Johnny Depp will be singing in time for Christmas -- everywhere. DreamWorks and Paramount have decided to go wide with director Tim Burton's bigscreen adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's Broadway musical "Sweeney Todd" on Dec. 21, versus a platform release. Original plan was to give the film a limited bow on the 21st and then go wide on Jan. 11, the thought being that "Sweeney Todd" is less commercial and less accessible than most musicals because of its darker storyline. Along those lines, a platform opening would provide a chance to build buzz. However, when DreamWorks execs began seeing clips from "Sweeney," they realized it had far broader appeal, particularly with Depp starring as the revenge-seeking barber of Fleet Street who uses his blade in gruesome ways to seek justice for the deaths of his wife and child. The hope is that "Sweeney" will be the sort of signature role for Depp that Captain Jack Sparrow in Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise was. DreamWorks and Warner Bros. are partners on "Sweeney," with DreamWorks/Paramount handling domestic. Warners will release the musical overseas. The studios believe "Sweeney" will work as a holiday pic. Also opening wide on Dec. 21 are Disney's sequel "National Treasure: Book of Secrets"; Warner Bros.' dramedy "P.S., I Love You," starring Gerard Butler and Hilary Swank; and Sony laffer "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story," penned by Judd Apatow and Jake Kasdan, who directed. Limited releases include "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly." "Sweeney" producer Dick Zanuck and Burton already had been pushing for a wide bow, expressing concerns that a platform release could give the impression it was an arthouse title. At the same time, DreamWorks and Paramount aren't likely to go out with "Sweeney," which is expected to receive an R rating, on more than 1,500 screens. At least that's the thinking at this point. http://www.variety.com/VR1117970978.html I'm somewhat familiar with the Broadway musical and it seems to fit Tim Burton's style. Depp should be good in the lead role. Love Burton films
OMG! Helena Bonham Carter!!!! -inlove I would LOVE to see Johnny Depp to be in the same frame with her again! And Alan Rickman... I wonder if he still sing well -tongue2
i don't really like those musical movies too much but they can be good sometimes, i watched rent and molin rouge and they were alright, but i liked most of tim burton's movies so far so hopefully it will be good...
^ Musicals were the among the best films from Hollywood back in the day. Some of them are still considered to be the some of the greatest films ever made. Like Singing in the Rain, and The Wizard of Oz. I always love a good musical
I didn't like Rent THAT much... But Baz Luhmann's work on Moulin Rouge (and his MTV style Romeo and Juliet) was wonderful... I love Tim Burton's work from early on and so far the only flop IMO was "Planet of the Apes" so I guess it IS going to be good...
@ khaotic lol but still times have changed lol, it's just a matter of preferences i guess, musicals just takes out some realism of the movie for me and i am not really a wizard of oz fan lol also just saw one musical movie, "the producers" that made me sleep 10 minutes into it... i think musicals still work perfectly in disney old-school animation movies though, so many classics... @hiake, that gay guy was disturbing in rent lol, but still there are parts that are funny...
^ Lol I don't blame you for sleeping during 'The Producers.' The movie sucked! It got horrible reviews to. But Hairspray I enjoyed. I'm glad Hollywood is bringing back the musical and if you watch a old school musical like Singing in the rain. I bet you'll recognize at least 1 song from somewhere.
^lol nah not gonna watch them old school musicals again lols but still kinda curious to see hairspray because people are all talking positively about it lol.
This movie was okay compared to others. The storyline didn't really capture me like I like my movies to. Either way it had good and bad parts.
i loved the movie but i thought there was too much singing the end was priceless :O when johnny depp threw helena in the furnace and glared at her with those EYES :O
