Sweeney Todd, Company, Assassins Film/TV Musicals in the works

[JeffG]

Posted: 6/23/04 at 3:42pm

I know there were a bunch of articles after CHICAGO won the Oscars, but I can't seem to find info on the development on the movie/tv musicals of Sweeney Todd, Company and Assassins. Have they been put on hold? Are they still in "talks" ?

[Matt_G]

Posted: 6/23/04 at 3:44pm

SWEENEY TODD is a go. I'm not familiar with those others being turned into films. I do know that HAIRSPRAY will most likely start filming this year and be released around the same time as THE PRODUCERS and possibly RENT. At this time PIPPIN is also being discussed as a film along with INTO THE WOODS.
Musicals are back, kids. Let's enjoy 'em while we got 'em.

Updated On: 6/23/04 at 03:44 PM

[on1ystarinthesky]

Posted: 6/23/04 at 3:49pm

Yay!!!

[CapnHook]

Posted: 6/23/04 at 4:07pm

INTO THE WOODS has been in talks for years. When the revival ended, the film was on hold.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 6/23/04 at 4:08pm

Yeah, but now interest has been renewed and there are serious talks again. But who knows...

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/23/04 at 4:18pm

I also heard talk about Guys and Dolls and Damn Yankees.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 6/23/04 at 4:19pm

'Into the Woods' would be fantastic as a movie musical. Is Joanne Gleason to old now to play the Baker's wife? She *made* that role for me.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 6/23/04 at 4:21pm

DAMN YANKEES was the other one. That's definately a go, also.

[bernadette88]

Posted: 6/23/04 at 4:21pm

if Into the Woods was made into a film, Bernadette would have to do the role! Not just because I am the biggest fan of her ever, but that role is such an awesome role for her, and she does one hell of a job with it! Plus it would be intersting to see how she does the role 17 years later! I have always said she would make a wonderful Mrs. Lovett! But i always get shut down on that one! I can't wait for Producers, Hairspray, and Rent!!! Any talks on who is playing tracy turnblad in hairspray?>??

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 6/23/04 at 4:25pm

I am a HUGE Bernadette fan and a HUGE Sweeney fan....but I don't think Bernadette would do well playing Mrs. Lovett.

[bernadette88]

Posted: 6/23/04 at 4:29pm

I understand...but...people said she couldn't do Annie Oakley but she did! People said she couldn't do Mama Rose...but she did! She did one hell of a job in both of these roles. Basically the way I look at every broadway performer...NEVER underestimate what they can do!!

[Matt_G]

Posted: 6/23/04 at 4:33pm

yes, but not on film. Those are two entirely seperate things. While Mrs. Peters can pack the broadway houses, she can not do the same with the movie houses.

[magruder]

Posted: 6/23/04 at 4:49pm

Is there really a Company film in the works? Not sure that's such a great idea...

[JeffG]

Posted: 6/23/04 at 4:56pm

I remember those three specifically being mentioned since I am a big Sondheim fan.

Personally, I think Merrily and Saturday Night would fare better on film then they did on stage

[bernadette88]

Posted: 6/23/04 at 5:02pm

Matt_G....Very True!! Never really looked at it from that aspect!...

[Plum]

Posted: 6/23/04 at 5:07pm

The last thing I heard is that Sweeney Todd is on hold until its prospective director, Sam Mendes, gets around to it. His next project (is it filming now?) is a war movie, I think, and he's also tied to a number ofother movies. So who knows.

I've never heard of plans for Company and Assassins to be made into films, but they don't seem very well-suited for it. They aren't just non-linear; they're Cubist. And Assassins is causing enough controversey when it's confinfed to New York.

As for Into the Woods...I would love to see Bernadette Peters playing the Witch once again. Frankly, I don't care if she isn't a big name and the studios shouldn't either. Into the Woods has plenty of well-known names- Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and not one, but two Prince Charmings. In other words, it is its own marketing so it doesn't need a big-name star as urgently as other musicals might. It's easy to market it as a fractured fairy tale.

Sweeney, on the other hand, might require a big name in one of the two leads. It's not exactly an easy sell on its own- can you imagine some movie marketing department trying to figure out how to sell "a cannibalism musical"? Oy. But I have no idea what big star would be well suited to play Sweeney or Lovett. Perhaps Victor Garber now that he has Alias fame?

Just because I have a one-track mind, I'd love to see Peters play Mrs. Lovett, as well. She's the right age (though she doesn't look it), and no one doubts her vocal or comedy chops. I think she'd be a hoot in the role.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 6/23/04 at 5:13pm

I'm sure they would need a female name for SWEENEY. What about Glenn Close?

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 6/23/04 at 5:30pm

Glenn?.....I think she might need to stick to "A Little Night Music".....she's not HUGE box office draw anyway.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 6/23/04 at 5:32pm

No, not huge but bigger than Bernadette.
I say we let Bette star in a musical! That would be wonderful!


OH! And let's not forget that Liza is still attached to the SUNSET BLVD movie. Although I think Babs would be the perfect Norma!

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 6/23/04 at 5:38pm

I think I'd have to go with Liza on "Sunset Boulevard".

I know its not gonna happen in a million years, but if only Patti and George could do the Sweeney movie. I think probably Neil Patrick Harris will be Tobias.

[Plum]

Posted: 6/23/04 at 5:53pm

Not Patti Lupone! Please, anything but that...

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 6/23/04 at 5:54pm

Awwwww...poor Patti.

I thought she played Mrs. Lovett very well in the NY and SF concerts, just needs to work on her accent a little.

[BroadwayBound06]

Posted: 6/23/04 at 6:32pm

It seems as though COMPANY was done in 1996 as a tv movie for the BBC http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0352250/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0352250/>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0352250/

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 6/23/04 at 6:59pm

i think kathy bates would make a awsome mrs. lovett if it were made into a movie!!!! what do you guys think??

[iruvyou]

Posted: 6/23/04 at 7:15pm

I never thought about Kathy playing that part it might be a good part for her (can she pull off the accent) I will alway think angela was the best