SWEENEY TODD movie "in production" — Page 2

There was a thread on imdb that JACK BLACK should play Sweeney Todd. PLEASE, GOD, NO!!!!!

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"Can Emma Thompson sing? "

She was in Me and My Girl in the West End, she sang in Tutti Frutti and in some of her own shows.

Much as I like Colette, Streep and Close - they don't have it to play a Cockney - it really doesn't bear thinking about. Give it to Staunton or Thompson they can at least do it properly.

Such a shame Julia McKenzie can't do it she was the best Lovett

It's definitely not "in production." It's not even in pre-production. Correct show biz venacular is "announced." There has been some movement on the project though -- the script has definitely made the rounds to film front runners like Russell Crowe and Meryl Streep, Freddie Highmore and Natasha Richardson.

exciting, althught i have a feeling that i'll be dissapointed by the singing quality, although it may make some great eye candy.

I just can't wait to see if a dvd of the current broadway version is coming out.

I don't feel Toni Collette is old enough to play Lovett. Streep, Close, Peters, either one of these women would be prefect for Lovett. I'm also all for Kevin Kline for Sweeney and Emma Thompson for The Beggar Woman. I doubt, though, that filming will start until mid-2006 and probably later than that.

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Close and Streep can act in any kind of role.

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Tobias is a child -- at least in the last draft he was.

>>Hugh Jackman wouldn't be menacing enough<<

Have you seen an XMEN movie - especially XMEN2?

Although I doubt that he has room for that one on his schedule - he has the Disney commitments and other non-musical movies forthcoming.

I guess if a "star" Hollywood actor had to be used, Hugh Jackman is the only logical choice, due to lack of any real competition. But he's too "pretty," I think, and although he has a good voice, it's doesn't have the richness required for the operatic music.

It would make my life if Neil Patrick Harris was Tobias. I mean, he can still pull off child-like!

...with makeup and digital touch-up!

Kind of OT:

There has been discussion of the ages of the characters. Most people think Toni Collette too young for the role of Mrs. Lovett, but I disagree.

I've always thought of Mrs. Lovett as younger than Lucy. Perhaps they were at school together, or knew each other growing up. This is all speculation, but what if Nellie was always jealous of Lucy. This jealousy would come into play when she recounts the story of Lucy's breakdown and "poisoning" to Sweeney. She was likely always jealous of Lucy and Benjamin's relationship, as she secretly loved Benjamin and longed for his affection.

As to the ages of Lucy and Sweeney, in Victorian England, young married couples would not wait long to have children. Sweeney would have been slightly older than Lucy...probably no more than 5 years. I would argue that Sweeney was max 25 and Lucy was no more than 22 when Joanna was born. Sweeney was likely to be no more than 30 when he was sent away by the Judge...making him max 45 at the time of the action. This would make Joanna max 20 yrs old, but most likely she is around 18 at the time of the action.

If Nellie was say 5 yrs younger than Lucy, then it is not unreasonable to assume that she could easily be in her mid to late 30s at the time of the action. Toni Collette will be 33 on 11/01/2005. I think a lot of the actors mentioned on these boards might be a bit too old for the role, unless you think Nellie is actually older than Lucy.

Also...what about Mandy Moore for Joanna? She may not be a true soprano, but she is beautiful, a decent actor, good singer, and she has a background in musical theatre.

Thoughts? Please be kind.

"Meryl Streep's best talent is making you cry."

Streep has never made me cry. But I didn't realize how good she was with comedy until I saw Death Becomes Her. She would be a pretty good Lovett. But I agree that Collette would be a PERFECT choice for the role. Should a film version come along, I've complete faith in Hollywood to completely miscast the film to a degree of ridiculousness. I urge everyone not to get their hopes up. This isn't like Rent or The Producers where the original cast is readily available and Broadway performers will most likely not be considered marketable, especially since the show is not widely known outside the world of theatre enthusiasts. If we're lucky, we might get Nick and Jessica.

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