# Burton & Depp to make Sweeney Todd. Hmmm... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 18, 2006, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burton-depp-to-make-sweeney-todd-hmmm/369180 "2006-08-18T02:20:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burton-depp-to-make-sweeney-todd-hmmm/369180/1 "2006-08-18T02:20:36Z")
I’d heard rumors about this off and on, but apparently it’s confirmed: [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060816/ap\_en\_mo/people\_depp](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060816/ap_en_mo/people_depp) I’d thought Burton and Jim Carrey were going to have **Believe it or Not** (a Robert Ripley biopic) ready for us by next year, but there were script and budget issues getting in the way. I’d also thought Burton and Depp would adapt the novel **Geek Love**. But so much for that; here we are…a movie musical based on **Sweeney Todd**. Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burton-depp-to-make-sweeney-todd-hmmm/369180/2 "2006-08-18T02:28:49Z")
I like the stage show. Not sure Depp has the right look for the part. Has he got the vocal chops to sing it? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burton-depp-to-make-sweeney-todd-hmmm/369180/3 "2006-08-18T02:32:44Z")
I’m so there. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burton-depp-to-make-sweeney-todd-hmmm/369180/4 "2006-08-18T02:48:51Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I like the stage show. Not sure Depp has the right look for the part. Has he got the vocal chops to sing it? They can always get Elfman to dub him. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burton-depp-to-make-sweeney-todd-hmmm/369180/5 "2006-08-18T03:15:59Z")
I’m reserving judgment until I see who they cast as Mrs. Lovett. It could work very well, with the right foil for Depp. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burton-depp-to-make-sweeney-todd-hmmm/369180/6 "2006-08-18T03:16:04Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I like the stage show. Not sure Depp has the right look for the part. Has he got the vocal chops to sing it? I’m having a little deja vu here. A similar thread came up a couple months ago, also refeerencing a yahoonews article, and I raised the exact same objection. I was referred [here](http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/weird/todd/index_1.html). It turns out the historical person was more of a Depp figure than a Cariou type. ---
**Author:** ![baronsabato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@baronsabato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/baronsabato)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burton-depp-to-make-sweeney-todd-hmmm/369180/7 "2006-08-18T04:07:02Z")
I’m definitely excited for a film adaptation of one of my favorite Sondheim musicals, but Johnny Depp? I don’t know. He seems too young and pretty for the part, not to mention that I just don’t see him singing “Epiphany” without making it ridiculous (“They ALL deserve to die! Tell you why, Mrs. Lovett, tell you why!”). Buuuuut movie magic can do amazing things, so who am I to judge? I thought casting the original Broadway cast for the RENT movie would be great, but it ended up (in my opinion) being pretty awful. I just hope they don’t water down the score too much- it’s absolutely incredible but still very Sondheimian- which means it takes a couple of listenings for most people to really appreciate- and I just don’t see it being something that’ll be successful. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burton-depp-to-make-sweeney-todd-hmmm/369180/8 "2006-08-18T04:12:09Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I’m reserving judgment until I see who they cast as Mrs. Lovett. It could work very well, with the right foil for Depp. My choice would be Meryl Streep (who seems to be doing a lot of “evil mature woman” roles lately). She also has a good singing voice. The only problem is that if she’s cast, the age difference between her and Depp may be too much to overlook. Instead of a demonic middle-aged couple, Lovett and Todd will look more like a psychotic mother-and-son duo. Now, if Christopher Walken was cast as Todd, that would be _perfect_. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burton-depp-to-make-sweeney-todd-hmmm/369180/9 "2006-08-18T04:15:06Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > My choice would be Meryl Streep (who seems to be doing a lot of “evil mature woman” roles lately). I’ve heard Christine Baranski’s name mentioned in connection to this project, but I don’t know if that’s an accurate rumor or just something that’s being flung out by a fan of her turn in the Kennedy Center production. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burton-depp-to-make-sweeney-todd-hmmm/369180/10 "2006-08-18T04:16:46Z")
And casting Baranski (who has an excellent voice and great stage presence (I saw her in Mame at the Kennedy Center this year)) would present the same age problem as casting Streep. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burton-depp-to-make-sweeney-todd-hmmm/369180/11 "2006-08-18T05:18:10Z")
Emma Thompson might be a good match, if this must happen. But personally I’m praying this doesn’t. _Sweeney Todd_ is my favorite musical, and the thought of Tim Burton turning the production into one of his usual twee/horror hybrids makes me wretch. And Depp? Christ, no. Why does Burton have to be so. fucking. predictable? ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burton-depp-to-make-sweeney-todd-hmmm/369180/12 "2006-08-18T05:49:59Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > Now, if Christopher Walken was cast as Todd, that would be _perfect_. Now _there’s_ an idea! ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burton-depp-to-make-sweeney-todd-hmmm/369180/13 "2006-08-18T06:22:30Z")
BTW here’s an [article stating that Sondheim’s not convinced Depp’s got the chops](http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-2310051,00.html). Of course this was before the announcement, so maybe Sondheim’s okayed him by now. Still, I love how Depp is described as “bemused” that he has to sing for Sondheim, since he’s been “singing all his life” in his little rock band. What freakin’ arrogance. Y’know, even Mandy Patinkin had to audition for Sondheim, and that was after _Evita_. Suck it, emo boy. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burton-depp-to-make-sweeney-todd-hmmm/369180/14 "2006-08-18T08:31:02Z")
**43** isn’t considered middle aged anymore? ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burton-depp-to-make-sweeney-todd-hmmm/369180/15 "2006-08-18T09:02:51Z")
I turn 40 today, so … hell naw! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burton-depp-to-make-sweeney-todd-hmmm/369180/16 "2006-08-18T09:18:40Z")
> [@choie](#): > > _Sweeney Todd_ is my favorite musical, and the thought of Tim Burton turning the production into one of his usual twee/horror hybrids makes me wretch. And Depp? Christ, no. > > Why does Burton have to be so. fucking. predictable? You took the words right out of my keyboard. The Burton/Depp combo has jumped the fucking shark, crashed its motorcycle into a tank of gasoline, burst into flames, and then doused with yak piss. _Charlie and the Chocolate Factory_ was a disgraceful desecration of the wonderful original and a horrific insult to Gene Wilder’s character. Overly-slick, overproduced, and soulless, and with a simpering windbag of a Wonka ineptly portrayed by an over-eager Depp. _Corpse Bride_ - blatant pandering to high school goths, and twee college freshman girls who think Of Montreal is the shit. I’m sickened by this news… ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burton-depp-to-make-sweeney-todd-hmmm/369180/17 "2006-08-18T09:59:17Z")
> [@Argent Towers](#): > > _Charlie and the Chocolate Factory_ was a disgraceful desecration of the wonderful original and a horrific insult to Gene Wilder’s character. Overly-slick, overproduced, and soulless, and with a simpering windbag of a Wonka ineptly portrayed by an over-eager Depp. _Corpse Bride_ - blatant pandering to high school goths, and twee college freshman girls who think Of Montreal is the shit. I’m a 30-something non-Goth (although I have Burton’s hair!), and I loved _Corpse Bride_ and _C&TC Factory_ (and hated the Wilder version). I’ve never seen a Burton work I didn’t like, and I expect to like this. > [@Argent Towers](#): > > I’m sickened by this news… Sure, it’s the _goths_ who get all angsty… ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burton-depp-to-make-sweeney-todd-hmmm/369180/18 "2006-08-18T11:08:26Z")
> [@Argent Towers](#): > > _Charlie and the Chocolate Factory_ was a disgraceful desecration of the wonderful original and a horrific insult to Gene Wilder’s character. Overly-slick, overproduced, and soulless, and with a simpering windbag of a Wonka ineptly portrayed by an over-eager Depp. You may be right that Burtons’ C&TCF was a bag of shite (although it grew on me), and you’re spot on, IMO about the shark-jumping, but _Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory_, starring Gene Wilder _is not the ‘original’_ - the ‘original’ is a book, and, as far as anyone can tell, Burton was not attempting to imitate or build upon the movie featuring Wilder. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burton-depp-to-make-sweeney-todd-hmmm/369180/19 "2006-08-18T11:10:42Z")
And isn’t it _obvious_ who Burton will cast as Mrs Lovett? Helena Bonham-Carter, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burton-depp-to-make-sweeney-todd-hmmm/369180/20 "2006-08-18T13:19:25Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > You may be right that Burtons’ C&TCF was a bag of shite (although it grew on me), and you’re spot on, IMO about the shark-jumping, but _Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory_, starring Gene Wilder _is not the ‘original’_ - the ‘original’ is a book, and, as far as anyone can tell, Burton was not attempting to imitate or build upon the movie featuring Wilder. Not only that, but BUrton’s version was far, far closer to the original than Wilder’s version. Daniel [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burton-depp-to-make-sweeney-todd-hmmm/369180.md?page=2)