Johnny Depp is not afraid to take on eclectic roles and when he’s teamed up with director Tim Burton, you never know what to expect. Depp has been a mad scientist’s creation, the host of a wild tea party, a homicidal barber and now…a vampire?

Burton and Depp have teamed up once again for a big screen adaptation of the 1960’s soap opera ‘Dark Shadows.’ Depp plays the lead role of Barnabas Collins who becomes a vampire after he breaks the heart of a witch.

While on location in England, photographers were able to get the first pictures of Depp in heavy make-up as the playboy vampire causing some to wonder if this is truly how he is to going to look in the film. But since he is playing a vampire, maybe all the makeup is to protect him so he doesn’t burn up while in the sun? You can decide. His lovely companion is actress Bella Heathcote who plays Victoria Winters.

The screen play of ‘Dark Shadows was written by Seth Brahame-Smith who is better known for his novels ‘Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter’ and ‘Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’. Also working on the movie is composer Danny Elfman whose style of music seems to go hand in hand with Tim Burton’s movie style. In the past, Burton has said that this adaptation would be a funny, campy take on the soap opera so that may explain Depp’s look. What do you think?

‘Dark Shadows’ is set to be released in May 2012 and stars  Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter, Michelle Pfeiffer, Eva Green, Chloe Moretz and Jackie Earle Haley.