Burton Seeing Shadows: According to Get Smart's director, Peter Segal, Tim Burton will direct Dark Shadows, based on the sixties soap opera about vampires, monsters, zombies, and werewolves. Segal also says that John August (who's writing Shazam for him to direct) is writing the screenplay. Although the project is set up at Johnny Depp's company, there's no official confirmation that he'll be starring as Barnabus Collins, because it's not like the guy enjoys playing Gothic characters in Tim Burton movies. [IESB]

Howard Will Be Back: Bryce Dallas Howard is in negotiations to play Kate Conner in Terminator 4 opposite Christian Bale. She replaces Charlotte Gainsbourg, who had to bail owing to schedule conflicts. In response, Skynet has ordered that all T-800 model terminators be retrofitted with freckle detectors. [HR]

Molina Packs for Persia: Alfred Molina has joined Jake Gyllenhaal and Ben Kingsley in Disney's Prince of Persia. Molina will play Sheik Amar, friend and mentor to the prince. Get it together, Actual Middle Eastern Actors: You're zero for three with this cast! [Variety]

Helms Shovels it: Ed Helms is staging a box-office blitzkrieg. First up, he joins Mark and Michael Polish's indie comedy Manure alongside Billy Bob Thornton. He'll play a womanizing manure salesman in the sixties American heartland. Helms will also appear in Night at the Museum II, playing one of Ben Stiller's co-workers. And we're still taking bets he'll be starring in his own Office spinoff, but shhhhh — that's neither here nor there. [Variety]

Zide Wants Braaaaaaains: Warren Zide (American Pie) will produce The Harvard Zombie Massacre, a comedy from Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit, wherein "America's most brilliant minds fend off America's most brilliant zombies." It's just like Shawn of the Dead, except you'll be cheering for the zombies! [Variety]