Sweeney Todd Starts Principal Photography Posted: Feb 26, 2007

Principal photography has begun in London on Sweeney Todd, the screen adaptation of Stephen Sonheim's award-winning musical of the same name. The film will star Johnny Depp as Sweeny Todd and be directed by Tim Burton.

In the film, Sweeney Todd is a sent to prison under false pretences, vowing revenge not only for that unjust punishment but for the devastating consequences of what happened to his wife and daughter as a result. Out of prison, Todd returns to reopen his barber shop, but as he is enraptured in vengence he becomes the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. In the first lines of the broadway play the film is based on, it is said that Todd " "shaved the heads of gentlemen who never thereafter were heard from again."

"I've always wanted to do a musical and 'Sweeney Todd' is my favorite," said Tim Burton. "Stephen's blend of humor, horror and emotion is something that has always connected with me."

"Sometimes a story or stage production has to wait a long time until the right people come together to turn it into a motion picture," said Stephen Sondheim. "That's what has happened with 'Sweeney Todd' and I'm excited as well as confident that it will be a first-rate and startling movie."

This will be the sixth collaboration between Depp and Burton who worked previously together on Corpse Bride, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Ed Wood, Edward Scissorhands and Sleepy Hollow. Depp comes fresh from completing the third Pirates of the Caribbean film, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, in the rold of Captain Jack Sparrow.

Also starring in Sweeny Todd is another favorite actor of Burtons, Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett who creates her diabolical meat pies while becoming Sweeney's amorous accomplice. Alan Rickman is the evil Judge Turpin who sent him unfairly to prison, thereby sowing the seeds of Sweeney's vengeance. Timothy Spall plays the Judge's wicked associate Beadle Bamford. Sacha Baron Cohen is a rival barber, the flamboyant Signor Adolfo Pirelli, and Christopher Lee takes on the role of the gentleman ghost.

Rounding out the cast are Jamie Campbell Bowen as the young sailor Anthony, Jayne Wisener as Johanna, Laura Michelle Kelly as the beggar woman, and newcomer Ed Sanders plays Toby.

All the stars will do their own singing from Stephen Sondheim's music and lyrics.

The film is produced by Richard D. Zanuck, Walter Parkes, Laurie MacDonald, and John Logan from a screenplay by Logan. The original Broadway production had Sondheim's music and lyrics and a book by Hugh Wheeler based on a play by Christopher Bond. It won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical.

The film will be distributed domestically by Paramount for a late 2007 release and distributed internationally by Warner Bros.