Johnny Depp has confirmed the movie version of 'Dark Shadows' will be "in keeping" with the TV series.

The 'Rango' star is working with director Tim Burton on a big-screen adaptation of the gothic show about vampires, werewolves and zombies, and although it will be updated the film will maintain the feel of the original, with blood-sucker Barnabus Collins made to feel a little more "poetic".

Johnny told Collider.com: "I'm very excited to film it. You know, it's something that Tim and I have talked about for a number of years because we were both fans. As kids, you know, you run home at 3 o'clock in the afternoon to go watch this gothic soap opera on television with vampires and everything.

"So our version, I guess, there's something that's very interesting coming from the screenplay and from the talks that Tim and I have had which is it retains that sort of bizarre distance that everyone has with one another in terms of the characters.

"Maybe Barnabus, in this version, is maybe a little bit more, maybe waxes a little more poetic now and again, you know? But it's definitely in keeping with the original series."

Michelle Pfeiffer was recently revealed to be in talks to star in the project as matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, who becomes a recluse following the disappearance of her husband Barnabus.

Helena Bonham Carter is also believed to be playing a role.