Sam Mendes SWEENEY TODD- What Might Have Been?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 10:15pm

In an interview with BWW posted tonight, Stephen Sondheim said the following:

"And then a few years ago Sam Mendes did a production of Gypsy in New York City and we were having coffee during the recording session and Sam said "Have you ever thought of Sweeney Todd as a movie?" and I said "Well, Tim Burton once came to me," but otherwise nobody has ever approached me about it," He said "I'd like to do it" and I said "Great! Let's do it."

He got hold of John Logan, the screenwriter, and they started to work it out together and then Sam got frustrated by casting – the people he wanted to cast, for some reason or another, didn't come through and so after a couple of years Sam said "I give up." I don't know exactly who it was who brought it to Tim and said "are you still interested?" – Anyway Tim obviously said "yes," and that's what happened."

It is common knowledge that Mendes was developing the film with John Logan, but does anyone know the specific "casting frustrations" alluded to by Sondheim that ultimately caused Mendes to leave the project?

Specifically, I am interested in who he wanted for what roles and why those people didn't come through.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 10:33pm

Was there not talk of Toni Collette as Mrs Lovett at some stage?

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 10:46pm

Kate Winslet would have been either Lovett or Beggar Woman. =)

[americanboy99]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 11:21pm

I know he wanted Russell Crowe to play "Sweeney".

I imagine it would have been much less stylized and more realistic.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 11:32pm

Yeah, I can fondly recall conversations a while back where my circle and I were discussing the possibilities of a SWEENEY movie. Russell Crowe was indeed approached for the role, if I'm not mistaken, when Sam was slatd to direct.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 12:37am

I do remember Mendes was the director attached to the project for a long time. I recall him wanting to cast Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman, and of course Kate Winslet's name was rumored (I think her Lovett would have been brilliant regardless of her age).
I am curious as to how it would have turned out. If there's something I wish Burton's SWEENEY had more stars on it, thinking specifically of Johanna (Ann Hathaway, hello!), Anthony, and the Beggar Woman (the Natasha Richardson rumor was exciting for the time it lasted).

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 12:56am

Russell Crowe how horrible would that have been, the man is a waste of space.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 1:13am

But Winslet and Kidman would have been pretty fascinating Lovetts. I may have read somewhere on the board that Kidman was also considered for the Beggar Woman. And I'm sure Mendes would have gotten major star wattage to play the supporting roles that Burton cast with unknowns.
Either way, it seems that Burton gave us a movie musical masterpiece so we should all be glad that he ended up doing this. I am pretty sad that Meryl didn't end up playing Mrs.Lovett though, nothing against Carter, but come on, Meryl in a Sondheim musical, does it get any better than that?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 1:39am

Mendes wanted Russell Crowe and Meryl Streep.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 2:39am

Streep, Kidman, Winslet all of that i can go with and it would have been wonderful to see. The last person i could see doing Sweeney is Crowe, that would be more miscast then those that thought Depp was.

[sondhead]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 5:08am

I think Burton did right by casting unknowns. I loved the Johanna and Anthony were so young (looking at least) and I think if Begger Woman had been a well-known face outside those of us familiar with Laura Michelle's stage work, then.. well I won't spoil anything.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 6:13am

What might have been?

It might have been a not very interesting film by a vastly overrated director.

No particular loss there.

[worrell4077]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 7:44am

There would've been less music in it than in Burton's. That's the one thing Burton seems to mention in alot of interviews is that he and John Logan added more music back into the script.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 9:14am

Well, it wasn't meant to be. And I'm glad we have the movie we have!

Just like I'm glad the Ken Russell film of "Evita" starring Liza Minnelli didn't pan out either.

[Jon]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 11:46am

Or the Liza/Goldie Hawn CHICAGO movie that was supposed to happen in the late 1970's.

Or my favorite movie that never was - the Elton John/Olivia-Newton John/Peter Sellers CANDIDE (rumored in the mid '70's, when the Hal Prince revival was on Broadway).

[Brick]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 12:40pm

One rumoured film I'm soo sad never happened was Fosse's film of CHICAGO. Kander and Ebb have said they had a meeting with him planned for the week following SWEET CHARITY's D.C. opening. Of course, he died that weekend.

Ebb said FOsse had already taken a meeting with Madonna for Roxie. That is brilliant. We're talking Madonna circa 1986 (Papa Don't Preach, Open Your Heart era). She would have been a trashy, vulnerable, fantastic Roxie. And she could have danced the hell out of some new Fosse routines! Actually, herself being a dancer, can you imagine how shocked she must have been when she heard the news: she was sooo close to being in a Fosse film.

Thread hijack, sorry.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 12:54pm

I thought that Imelda Stauton was rumored for Lovett? She would have been perfect.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 1:09pm

It sounds almost on par with the Meryl Streep/Sylvester Stalone "Evita"

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 3:21pm

I would have loved the Streep EVITA. Well, I would have loved to see Meryl's interpretation of the role, can't really tell if I would have loved the actual movie or not since it never happened. As much as I enjoy the Madonna movie, one can't help but wonder what wonders Streep would have done with the role.
And yes, apparently Fosse told Fred Ebb that he would win Madonna an Oscar. I can only imagine what device Fosse's brilliant cinematic mind had planned for the film. But as is the case with SWEENEY, we should all be grateful that the film that actually did come to fruition ended up being wonderful.

[roquat]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 4:55pm

I still wish Julie Walters had been given a chance. She has that creepy/maternal thing down pat, plus she sings very well.

But I would also have LOVED to see Toni Collette. Or practically ANYONE other than Helena Bonham Carter.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 5:29pm

They wanted Madonna as VELMA. Not Roxie.

[Brick]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 6:32pm

"They wanted Madonna as VELMA. Not Roxie."

No. In 1986, when Fosse was to direct a film of CHICAGO - possibly to ressurect his film career after the failure of Star 80 - he wanted Madonna as Roxie.

In 1997, after EVITA, Madonna was attached to Miramax's CHICAGO, as Velma. She stayed attached through various screenplays, directors, and Roxies - including Goldie Hawn and Charleze Theron. If I remember correctly, the rumours were that she dropped the project after Golide Hawn was fired by Nicholas Hyntner for being considered "too old." Who knows?

Yes, she was attached to the film as both roles at various points in her career.

Updated On: 12/21/07 at 06:32 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 7:05pm

Goldie Hawn and Liza Minnelli were also set to play the two roles at one point, they even performed ALL THAT JAZZ in a variety show together (can't remember which one). Of course, that fell apart as well. Fosse's CHICAGO would have probably joined ALL THAT JAZZ and CABARET as another one of his masterpieces, however, I'm quite glad that we got the CHICAGO film we got, with the cast we got it with. Such a top-notch ensemble from Zellweger's Roxie (and I dislike her in almost every other movie she has done) to Lucy Liu's fantastic cameo as Go-To-Hell Kitty.
And after actually seeing the SWEENEY film it is clear why Burton cast unknowns for the lovers; he didn't really do much with them.
And yes, I too salivate at the idea of Toni Collette or Meryl Streep playing Mrs.Lovett. But Helena Bonham Carter made this movie for me, she was PERFECT in the role, and it is hard to picture anyone else being better--just as good, perhaps, but not better.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 7:14pm

The funny thing is, for the first time in my memory, I am rejoicing that Tim Burton made this film. Usually, he drives me nuts by going off the road in the third act, but this time someone - or perhaps his respect for Stephen Sondheim - kept him on script and a wonderful movie that will last the test of time has come out.

So I find it strange to be asking what Sam Mendes would have done. I'd understand if the film was another "Chorus Line" but this is a little masterpiece, so why are we second guessing?

[musicalfandukie]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 7:16pm

I would of loved to of seen winslet or kidman as lovett. Helena's vocals make nicole kidman sound like whitney houston. i'm sure helena's acting is fine but i can't help but wonder how more interesting lovetts songs would of been in the movie with someone that could actually sing.