Today in London...SWEENEY TODD begins principal photography!

[CapnHook]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 1:35am

Funny how filming has begun and we don't know the entire cast.

Does this mean that all unannounced characters will be played by non-commercial names? That can either be good or bad, I just find it interesting we don't know the full cast.

[Julian2]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 3:06am

Sweet! I love this show and Tim Burton! This almost makes up for the fact that Martin Short and Christine Ebersole will never conceive a child!!!!!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 10:20am

The shoot date was pushed back a few weeks, but they are working on the pre-recordings. Yes, the principles are all cast - Johanna, Anthony, Tobias are all unknowns.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 1:35pm

MB, so what else do you know about the film? You seem to know quite a bit about it. Spill the beans!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 1:46pm

I've done some work with DREAMWORKS and have a couple of friends there - so I hear bits and pieces. I know the movie is cast, much to the studio's dismay, with mostly unknowns (I posted a picture of the guy playing Anthony) - And I know Burton is recording some songs we all thought were cut from the script as "maybes." A lot of the singing in the film is apparently going to happen as voice over.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 1:50pm

voice over?!

too bad.

[worrell4077]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 3:07pm

So I guess this means Freddie Highmore isn't Tobias. Oh, well, but what I'm curious about is the photo of the person playing Anthony. Has he done any other films cause he looks kinda like the kid from the new version of Peter Pan, the one with Jason Issacs.

[purpleprince101]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 3:30pm

i am not sure about johnny depp....

[gumbo2]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 3:32pm

Johnny Depp is what is going to get people to see the movie, so I guess I'm okay with it...

[kyle.]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 3:32pm

I'm very sorry to ask this because I am sure it has been discussed on here before but I cannot for the life of me remember the answer. Why did Mendes pull out again?

[jasonf]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 4:42pm

Because he didn't have a condon...

Sorry - lame joke.

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 4:58pm

To funny jasonf! MB (or anyone else who may know), is Sondheim involved with the film at all? Also, any idea what songs will be cut and will Sondheim pen any new songs to get an Oscar nod?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 5:02pm

Sondheim had partial casting approval. He's the reason (I'm sure Burton had influence, too) why Depp and Carter were cast.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 8:57pm

There is a giant two page ad in today's VARIETY announcing the start of filming. Practically a poster - exciting!

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 9:01pm

oh! can someone scan it!?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 9:05pm

I don't have a scanner or I would!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 9:18pm

Mostly Voiceovers? Seriously? I have never seen this done where it didn't look like a music video. Ugh.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 9:26pm

bah humbug!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 9:27pm

Maybe it will be like YENTL.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 9:30pm

But isn't every film trying to be Yentl?

[B3TA07]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 9:32pm

Maybe the lip syncing will be as good as in Phantom!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 9:34pm

I'm sure YENTL is Tim Burton's favorite....

Well, at least everyone will be happy that the Anthony and Johanna, though both have legit voices. Anthony was just a boy tenor a few years ago...

I'm assuming Tobias can sing too. He's just a kid.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 9:38pm

I can't imagine too much of the singing in the film will be in voiceover, except for "Poor Thing" if they keep it and I guess parts of "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd." That is unless Tim Burton has lost all sense of what is dramatically effective.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 9:38pm

Does he have all his teeth? That's the important thing. I'm not one for the bucktooth kid with only 3 pearly whites eating ice cream (or meat pies, rather).

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 9:41pm

"There is a giant two page ad in today's VARIETY announcing the start of filming. Practically a poster - exciting!"

Does it have a logo?