings going on at their estate.