Sondheim wants voice test for Depp re Sweeney — Page 3

I think Depp has continued to suprise people with his skills and doing wonders with his roles. Looks at Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Willy Wonka, Jack Sparrow, etc. I know that I've continually underestimed his abilities, only to be surprised by what he could do. I don't think anyone else that's "Hollywood" would work, because he's the only real male A-lister that doesn't have a persona (or personal baggage) to influence audiences. Imagine Tom Cruise, or Tom Hanks and of the other $20 million boys that could handle it. Frankly, I think the only that really could do a decent job would be a Jim Carrey-type!

Any chance we could get Kate Winslet to be a part of this show? Anyone who's seen her in Extras knows how saucy she could be, and she has a tremendous chemistry with Depp.

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Could Meryl Streep handle Lovett's music?

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Here is my cast...including Depp because he seems to be frontrunner

Todd- Johnny Depp
Lovett- Cyndi Lauper
Johanna- Emmy Rossum
Anthony- James Marsden
Toby- Topher GRace
Lucy- Juliette Lewis
Beadle- Paul Giamatti
Judge- Anthony Hopkins or Christopher Lee

Take that Hollywood!!!

Topher Grace? ugh.

Cyndi Lauper should be in it!

Weren't they thinknig about Toni Colette as Lovette?

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No one over the age of 18 should play Toby.

I really like Depp as Sweeney. He is extremely mysterious already and fits the character. However, it was a mistake to cast the Phantom as more of a sexy man. Hopefully, if Depp does get it, they will play down his sex appeal and make him as frightening as possible. As for Miss Lovett, I am really undecided. I can't see Nichole Kidman at all. Toni Collette seems interesting, but I just don't know. I think if they have Johnny Depp, they could get a bigger Broadway or West End name that a Hollywood name. Ruthie Henshall comes to mind, even though she may seem a little young. But I can see her singing Miss Lovett. But I really am undecided.

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I think for Tobias, maybe it should go to Freddie Highmore. It would be really interesting to see Depp and Highmore in another film together and to see Highmore kill Depp at the end.

I think that Tim will offer Helena, Mrs. Lovett, but she'll probably turn it down and do The Beggar Woman(she did it with Charlie, he wanted her to play Mrs.Beauegarde, but she turned it down for Mrs.Buckett).

Speaking of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, did anyone else notice that Noah Taylor who played Mr. Buckett kinda looks like Christian Borle?

I said this in a different message, but what about Martin Short for Pirelli and Glenn Shaddix(Otho from Beetlejuice) for The Beadle?

Also, I wouldn't be surprised if Tim got Christopher Lee to play Judge Turpin and I think he would be a great choice for the role, I don't know if he can sing, but he seems like a good choice for it.
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Crewe:"You're not hearing it right. I hear it in sky blue and you're giving me brown."
DeVito:"That's cause you're paying us s***."

It just depends on what Sondheim negotiated in the sale of the film rights. It is entirely possible that after ALNM, he insisted on a clause for casting approval. Hard to know, since we haven't seen a film version of a Sondheim musical since then.

Whether he has any real "authority" over casting or not, obviously it would be a very bad PR move for the project if Sondheim came out and said publicly: "Johnny Depp can't sing. He's going to ruin my musical." Burton would, of course be wise to get Sondheim's approval, though he may just cast who he wants regardless.

I think in this current day and age: dubbing a major star like Depp would actually diminish him in the public eye, though Im sure the music will be in different keys regardless - the tone of the movie is going to have to be less "operetic" than what is on stage.

Updated On: 8/15/06 at 12:48 PM

Actually, Kander and Ebb did have some control on casting. I read an article in one of those movie magazines (not the cheapp ones, one of the industry ones)where Ebb or Kander (I don't recall which) mentioned that Weinstein wanted to cast Brittany Spears in a role in the film. He said that they had some casting pull and said absolutely not. Now, I'm paraphrasing and it's going off memory, but that's what they said. The fact that they could overrule Harvey Weinstein shows that they obviously had some control.

This is who I think they should get:

Sweeney: Kelsey Grammer (I know it's not gonna happen though)
Mrs. Lovett: Toni Collette
Pireli: Alan Cumming (NO DOUBT ON THIS ONE)
Judge Turpin: George Hearn or Victor Garber
Anthony: I forgot his name....i'll edit it in.
Beggar Woman/Lucy: Andrea Martin (?)
Tobias: ?
Joanna (sp?): Lauren Molina
Beadle: ?

And as for Johnny Depp, I think he has the look but not the voice. So...no

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So, will there be open auditions for Toby?

Depp is Sweeney!