Sweeney Todd will open wide Dec. 21

[onesongglory2]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 9:11am

And a likely R rating.

Sweeney Todd Opening Wide Dec. 21
Source: Variety August 28, 2007

DreamWorks and Paramount have decided to release director Tim Burton's big screen adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's Broadway musical Sweeney Todd wide on December 21, versus a platform release.

Variety says the original plan was to give the film a limited release on the 21st and then go wide on Jan. 11, the thought being that the Johhny Depp-starrer is less commercial and less accessible than most musicals because of its darker storyline. Along those lines, a platform opening would provide a chance to build buzz.

However, when DreamWorks executives began seeing clips from the film, they realized it had far broader appeal, particularly with Depp starring as the revenge-seeking barber of Fleet Street who uses his blade in gruesome ways to seek justice for the deaths of his wife and child.

The hope is that "Sweeney" will be the sort of signature role for Depp that Captain Jack Sparrow in Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise was.

DreamWorks and Warner Bros. are partners on "Sweeney," with DreamWorks/Paramount handling domestic. Warners will release the musical overseas.

Also opening wide on Dec. 21 are Disney's National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Warner Bros.' P.S., I Love You, and Sony's Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.

The studios aren't likely to go out with "Sweeney," which is expected to receive an R rating, on more than 1,500 screens.

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=36677

[Kringas]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 9:24am

I thought the studio was demanding Burton tone down the blood so that it doesn't receive an R rating.

Updated On: 8/28/07 at 09:24 AM

Posted: 8/28/07 at 9:25am

"deaths of wife & child"????

[chicolini]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 9:43am

"The hope is that "Sweeney" will be the sort of signature role for Depp that Captain Jack Sparrow in Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise was."

I can't wait for Sweeney Todd II, where Toby is paired with a grizzled old police officer and the two overcome their many humorous differences while solving crime and learning a little something about life along the way.

[FranzRelax]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 9:58am

I thought the studio was demanding Burton tone down the blood so that it doesn't receive an R rating.


- That was the rumor. But Burton has been very firm about wanting it to have an R rating. I think he would have to cut a substantial amount for it to get any less than an R rating. The studio might have wanted the blood toned down, but they probably understood it will still get an R rating.

[jam_man]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 10:05am

Great, now I have to change my countdown, AGAIN! Good news is that it's four days earlier!

BTW, what the hell does "go out with 'Sweeney'?" Like, have their parent's drive them to the roller rink, or something?

[ElFantasma14]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 10:17am

"death of his wife and child"

So they're killing off Johanna in this one?

[Kringas]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 10:19am

Or it's just an error in the article.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 12:28pm

Well, Sweeney THINKS his daughter is dead at the beginning doesn't he?

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 12:51pm

See? Oh, God, this is exactly what I was afraid of. Tim Burton should never have laid a hand on this project, if you ask me. It was perfectly creepy and gory enough as it was. But no, they let Tim Burton have it, and now he's going to butcher it. No pun intended.

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 1:05pm

Glinda, gotta disagree.

The show as it was in its original incarnation is laughably silly now and would be even more laughable on screen.

The show, as a film, needs to TERRIFY in order to be any good, otherwise its just crap with fairly good music and even better lyrics.

No one is impressed with historical versimilitude (sp) to penny dreadfuls, its not impressive, and half of the people dont even know what they are/were.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 1:06pm

GlindatheGood22, don't be a twatwaffle.

[almostxfamous]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 1:23pm

This show needs to be a thriller/horror movie. I think giving it to Burton put it in better hands than throwing another musical to Chris Columbus. Let's count our blessings on that one.

B3TA07, thank you for making me almost spit my water on the computer.

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 1:54pm

Fench, when you say the show in its original incarnation, are you talking about the original with Lansbury on Broadway? If so. I don't think it was "laughably silly".

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 1:58pm

Well, I think the concern was that it would be so bloody that it would even exceed an R rating, which is what initially happened with SLEEPY HOLLOW.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 3:27pm

Awesome news! I was gonna have to travel to the nearest (far away) theater on Dec. 21st...

[RockabyeHamlet]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 3:35pm

""deaths of wife & child"???? "

-I thought the exact same thing.

It is never implied that Sweeney thinks Johanna is dead. I believe it is an error in the article. Sweeney thinking Johanna is dead would alter the story significantly.

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 6:22pm

HOT DAMN! Great news!

Although there's no way Sweeney is going to gross #1 that weekend (as if we expected it to) with NATIONAL TREASURE 2: WE CAN'T BE WORSE THAN THE FIRST ONE? WE'LL SHOW YOU! coming out.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 6:37pm

I assume he thinks they're both dead until Mrs. Lovett confirms the death of one and reveals the adoption of the other. I mean, he's not exactly an optimist.

Fenchurch, yer crazy. Sweeney Todd isn't really scary (and if Burton can scare me with it I'll be extremely impressed) and it has legions of fans. The music and lyrics are brilliant and it's a completely unique show. Get off your high horse.

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 8:43pm

So excited. I'll be there on the 21st.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/12/07 at 4:54pm

Don't tell Tkt2Ride!

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 10/12/07 at 5:47pm

Am I the only one who found the title of this thread amusing? "Sweeney Todd will open wide December 21"

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/12/07 at 5:50pm

Probably.

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 10/12/07 at 5:54pm

Good to know.

[DMsquared2]

Posted: 10/12/07 at 6:00pm

No, broadwaybelter. I think the title makes it sound like a visit to the dentist's office.
Updated On: 10/12/07 at 06:00 PM