John August, writer of BIG FISH, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY and CORPSE BRIDE, is in talks to pen DreamWorks' adaptation of the strategy game MONSTERPOCALYPSE, reports HEAT VISION. Tim Burton is in talks to direct.

Matt Wilson, who created MONSTERPOCALYPSE, will co-produce. The game pits monsters, aliens, robots and insects against each other in a cityscape. Desperado publishes a line of comics based on the game's characters.

August and Burton have several other projects in development — an adaptation of the fantasy soap DARK SHADOWS at Warner Bros. and a feature version of Burton's FRANKENWEENIE short at Disney. Depp and producer Graham King have said SHADOWS might follow Depp's work on PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 4, which is filming now. So when Burton would be available for MONSTERPOCALYPSE would be up in the air.