"Sleepy Hollow," a suspenseful and sweeping tale, is a Paramount Pictures and Mandalay Pictures presentation. The film is directed by Tim Burton and stars Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson and Michael Gambon. Inspired by Washington Irving’s classic story, "Sleepy Hollow" is produced by Scott Rudin and Adam Schroeder and executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola and Larry Franco. The screenplay is by Andrew Kevin Walker and the story is by Kevin Yagher and Andrew Kevin Walker. The film also stars Casper Van Dien, Jeffrey Jones, Richard Griffiths, Ian McDiarmid, Michael Gough, Lisa Marie, Marc Pickering, Steve Waddington and Christopher Walken. Paramount Pictures is part of the entertainment operations of Viacom, Inc.

Set in 1799, "Sleepy Hollow" is based on Washington Irving’s classic tale The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Faithful to the dreamy custom-bound world that Irving paints in his story, the film mixes horror, fantasy and romance and features an extraordinary cast of characters that dabble in the supernatural. In essence, it is perfect material for director Tim Burton.

"I’m a big fan of all the Hammer horror films of the '50’s and '60’s and this script had a lot of classic beautiful horror images," says Burton. "What I liked about the script is that it’s respectful of the original story but takes it into new territory. It also has a great mix of drama and humor. I had known the story of the Headless Horseman mainly from the Disney cartoon. It’s one of the few American horror stories. I don’t know what the power is exactly, but there’s a certain reason why people always remember the Headless Horseman. He’s a great symbol."

Tim Burton is the director of the top-grossing motion pictures "Batman" and "Batman Returns," and one of the producers of "Batman Forever." He also directed and produced the highly acclaimed "Edward Scissorhands," and created and produced the stop-motion animation feature "Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas." Burton’s first feature-length film was "Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure," which he followed with "Beetlejuice." He was a producer of "James and the Giant Peach" and more recently directed the comedies "Ed Wood" and "Mars Attacks!"

In "Sleepy Hollow," Johnny Depp stars as Ichabod Crane, an eccentric and earnest constable with an avant-garde approach to solving crime. Ichabod’s contemporary investigative ways are put to the test when his superiors send him to the small village of Sleepy Hollow to probe a string of murders, allegedly committed by a headless horseman.

"Ichabod is someone who is basically behind the times and ahead of the times," says Burton, "and it’s the contradictory aspects of his character which are always fun and interesting. One of the original images that I had in my mind is a character who lives in his head versus a character with no head, which I always thought was a wonderful symbol."

"Sleepy Hollow" marks Depp’s third film with director Tim Burton. Depp’s compelling performance in the title role of Burton’s "Edward Scissorhands" established him as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after talents and earned him a Best Actor Golden Globe nomination. He was honored with a second Golden Globe nomination for his performance in "Benny & Joon," an off-beat love story in which he starred with Aidan Quinn and Mary Stuart Masterson. Depp was reunited with Burton for the heralded "Ed Wood," the story of one of America’s most eccentric B-movie directors. His performance in this film garnered Depp his third Best Actor Golden Globe nomination.

"I love Johnny because he’s willing to try anything. I appreciate actors who like to transform and are not afraid to get messy, dirty and dragged through the mud," says Burton.

Depp starred in Mike Newell’s critical and commercial hit "Donnie Brasco," alongside Al Pacino, and in "Don Juan DeMarco," opposite Marlon Brando. His other films include Jim Jarmusch’s "Dead Man," Lasse Hallstrom’s "What’s Eating Gilbert Grape," Emir Kusturica’s "Arizona Dream," and Paramount’s thriller "Nick of Time" with Christopher Walken. More recently, Depp directed, co-wrote and starred in "The Brave," featuring Marlon Brando, and starred in Terry Gilliam’s "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas."

"The initial attraction was the opportunity to work with Tim again. He is a great visionary," relates Depp. "The added plus was that I loved the story and have always loved this cult idea of the Headless Horseman. It’s a great classic story, but with Tim’s twist on it, I knew it would be special.

"What’s exciting for me playing this character," Depp continues, "is the idea to ride the fine line between honest acting and just a bit over the top, the style of Hammer horror films with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. I also liked the idea of playing a romantic lead who is not your typical romantic lead. Ichabod has a lot of nervous ticks. He’s squeamish. He’s extremely uptight. It’s as if there’s a very fine piano wire running through him that could snap at any second."

While the foundation of Depp’s character lies in the Washington Irving story, Depp patterned this version of Ichabod Crane after a few actors he greatly admires, including the late Roddy McDowell, his long-time friend. He also drew inspiration from Angela Lansbury and the film "Death on the Nile," and from his memories of old black & white Sherlock Holmes films with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce.

Actress Christina Ricci stars as the bewitching Katrina Van Tassel, daughter of Sleepy Hollow’s most affluent family. "I’ve always wanted to make a fairy tale," comments Ricci, "but the real motivation was that I wanted to work with Tim Burton. I’m also a huge fan of screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker."

Depp and Ricci were last seen together in Terry Gilliam’s "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" but have known each other for over a decade, first meeting when Ricci was nine-years-old. "This film is very much a fantasy," describes Ricci. "My character is innocent, pure-of-heart, loves romance stories and is looking for something beyond her little town. When Ichabod arrives, she immediately falls in love with him."

"It’s one of the more beautiful meetings of two characters that I’ve read in a script. I really liked the idea that they meet while she’s blindfolded and they kiss even before they speak," adds Depp.

Ricci has made a seamless transition into more mature roles since her memorable performances as the strangely adorable Wednesday Addams in "The Addams Family" and "Addams Family Values." In 1997, Ricci co-starred in Ang Lee’s ensemble film "The Ice Storm," alongside Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Joan Allen and Elijah Wood. Her recent performance as Dedee Truit, in the scathing black comedy "The Opposite of Sex" earned her a Golden Globe nomination. As Layla in Vincent Gallo’s "Buffalo 66," Ricci won rave reviews including Best Actress at the Seattle Film Festival. She had a co-starring role opposite Edward Furlong in John Waters’ "Pecker" and was most recently seen in Paramount Pictures’ "200 Cigarettes." Ricci received the 1998 National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress for her combined body of work in "Buffalo 66," "The Opposite of Sex" and "Pecker."

"This whole movie is 'big acting,'" Ricci explains. "The whole delivery is different. It’s difficult to say lines like 'I rue the day you came to Sleepy Hollow' without adding extra drama."

Miranda Richardson co-stars as Lady Van Tassel, Katrina’s step-mom and the matriarch of the Van Tassel estate. The British-born actress began her career in regional theater before making a stunning film debut in Mike Newell’s haunting "Dance With A Stranger." The performance caught the eye of director Steven Spielberg, who cast her in "Empire of the Sun." Richardson proved her versatility with impressive back-to-back performances in Mike Newell’s romantic comedy "Enchanted April," which earned her a Golden Globe Award; as a sexy IRA terrorist in Neil Jordan’s "The Crying Game," and as a neglected wife in Louis Malle’s "Damage," for which she received an Oscar® nomination. She received a second Oscar® nomination for her role in the 1997 release "Tom & Viv." More recently, Richardson starred as Toosie in Robert Duvall’s acclaimed film, "The Apostle" and received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in the Hallmark Entertainment television mini-series "Merlin."

"Lady Van Tassel is a latecomer to Sleepy Hollow. I like to think of her as somewhat nouveau riche. She’s married to the squire of Sleepy Hollow, Baltus Van Tassel. She nursed his first wife and unfortunately didn’t nurse her well enough and has taken her place," muses Richardson.

Michael Gambon, one of England’s most acclaimed actors, co-stars as Baltus Van Tassel, the richest man in Sleepy Hollow and stronghold of this tiny community. Gambon made his Broadway debut in David Hare’s "Skylight" and can be seen in "Dancing at Lughnasa" with Meryl Streep. He also starred in such films as "The Wings of the Dove," "Mary Reilly," "The Browning Version," "A Man of No Importance," "The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover" and "Turtle Diary."

Gambon began his career at Dublin’s Edwards/MacLiammoir Gate Theatre, and in 1963, became one of the original members of the National Theatre Company at the Old Vic under Laurence Olivier. Mr. Gambon’s extensive work on television includes the title role in Dennis Potter's acclaimed series "The Singing Detective," for which he garnered a BAFTA Award, a Broadcasting Press Guild Award and a Royal Television Society Award. Among his many honors, he has received the Olivier Award and, in July 1998, was knighted for his contribution to the arts.

Casper Van Dien plays Brom Van Brunt, vying with Ichabod for Katrina’s heart. Van Dien starred in Paul Verhoeven’s science-fiction adventure "Starship Troopers," and in "Tarzan and the Lost City," with Jane March. He recently completed production on "The Code," opposite Catherine Oxenberg-Van Dien, "Partners," co-starring David Paymer, and "Thrill Seekers," a TBS movie starring Catherine Bell. His other credits include starring roles in the independent feature "Modern Vampires," a stylish thriller opposite Natasha Gregson Wagner, and October Film’s action film noir "On the Border," with Bryan Brown and Daniel Baldwin.

The filmmakers have assembled an outstanding supporting cast including many of Britain’s best-known character actors, all of whom work regularly in the London Theater. "Sleepy Hollow is a small community with a very dense and twisted interpersonal relationship," explains Jeffrey Jones ("Beetlejuice," "Ed Wood") who portrays Reverend Steenwyck, the local religious purveyor. "All the characters are flawed in some way," adds Richard Griffiths, who portrays the towns magistrate, Samuel Philipse. "They’ve all got a secret or a problem, and in my case, my character has a secret and a problem. He’s quite spineless and guilt ridden -- a moral coward who has taken to drink."

Ian McDiarmid co-stars as Doctor Lancaster and Michael Gough, who played the solicitous butler Alfred in Burton’s "Batman" films, co-stars as town notary James Hardenbrook. Newcomer Marc Pickering makes his film debut as young orphan Masbath. Lisa Marie appears in a series of visually stunning dream sequences as Lady Crane, Ichabod’s mother.

"All of the cast is very expressive. It’s almost like silent movie actors. What they’re doing is basically taking something fairly absurd and giving it a reality and they’re all fantastic that way," comments Burton.

Actor Christopher Lee (of the Hammer horror films) makes a special cameo appearance as the New York City burgomaster, the official who sends Ichabod to Sleepy Hollow. "I’ve been lucky to meet people like Vincent Price and now Christopher Lee. These are the people who basically inspired me to do this and it’s amazing to work with them. Christopher is hypnotic. He just looks at you with his eyes and you are compelled," says Burton.

"Christopher is truly a force to be reckoned with," adds Depp. "Doing a scene with him and having him peering down at you, screaming into your face, all you can think of is "My God, that’s Dracula!"

For the pivotal role of the Hessian Soldier (a.k.a. Headless Horseman) Burton cast actor Christopher Walken, an ironic choice given Walken’s less than enthusiastic attitude towards horses. "I’m afraid of them and they don’t particularly like me," says Walken.

Also lending their talents to the role of the Headless Horseman are world-class stuntmen Ray Park and Rob Inch, who play the 'fighting' Headless Horseman and the 'riding' Headless Horseman, respectively. Park, a master of Chinese martial arts and Oriental weaponry is also currently starring as Sith Lord in "Star Wars -- The Phantom Menace."

"Sleepy Hollow" features a top-rate production team and reunites Burton with many of his valued collaborators including Rick Heinrichs ("Fargo," "The Big Lebowski") as production designer, Colleen Atwood ("Ed Wood," "Little Women," "Beloved") as costume designer and Chris Lebenzon ("Edward Scissorhands," "Ed Wood") as editor. Danny Elfman, who has provided the score on nearly all of Burton’s previous films, is the composer. Emmanuel Lubezki, who earned an Oscar® nomination for "A Little Princess" and whose other films include "Like Water For Chocolate," "The Birdcage" and "Great Expectations," joins the team as director of photography.

Kevin Yagher Productions Inc. (KYPI) is providing the film’s creature effects, including several heads for a series of highly stylized decapitations. KYPI has created effects for such current high-profile projects as Paramount Pictures’ thriller "Face/Off, " "Enemy of the State," "Volcano," "Starship Troopers" and "Conspiracy Theory."

Visual effects (including removal of the Headless Horseman’s head) are being provided by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Computer Film Company (CFC London). Mark Miller is visual effects producer and Jim Mitchell, recently nominated for an Academy Award� for "Mighty Joe Young," is visual effects supervisor. Special effects supervisor is Joss Williams ("The Avengers," "Mortal Kombat II," "White Squall").