Michelle Pfeiffer to star in Dark Shadows

Michelle Pfeiffer is in talks to star in 'Dark Shadows' alongside Johnny Depp.

The 52-year-old actress is reportedly director Tim Burton's first choice to play Elizabeth Collins Stoddard - the family matriarch who has become a recluse in her mansion since the disappearance of her husband 10 years before - in the vampire project.

Johnny will play a vampire named Barnabas Collins, who lives in Maine, and is searching for a lost love while Oscar nominee Helena Bonham Carter is to play Dr .Julia Hoffman - a specialist in both psychology and rare blood diseases - who helps Barnabas cure his thirst for blood.

Eva Green, Jackie Earle Hayley and Bella Heathcote have already signed up for the movie - adapted from a TV soap opera - which is set to start shooting in April.

Richard Zanuck, Christi Dembrowski and Graham King are to produce the film, which has been written by Seth Grahame-Smith and John August.

If Michelle does take on the role in 'Dark Shadows' it will reunite her with director Tim for the first time since 1992's 'Batman', in which she played Catwoman.