Johnny Depp was a huge fan of Dark Shadows (1966) when he was a child. When Warner Brothers acquired the rights to it from the estate of show creator Dan Curtis, they brought the property to Depp, who then persuaded Tim Burton that this would be an ideal project for them.
When Barnabas Collins wanted to throw a "happening", Carolyn Stoddard suggested inviting Alice Cooper. Barnabas then replied, "I seem to recall of such a name in my youth." Alice Cooper took his stage name from a sixteenth century girl who had been accused of witchcraft.
When Michelle Pfeiffer heard about an adaptation of Dark Shadows (1966), she called up Tim Burton to ask him for a part in the movie, something she rarely does.
Alice Cooper was transformed into a younger version of himself through careful use of make-up and lighting. No CGI was involved.
Four members of the original cast of Dark Shadows (1966) appear in the film. When arriving as guests to the ball, they are (from left to right) Lara Parker (Angelique Bouchard), Jonathan Frid (Barnabas Collins), David Selby (Quentin Collins) and Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans/Josette). When Alice Cooper begins his second number, Elizabeth is seen talking with Scott, Selby and Parker. Selby's role as an extra has something in common with his original role on Dark Shadows, in that for an entire season his character (an evil ghost in control of the children) had no lines whatsoever.
Tim Burton: [Jack Skellington] Jack's face appears on the scarecrow amongst the pumpkins at the manor when Willie first meets Barnabas.