Johnny Depp + Tim Burton + Sweeney Todd = ???

[Angel]

I'm not sure how many people are fans of this particular musical, but as a great lover of all things Sweeney, I was very interested to hear about the Tim Burton movie that will begin shooting in 2007 (I think) starring none other than Johnny Depp as the demon barber himself.

My first reaction? SQUEEEEEEEE! ;D

For me, Tim Burton + Sweeney Todd = Angel in heaven. Okay, he may have to tone down the cartoonishness of his style for this project, but I reckon that Sweeney is right down Burton's alley. Can you imagine how dark and macabre it'll be? ::le sigh::

Then the next question. Johnny Depp + demon barber = Squeee-- wait, can he sing? I reckon Johnny is awesome casting here. I'd be very interested to see his interpretation ... which I'm assuming would be a more subtle, sneaky and brooding Sweeney instead of the typical loud, demented, psychotic guy. Acting-wise, I'm totally satisfied. Just the singing comes into question. Does Depp have that intense baritone that is just about integral to the character? Sweeney does call for excellent singers ... and Sondheim is HARD. I know Depp was in a rock band, but that doesn't necessarily constitute the right kind of voice. He was reportedly very relieved he didn't have to sing in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ... so now I'm iffy. It's tempting for me to say 'dub him', but this is an almost completely sung-through piece, and losing the ability to give a character a voice is a great loss in terms of character development. Argh! The dilemma!

Anyway, any other comments? Opinions? Further casting ideas? (Are there any other Sweeney fans, full stop?)

[Simple Rose]

Can't say I'm a full-blown Sweeney Fan, but I've seen my share of touring trailers, song clips, etc. Especially the Ballad of Sweeney Todd. This musical fascinates me to no end, because it looks like the darkest possible thing ever... intentionally out-of-key strings and all. But I love it.

Also, you must know that Depp was not a vocalist in his band. He played guitar... and actually, to this day, he still plays occasional shows in a club in LA. He's said himself that he never wanted that spotlight that comes with being the lead vocalist... ironic, because in doing something that originally was just to pay the bills (acting!), he got the biggest spotlight of all. But this statement also makes me think... Johnny Depp is a TREMENDOUSLY humble man. He will NEVER admit that he's a good actor, he makes a point of avoiding watching his own films, and generally isn't the flamboyant "omg lookit me r-ent i amazing???". Very, very subtle, and is still on the inside a boy amazed at his circumstances.

What does this have to do with his voice? Everything :-D He said in an interview, after being asked about Sweeney Todd, that he didn't believe he had that great of a voice. Now, is this him telling it like it is, or is it him being amazingly humble like he normally is? In any case, I have faith in him... he has a very melodic and manipulatable voice, generally lending to the fact that his vocal chords are flexible. With the right training for the right amount of time, who knows? I know you're getting flashbacks to a certain Gerard Butler and what came of that rockstar-turned-opera-singer, but you must remember that Gerry has a pretty husky voice to begin with. Not much hope there. Johnny=melodic. Melodic=hope.

And can't you just picture him standing there bellowing out the Ballad of Sweeney Todd? :-D My inner fangirl would die and go to heaven if Johnny turns out to have a brilliant or even passable voice. That man is perfect, I tell you.

[Angel]

Hehe, crush much, Em?

I do agree with you -- Johnny does have a gorgeous natural speaking voice, which shows promise and seems to be a genuinely nice, humble and grounded guy. I'd definitely say that if he chose to go down that path, he could turn out to be a wonderful singer (with a very different voice to Gerry ) My concern is time, really. I mean, Sweeney Todd has been sped up while Ripley's Believe It or Not has been put on hold for Burton. So that leaves about six months for Johnny to get some voice lessons in preparation for the role. Yeah, I'm slightly nervy. However, they do say that the biggest and most noticeable improvement in one's voice does occur over the first year of serious training ... so here hoping ::fingers crossed::

I think I'd join you in heaven if it all works out good, though, Em. Although I'm not so interested in 'The Ballad of Sweeney Todd' ... I want to see his 'Epiphany'!

The musical is downright fascinating. I'd encourage everyone to at least check out some sound clips and the basic storyline. On a technical level, the music is outstanding, and on an emotional level -- I can only say: wow. It's a shame, though, because a lot of people just won't look past the whole mass murdering and mincing people into pies situation. But the characters are just so intriguing, and the plotline so original that I really don't notice what I'm laughing at. And I'm yet to get through the final sequence in the bakehouse without having my heartstrings pulled in about five different directions.

Anyway, here's a thought: how do you think Patrick Wilson would be as Anthony? Can you imagine how wonderfully lyrical and heartfelt his 'Johanna' would be? ::melts::

[Angel]

Just bumping this thread ...

Naturally, I've continued to snoop for information about this movie, which is now scheduled to start filming in February, 2007 (yay!)

As for any newly confirmed casting, it seems that the only definites are Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs Lovett and Sacha Baron Cohen as Pirelli. My reactions? As for Carter ... lukewarm. I mean, I like her as an actress but could they have been any more predictable? And, of course, can she sing? Because Mrs Lovett's gotta lotta singing to do. I love the idea of Cohen as Pirelli -- and with the success of Borat, he will hopefully entice more people to check out the movie. And with Tim Burton confirming that Stephen Sondheim likes Cohen's voice, I'm quite satisfied.

IMDb has also put Laura Michelle Kelly up as Lucy Barker (I assume this means the Beggar Woman as well?). This, I am very, very happy about. Somebody with stage experience! I've listened to some sound clips of her and I like what I'm hearing. Plus, she's won an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her work in Mary Poppins. My only concern is that she looks quite young, but I'm sure that that can be rectified. Plus, Helena Bonham Carter would make a young Mrs Lovett as well, so maybe they're just youthening (is that a word?) the cast ::gets Schumacher flashbacks:: Well, at least these people aren't teenagers ::coughEmmyRossumcough::

As for rumours, I hear that Alan Rickman is up for Judge Turpin. For me, it's the Johnny dilemma all over again. I lurve Rickman, especially as the bad guy, but I am praying to the music gods that he can sing. Also it seems that Anthony Head (from Buffy and Little Britain) is up for an undetermined role. Speculation on other boards I've visited seems to put him up for Beadle Bamford. I can't really comment, having not seen him act or sing, but then again, the beadle isn't a huge role. And apparently he sang in high tenor in a Buffy episode, so, who knows?

There was a rumour a while back that Jim Broadbent was going to be involved, but I have no idea where that went ... Also heard that Christopher Lee was going to be in it, maybe. I like the idea of Lee ... probably more so as Turpin than Rickman ::shrug::

Of course, I'm still waiting nervously to find out who will play Anthony and Johanna. I am very, very peeved that all of Johanna's singing has been cut (I love 'Green Finch and Linnet Bird'), but at least that does mean that they can focus on finding a strong actress ::would still have preferred her to be singing:: Apparently they were looking at some unknowns for a while, which I find quite promising