Can Johnny Depp defy the curse of the vampires at the Oscars?
Is Johnny Depp driving a stake through his hope to win an Oscar someday? The three-time loser ("Sweeney Todd," "Finding Neverland," "Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl") and Oscarless director Tim Burton are aiming to bring cult drama "Dark Shadows" back from the dead.
Don't they know that vampire tales are cursed in Hollywood? Oscar voters didn't nominate Bela Lugosi for "Dracula" and Emmy voters recently — and shockingly — snubbed Anna Paquin in "True Blood" just as they had Sarah Michele Gellar in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
Maybe Johnny has false hope because he starred in "Ed Wood" with Martin Landau, who won the Oscar for best supporting actor while stumbling around on screen in a vampire cape. Memo to Johnny: Landau wasn't pretending to be a real vampire as you'll do when assuming the role of 175-year-old blood-sucker Barnabas Collins. Landau played Bela Lugosi in later years as a pathetic Hollywood has-been hooked on morphine.
But maybe "Dark Shadows" could break the curse of the vampires at showbiz awards, after all. Joan Bennett got nominated for her performance as a grande matriarch in the daytime TV soap version in 1968. She lost, but she got nominated!
Johnny Depp watched the highly addictive Gothic soap at home as a kid, "I was obsessed with Barnabas Collins," he admits. "I have photographs of me holding Barnabas Collins posters when I was five or six."
Depp and Burton are busy now gearing up to unveil "Alice in Wonderland," but Burton assures the L.A. Times that they'll team up for a feature film version of "Dark Shadows" in the future.
"That's the plan," Burton says. "There was something very weird about that, it had the weirdest vibe to it. I'm sort of intrigued about that vibe."
Photos: DreamWorks ("Sweeney Todd"), ABC ("Dark Shadows"), Touchstone Pictures ("Ed Wood")
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Mr. Johnny Depp is an amazing "extraodionaire" Actor his talents are just boundless. Can't wait to see his newest movie works in Tim BURTON's "Alice In Wonderland" in 2010 as the Mad Hatter & his role as the haunting-chillbite Vampire Barnabas Collins in Dark Shadows due out 2011. As for Oscars well personally to me JOHNNY DEPP numerous times been archieved that platform looong ago & so has TIM BURTON. Peace!
Posted by: Sharon Lynn | September 08, 2009 at 06:27 PM
Award shows should beg him to show up just so people will watch. He is outstanding in everything he plays.
Posted by: Carol | September 01, 2009 at 05:23 PM
I don't think it matters about the awards. sheesh. They are both talented men and they don't need awards to show that they have that!
Posted by: tom | August 28, 2009 at 12:16 AM
I was sure JD would have been nominated for Sweeney Todd but again he was ignored. The only reason Heath won is because he died and this is the only way JD is going to win. If Heath was still alive they would have ignored him too. RIP Heath
Posted by: Carol | August 26, 2009 at 09:08 AM
the less oscars, the better the movie.
Posted by: sara | August 25, 2009 at 04:02 AM
DLH's comment sums it up precisely. Personally, I think he should have won for Sweeney Todd - what a performance!
Posted by: clw | August 22, 2009 at 04:13 AM
Oh come on! who cares about a stupid award! Mr.Burton and Mr.Depp make great things! and they dont need a freaking awatd to be "important" or to know they made a good Job! this is the stupidiest article ever!
Posted by: Ferslyth | August 21, 2009 at 06:49 PM
I have to agree with all the above comments. Johnny probably would rather NOT win an Oscar as he hates to speak in front of people. He is a wonderful actor and human being and I am not just saying that because he is the SEXIEST man alive.....hmmmm well maybe!!!!!
Posted by: Karen | August 21, 2009 at 12:11 PM
Golly! Does it matter to anyone that Bela Lugosi never won an Oscar? Or that Jonathon Frid never won an Emmy? No Oscar for Christopher Lee? Gee!
Did the lack of Emmy ever cripple Dark Shadows, which has been made into two movies, a reboot TV show, and an upcoming movie (what soap opera ever did that?)? Did the lack of an Emmy win ever cripple Buffy the Vampire Slayer at any time in its 144 episodes? Its spin-offs?
Seriously, Alfred Hitchcock never won an Oscar either. So with this kind of success, who cares about an Oscar or Emmy? Let those awards go to whatever less successful show did win, whatever show that was.
Posted by: Feo Amante | August 20, 2009 at 01:14 PM
You obviously know nothing about Mr. Depp if you think he gives a darn about awards, dear. Mr. Depp exceeds well beyond Hollywood to a level of talent few will ever understand. Oscars be damned.
Posted by: Lora | August 19, 2009 at 08:49 AM
...and as he has said -on Letterman - he doesn''t see his own films ...
the art is in the doing...
Posted by: Gus | August 18, 2009 at 08:49 PM
Johnny cares more about making this movie than getting an Oscar! He does what he wants to do. BTW, none of the roles he has been nominated for have been Oscar bait. Not many actors can do that. It doesn't matter whether or not he wins. He will always be one of the greatest actors.
Posted by: sammy | August 18, 2009 at 06:08 PM
I think Oscar "losers" are all the actors who are not nominated, not the top 5 of the year.
Posted by: Marie | August 18, 2009 at 01:41 PM
Like everyone has all ready said Mr. Depp could care less about doing a role to win an Oscar. He does what he does because he wants to do the role and bring joy to his admirers and for no other reason. Find something else to write about.
Posted by: BillieB | August 18, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Stupid, pointless article.
Posted by: Bobby | August 18, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Johnny's "hope" to win an Oscar? He's made it pretty clear over the years that he doesn't give a damn about awards, and if or when that smarmy institution decides to embrace him I'll feel more like taking a shower than rejoicing.
Posted by: yeahright | August 18, 2009 at 11:29 AM
Have to agree with every comment above - Johnny is an artist in many forms and his choices and work far transcends the business of Hollywood - we look forward to many more collaborations of Johnny and Tim - keep em coming!!!!
Posted by: Valerie | August 18, 2009 at 09:38 AM
There is a reason why Johnny Depp is frequently called one of the most humble actors in the business, one of the nicest guys you'd ever meet, and the most non-egotistical actor working today. He isn't motivated by fame or awards in his career choices. He enjoys taking roles that are something he's never done before, that will challenge him and surprise his audience. I seriously doubt that Tim Burton is motivated by Oscars either. Johnny and Tim are best friends for a reason, and that involves understanding each other, sharing the same viewpoints and values, and not taking life (or awards) too seriously.
Posted by: DLH | August 18, 2009 at 06:46 AM
Johnny Depp does not care about the silly Oscars! He adored the TV show Dark Shadows as a child. Its a dream of his to play Barnabas! If an actor is in the biz just to get an Oscar,then sadly they will not last. That being said WTF did they give Daniel Day Lewis ANOTHER Oscar,and over look JD yet AGAIN! Also give Leo Dicaprio an Oscar already!
Posted by: Matt | August 18, 2009 at 03:17 AM
Anyone who knows Johnny Depp, knows he doesn't care whether he wins an Oscar. He has said many times, while it's an honor to be nominated, he doesn't need a statue on his mantel to know he did a good job. He selects his roles based on what he wants to do, not what will earn him an award.
Posted by: smb | August 17, 2009 at 03:52 PM