SWEENEY TODD film — Page 2

kate wislet??? how are they going to fit in a nude scene for lovett???

(Slaps CATSNYREVIVAL five)

Not trying to threadjack, but I have to mention how subtle and brilliant it is in the overture when three women strike that pose downstage of the yet to be revealed image.

Back to the Sweeney film. I hope it's Mendes and how old is Mrs. Lovett?

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Winslet would be great, but I dont think it'll happen. Wislet is BOOKED! And Sam Mendes is marrried to none other than... Kate Winslet. Winslet can sing (she had a top ten single in the UK in 2001). She's in an upcoming movie musical (Romance and Cigarettes), has 3 movies coming out this year, and 2 coming out next year (including Gnomeo and Juliet, the disney-computer animated film written by Tim Rice and Elton John). If she even was considered for anything in sweeney todd, she probibly couldnt do it. She's way to busy.

So how old are these people? I can't see Kevin Kline opposite Kate Winslet. You have to assume that Sweeney has been away at least 15 years (Johanna has grown up in the interval) so I'm thinking Sweeny could be 40-50? And Mrs Lovett is roughly the same age, but I guess she could be older. I don't see her being much younger because she was running the pie shop when Sweeney left. Could Kate Winslett play Johanna? (She could have nude scene that way.) I don't see it.

I love Imelda Staunton. Did anyone see her in Peter's Friends years ago? Gosh she was great.

And if Kelsey Grammer really wants in on this, let him play Judge Turpin. He is sufficiently creepy for that.....

It really doesn't matter who plays anyone but Sweeney and Lovett. I wouldn't be surprised if Patrick Wilson played Anthony. And depending on how big she gets on The West Wing, I wouldn't be surprised if people looked at Kristin Chenoweth for Joanna, though I don't think she does ingenue very well. I would much rather see her play characters.

I think that the top choices for Lovett right now are Christine Baranski and Glenn Close. Folks I would love to see play the role in Broadway revivals are Joanna Gleason, Bernadette Peters, Patti Lupone, Kristin Chenoweth (the 2025 revival) and Faith Prince, maybe.

I think for Sweeney's their top choices are Kelsey Grammar and Kevin Kline.

Kate Winslet is totally too young. Lovett and Sweeney are both in their 40's or 50's. They're old enough to have a blonde ingenue that is of marrying age.

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It's too bad. It would translate beautifully to the screen, especially with Mendes at the helm.

Baranski would be really good. What about Tim Curry as Sweeney? Ha, that would be a sight!

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As well as Mendes being attached to the project, there is already a screenwriter (JOhn Logan of THE AVIATOR and GLADIATOR) who has been adapting it for a few months now. I'm not saying something may go wrong and there will be another list of screenwriters working on it until it gets made, but it's a start. I could see this going into production in a year or two. Winslet is TOTALLY too young for Lovett, Kelsey Grammar for Sweeney is interesting, but no. Baranski would be BRILLIANT as Mrs. Lovett (didn't she do it at Kennedy Center?)

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Considering how long Mendes takes in between movies, we could be waiting for this a good long time. I'm pretty sure he's working on Jarheads right now, so there's almost no hope of Sweeney even filming this year, let alone being released.

As for casting- I would love love love it if Bernadette Peters played Mrs. Lovett. Sweeney...I don't know. Shuler Hensley comes to mind, but no one knows him. Some of the "star" choices I've heard have been pretty ridiculous. Kelsey Grammar? Whoever thought that one up...I want some of what they're smoking.

If I had any belief whatsoever in Russell Crowe's singing voice, I'd say he's well-suited for the role. But I don't, so I won't. :)

Kelsey Grammer was so mediocre as Sweeney, and I thought Stokes could've been better too. Baranski did the show opposite both of them and was exceedingly good in the role but not as good as Lupone IMHO. For the film, I'd go with Kevin Spacey or Crispin Glover in the title role, Stritch as Lovett, and Patrick Wilson as Anthony (because he's in everything).

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Oooh, as much as I adore him, I wasn't a huge fan of NPH's Tobias. But that's another story, nevermind, anyway...

A cast that I would like to see is:

SWEENEY TODD - Kevin Kline (though Tim Curry would be great!)

NELLIE LOVETT - Kathy Bates or Meryl Streep

TOBIAS RAGG - Michael Arden (Tobias wouldn't have to be a "name")

ANTHONY HOPE - Patrick Wilson would be fine

JOHANNA - Emmy Rossum (Don't kill me - I think she comes across very well on screen *and* she's close to the correct age!)

JUDGE TURPIN - Tim Curry would be creepy in this role, too

BEADLE BAMFORD - Jason Alexander may be all right

THE BEGGAR WOMAN - Not too sure on this one

JONAS FOGG - Len Cariou

THE BIRDSELLER - George Hearn

MRS. MOONEY - Angela Lansbury

Give me a break, I've been working 16 to 18 hour days, six days a week for the last month... Joshie's a tired boy!

~Joshua

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Updated On: 2/24/05 at 01:43 AM

WHO is this Imelda woman? I've never heard of her.

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