Jackie Earle Haley is in talks to star in Tim Burton's upcoming horror project Dark Shadows, with newcomer Bella Heathcote circling a role as well.

Jackie Earle Haley will play Willie Loomis if he signs on, which was a key part in the original Dark Shadows soap opera, which aired from 1966 to 1971. Loomis is a small-time con artist who, upon discovering a portrait of Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) wearing several luxurious jewels, decides to break into his coffin and rob him. Instead, he wakes the vampire from his slumber and is enslaved. Bella Heathcoate is up for the role of Victoria Winters, the young keeper of the Collins estate.

Tim Burton is directing Dark Shadows from a screenplay by Seth Grahame-Smith and John August. We reported back in November that Dark Shadows will start shooting in April.