The film, which stars Johnny Depp in the title role and Helena Bonham Carter as piemaker Mrs. Lovett, is scheduled to hit movie theatres around the country Dec. 21. To view the trailer, click here.
The two-and-a-half-minute clip features the first hint of the vocal talents of star Depp, although — as is par for marketing most movie musicals — there is much more dialogue and voiceover than singing. (Nonesuch Records will issue the film's soundtrack; a release date has not yet been announced.)
The DreamWorks/Warner Bros. film adaptation of the Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler musical was penned by John Logan ("The Aviator," "Gladiator," Never the Sinner).
The film also features Alan Rickman (Private Lives, the "Harry Potter" films) as Judge Turpin, Timothy Spall ("Harry Potter") as Beadle Bamford and Sacha Baron Cohen ("Borat," "Talladega Nights") as Signor Adolfo Pirelli.
Rounding out the cast are Laura Michelle Kelly (Fiddler on the Roof) as the Beggar Woman, Jamie Campbell Bowen as Anthony, Jayne Wisener as Johanna and newcomer Ed Sanders as Toby. "All the stars will do their own singing from Stephen Sondheim's music and lyrics," according to the announcement. The official synopsis for the film follows: "Johnny Depp and Tim Burton join forces again in a big-screen adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's award-winning musical thriller 'Sweeney Todd.' Depp stars in the title role as a man unjustly sent to prison who vows revenge, not only for that cruel punishment, but for the devastating consequences of what happened to his wife and daughter. When he returns to reopen his barber shop, Sweeney Todd becomes the Demon Barber of Fleet Street who 'shaved the heads of gentlemen who never thereafter were heard from again.' Joining Depp is Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett, Sweeney's amorous accomplice, who creates diabolical meat pies. The cast also includes Alan Rickman, who portrays the evil Judge Turpin, who sends Sweeney to prison and Timothy Spall as the Judge's wicked associate Beadle Bamford and Sacha Baron Cohen is a rival barber, the flamboyant Signor Adolfo Pirelli."
For more information visit sweeneytoddmovie.com.
