Sweeney Todd movie - casting ideas!- Page 3

Posted: 10/13/04 at 5:12pm

Bronx - and you say that with such conviction because . . .?

[Marquise]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 5:15pm

i like the choice of meryl streep for lovett and kevin kline for sweeney.

i recently picked up the dvd starring lansbury and hearn. and i loved it. is that filmed performance faithful to the original broadway production?

also, if this is finally filmed for the big screen does anyone here think sondheim will compose a new piece for it (for Oscar consideration)?

i would have loved to see my boy brian do it!

Updated On: 10/13/04 at 05:15 PM

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 5:35pm

I sincerely doubt that Sondheim will write a new piece for the movie.
And I hope not.

The DVD with Hearn and Lansbury is the same as the Broadway production, but the sets are a bit smaller. A few songs that are on the OBCR are not on the DVD, but that's because those numbers were cut for the B'way production.

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 5:49pm

because I don't want it to be made. That's how I deal with these things. I act as if they don't exist. That's what I do with Avenue Q(whatever show that is!)

Posted: 10/13/04 at 6:02pm

Marquise - the big difference for me was I saw Len Cariou as Sweeney, whom George Hearn took over from. George primarily played with Dorothy Louden (who replaced Angela Lansbury) but I don't know if George and Angela played together during the run.

[Kanab69]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 10:43pm

Just some random thoughts on it...

Sweeney - John Cusack (dont' ask me why thats a good idea, cuz I dunno)
Lovett- Joan Cusack (she looks nuts right?)
Judge - An aged Keifer Sutherland, or Jack Nicholson
Johanna - Charlotte Church
Anthony - Josh Groban
Tobias - somebody said Jude Law, I like that

obviously its a good thing I'm not casting this movie

[Marquise]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 11:22pm

i seriously hope that last post was a joke

[Liz_Bennet]

Posted: 10/14/04 at 12:20am

I want Alan Cumming as the Beadle.
I want Judge Turpin's version of Johanna in.
I want Bernadette Peters as Mrs. Lovett. Or La Streep.
I would appreciate someone appropriately young-looking as Tobias.
I think I would like Patrick Wilson as Anthony- he's bland in the correct way (though I have only seen him in Angels in America and do not know how well he sings).
Sweeney? I don't know. Kline could be excellent.
I know he's not the right vocal type or range, but I keep picturing Nathan Lane as Pirelli.
I love Audra, but I'm not sure how color-blind casting flies in movies. Unless Johanna dyes her hair...

So, Sam. Give me a call. :) I'll conduct it for you as a bonus.

[DickonDefysGravity]

Posted: 10/14/04 at 12:28am

Bernadette for Lovett
Nicholson for Sweeny
Lansbury for Beggar Woman
Bell Bundy for Johanna
Creel for Anthony
Lithgow for Judge

thoughts???

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 10/14/04 at 12:31am

liz, get the full monty recording if you wanna hear patrick's spectacular singing. i never considered him much of an actor until Angels, but the voice has alway been there.

Posted: 10/14/04 at 12:33am

I think Jack's too old for Sweeney.

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 10/14/04 at 12:36am

can't they pull off sweeney as an older guy? if he got sent away in his 40's maybe? it still feels right seeing George Hearn do it.

[DickonDefysGravity]

Posted: 10/14/04 at 12:41am

I think my cast would be BRILLIANT!!!

and Bill Murray as Beadle

thoughts???

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 10/14/04 at 12:47am

what makes this so hard is that all the parts could be made great by a great actor, but most of the medium-sized character roles are the ones with the insanely hard music. if it was a non-musical Bill Murray would be fantastic. but something tells me he's not hitting those high C's I believe.

[pab]

Posted: 10/14/04 at 12:55am

John Cullum - Judge Turpin
Emmy Rossum - Johanna
Neil Patrick Harris - Anthony
Elijah Wood - Toby
Meryl Streep - Mrs. Lovett
Kevin Kline - Sweeney Todd
Robbie Coltrane - Beadle Bamford
Glenn Close - Begger Woman

[DickonDefysGravity]

Posted: 10/14/04 at 1:02am

good point....forgot about some of the things he sings
possibly...hmmmm....maybe....mandy patinkin....tough one

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 10/14/04 at 1:10am

yeah it's been stumping me this whole time trying to think of even semi-well known character actors for Beadle and Pirelli who have to sing excellently and very high. Patinkin would be a great choice for either! I think more for Pirelli though. Now, who else can get up in that range? Philip Casnoff?

[MATheaterLover]

Posted: 10/14/04 at 8:12am

Whoaaaa, Haley Joel Osment for Tobias. The Sixth Sense kid in the final scenes?? Supporting Actor Oscar, all the way.


If Jack Nicholson (or another older actor) were to play Sweeney, I think it would be GREAT to get Lansbury for the Beggar Woman. I sincerely doubt though, considering her strong words about Streep taking "her" role in "Manchurian Candidate" remake, that she would be a part of the project. But wouldn't it be loverly? VIVA LA LANSBURY! (Streep still gets my vote though.)

Think Natalie Portman can sing? Her looks are begging her to do a big screen musical; the Audrey of her generation.

[Sant]

Posted: 10/14/04 at 11:49am

Kathy Bates (played Annie in S.King's Misery) as Lovett.

[WestEndBird]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 4:25pm

Jeremy Irons
Cary Elwes
Christopher Walken.

[Plum]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 4:31pm

Nicholson and Lansbury are too old at this point. We need actors in their 40s or 50s. But as I've said way too many times, I think Bernadette Peters would be brilliant as Mrs. Lovett.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 6:05pm

I think Toby should be played by an unkown teenager. I mean it's not a big enough role to be played by a teen celebrity. Besides, those that I know of can't sing well enough to sing Sondheim. Also because Tobias isn't supposed to be in his 20's or 30's (hint: Kanab69). He's supposed to be an older boy on his way to becoming a young man. I like Meryll Streep or Bernadette Peters as Mrs. Lovett. Can Streep carry a tune though? Can she carry one fairly well?

[Plum]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 6:12pm

Streep can sing, but somehow I just don't see her as Mrs. Lovett. Maybe I haven't seen her doing enough comic work.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 6:13pm

How 'bout Tracy Ullman or Emma Thompson?

[wickedfan]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 6:15pm

I don't see Emma Thompson in that role. Honestly, Streep isn't like, "oh i can see it now" but when she does something u watch and r always pleasantly surprised.