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Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

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DreamWorks Drops Plans To Issue 'Bee Movie' in HD DVD
29 February 2008 (StudioBriefing)
DreamWorks announced Thursday that it will end its support for the HD DVD high-definition format and will not release Bee Movie in the format on March 11 as originally scheduled. Meanwhile, a Paramount spokesman has told the website High-Def Disc News that next week's releases of Into the Wild and Things We Lost in the Fire will be the studio's final ones in the format. It canceled its April 1 release of Sweeney Todd and its April 15 release of There Will Be Blood, but it did not indicate when those titles will be issued in the Blu-ray format.

Oscars Favor No Country for Old Men
25 February 2008 (IMDb News Flash)
No Country for Old Men was the big winner at the 80th Annual Academy Awards, winning four Oscars including Best Picture. The gritty thriller, a favorite among critics, also won top awards for directors Joel Coen and Ethan Coen (the second duo to win the Best Direction award), adapted screenplay (also for the Coens), and Best Supporting Actor for Javier Bardem. Surprisingly, the next movie to win the most awards was The Bourne Ultimatum, which took home three technical awards, while the two movies to win top acting honors earned two awards each. There Will Be Blood was the recipient of Best Actor for Daniel Day-Lewis, while La Vien En Rose nabbed Best Make-Up and, in a bit of a surprise, Best Actress for Marion Cotillard, who thanked both life and love upon receiving her Oscar. Michael Clayton's Tilda Swinton was the winner in the highly-contentious Best Supporting Actress category, while Juno was, as expected, the winner of the Original Screenplay award.

There were a few more surprises in other categories, as Elizabeth: The Golden Age won for Best Costume Design, and Taxi to the Dark Side was named Best Documentary over favorites Sicko and No End in Sight. Best Picture nominee Atonement won a single award for Original Score, with Best Song going to "Falling Slowly" from Once. Other single-award winners included Ratatouille for Best Animated Feature, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street for Art Direction, and The Golden Compass for Visual Effects. Art Director Robert Boyle, nominated for such films as North by Northwest and Fiddler on the Roof, was presented with an honorary Oscar.

Hosted by Jon Stewart, the ceremony went along smoothly with few hiccups, though more than one presenter slid on the floor on their way to the podium. For home viewers, the show went only about 20 minutes or so over the expected time. You can check out photos from the Academy Awards, courtesy of WireImage.

Get the full list of winners in our Road to the Oscars section.

Oscars Favor No Country for Old Men
24 February 2008 (IMDb News Flash)
No Country for Old Men was the big winner at the 80th Annual Academy Awards, winning four Oscars including Best Picture. The gritty thriller, a favorite among critics, also won top awards for directors Joel Coen and Ethan Coen (the second duo to win the Best Direction award), adapted screenplay (also for the Coens), and Best Supporting Actor for Javier Bardem. Surprisingly, the next movie to win the most awards was The Bourne Ultimatum, which took home three technical awards, while the two movies to win top acting honors earned two awards each. There Will Be Blood was the recipient of Best Actor for Daniel Day-Lewis, while La Vien En Rose nabbed Best Make-Up and, in a bit of a surprise, Best Actress for Marion Cotillard, who thanked both life and love upon receiving her Oscar. Michael Clayton's Tilda Swinton was the winner in the highly-contentious Best Supporting Actress category, while Juno was, as expected, the winner of the Original Screenplay award.

There were a few more surprises in other categories, as Elizabeth: The Golden Age won for Best Costume Design, and Taxi to the Dark Side was named Best Documentary over favorites Sicko and No End in Sight. Best Picture nominee Atonement won a single award for Original Score, with Best Song going to "Falling Slowly" from Once. Other single-award winners included Ratatouille for Best Animated Feature, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street for Art Direction, and The Golden Compass for Visual Effects. Art Director Robert Boyle, nominated for such films as North by Northwest and Fiddler on the Roof, was presented with an honorary Oscar.

Hosted by Jon Stewart, the ceremony went along smoothly with few hiccups, though more than one presenter slid on the floor on their way to the podium. For home viewers, the show went only about 20 minutes or so over the expected time. You can check out photos from the Academy Awards, courtesy of WireImage.

Get the full list of winners in our Road to the Oscars section.

Clooney Concedes Oscar Defeat to Day-Lewis
6 February 2008 (WENN)
George Clooney is already conceding Best Actor Oscar victory to Daniel Day-Lewis, claiming no one has a chance against the British star. The pair are on the shortlist for the prize at this month's ceremony, alongside Viggo Mortensen for Eastern Promises, Tommy Lee Jones for In The Valley Of Elah and Johnny Depp for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street. But Clooney has already given up hope of winning for his role in Michael Clayton - to add to his Best Supporting Academy Award for Syriana - after watching Day-Lewis in his nominated role in There Will Be Blood. He says, "If you want my honest opinion, I think it's going to be Daniel Day-Lewis. He sort of irritates all of us because he's so good. I'll tell you right now, I don't like him!"

Baby Indiana for Burton and Bonham Carter
1 February 2008 (WENN)
Sweeney Todd filmmaker Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter have named their six-week-old daughter Indiana Rose, according to reports. The actress gave birth to the couple's second child on December 16, but have kept tight-lipped about the new tot's name. A spokesperson for the British star refused to confirm the news, but confessed to WENN, "It's probably likely." German website VIP.de claims Burton and Bonham Carter waited until now, because they were expecting a brother for four-year-old Billy Ray, so had only thought up boys names, reports PageSix.com.

Oscar Nominations Announced
22 January 2008 (StudioBriefing)
No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood received eight Oscar nominations each, the most of any films that will be competing in this year's Academy Awards. Atonement and Michael Clayton each earned seven nominations. All four films were nominated for best film, along with the comedy Juno. The nominations were announced early today (Tuesday) in Beverly Hills, hours before an informal meeting was scheduled to take place between representatives of the Writers Guild of America and media executives that could determine whether the awards ceremonies would take place as usual next month. The nominations also included two for Cate Blanchett -- one for best actress for Elizabeth: The Golden Age, the other for best supporting actress for her portrayal of the young Bob Dylan in I'm Not There. Also nominated for best actress were Julie Christie for Away from Her, Marion Cotillard for La Vie En Rose, Laura Linney for The Savages and Ellen Page for Juno. In the best actor category, Daniel Day-Lewis was regarded as a shoo-in for his performance in There Will Be Blood. Also competing for the honor will be George Clooney for Michael Clayton, Johnny Depp for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Tommy Lee Jones for In the Valley of Elah, and Viggo Mortensen for Eastern Promises. In the director's category, the contest appeared to be a two-way affair between Paul Thomas Anderson, who helmed There Will Be Blood and Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, who directed No Country for Old Men. Also competing are Jason Reitman for Juno, Tony Gilroy for Michael Clayton and Julian Schnabel for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.

Oscars Favor There Will Be Blood and No Country for Old Men
22 January 2008 (IMDb News Flash)
Two art house films ruled the roost at the 80th Annual Academy Award nominations, as No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood tied for the most nods with eight each. Both films received nominations for Best Picture, Directing, and Adapted Screenplay, as well as a single acting nomination -- No Country for Old Men's Javier Bardem received a Best Supporting Actor nod and the heavily-favored Daniel Day-Lewis was an expected nominee for Best Actor for There Will Be Blood. The Coen brothers received nominations in four categories -- Picture, Directing, Editing and Adapted Screenplay -- and are the third two-man team to get a Directing nod. Following behind the two Westerns were Atonement and Michael Clayton with seven nominations apiece, although Atonement failed to snag mentions for director or leads Keira Knightley and James McAvoy, young Saoirse Ronan was a Best Supporting Actress contender. Michael Clayton, on the other hand, dominated with acting nominations for George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson and Tilda Swinton as well as directing and screenplay nods. Indie comedy Juno rounded out the Best Picture list and received four nominations overall, including nods for director Jason Reitman, screenwriter Diablo Cody and star Ellen Page. Other films scoring multiple nominations included Ratatouille (five nods) and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (four, including a mention for director Julian Schnabel).

In terms of surprises and omissions, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street managed only three nominations, though one was for Best Actor contender Johnny Depp. An unexpected Best Actor contender was Tommy Lee Jones for the little-seen Iraq war drama In the Valley of Elah, and Cate Blanchett received two nominations, for Best Actress (Elizabeth: The Golden Age) and Supporting Actress (I'm Not There -- the second time an actor has been nominated for playing the opposite sex). Into the Wild, favored by a number of guild awards with nominations, failed to nab a Best Picture nod or a director mention for Sean Penn; only Hal Holbrook received a major nomination, for Supporting Actor. And Disney once again co-opted the Best Song category, as three songs from Enchanted help fill out the full list of nominees in that category - expect a lot of Amy Adams at this year's ceremony!

Speaking of which, if all goes according to plan, the Academy Awards will be handed out on Sunday, February 24th at 8pm ET/5pm ET. Though the continuing WGA strike tacitly threatens to mar the proceedings, the Academy is moving forward as planned with the show. --Mark Englehart, IMDb staff

Get the full list of nominees in our Road to the Oscars section.

'Atonement' Dominates British BAFTA Nominations
16 January 2008 (StudioBriefing)
The British film Atonement, which received the Golden Globe award for best film Sunday, received a whopping 14 nominations for the BAFTAs, presented by the British Academy of Film and Television. The movie received nominations for best film, best British film, best actress (Keira Knightley), best actor (James McAvoy), best director (Joe Wright) and best supporting actress (Saoirse Ronan). Two films received nine nominations, No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood. All three films were nominated for best film, along with The Lives of Others and American Gangster.Several British critics expressed surprise at the poor showing for Sweeney Todd, which received nominations only for make-up, hair and costume design. Winners are due to be announced on February 10.

Globes Spin to a Standstill
14 January 2008 (StudioBriefing)
The Golden Globe awards, known more for their glamour and glitz than for the prestige of the awards themselves, had neither Sunday night as they were reduced to a perfunctory announcement of the winners by the hosts of several syndicated entertainment TV magazines. The awards are voted on by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, a small group of mostly part-time and freelance writers for overseas newspapers and magazines (none of whom announced any winners). The winners were not on hand for the announcements, abiding by directions from their unions not to cross picket lines of the Writers Guild of America, which had vowed to send strikers to the ceremonies in Beverly Hills en masse if the awards show was staged as usual. (Ironically the first winner announced Sunday night was Cate Blanchett, who won the supporting actress award for a film titled I'm Not There.) Sometimes regarded as a forecast of the Oscars, Sunday night's non-affair was only that in the sense that it raised the question of whether a similar fate would befall the equally glitzy but far more prestigious Academy Awards show, scheduled for February 24. As usual, the awards were spread over numerous films -- in order to curry favor with stars and publicists, according to some critics -- with Atonement, which was voted best film, receiving only one additional award -- for best original music. Some of the awards seemed to come out of left field and mirrored none that had come earlier. Contacted by the Associated Press, producer Richard Zanuck, whose Sweeney Todd won for best musical or comedy (beating the favorite, Juno), predicted that the strike will either be settled before the Oscars or that the WGA will grant a waiver for the show to take place. "I don't think they want to be responsible in bringing the most important event in the motion-picture industry each year down to its knees," he said. The WGA has maintained, however, that it is the studios who would be responsible for such an eventuality since they are the ones who broke off negotiations and continue to insist that they will not return to the talks until the union drops several demands regarding jurisdiction over reality and animated films and TV shows.

Producers Guild Nominees Announced
14 January 2008 (WENN)
Hot on the heels of the Golden Globe awards, the Producers Guild of America has announed its five contenders for its Best Picture award: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Juno, Michael Clayton, No Country for Old Men, and There Will Be Blood. Four of the five films also previously received Directors Guild nominations (Juno was passed over for Into the Wild by the DGA), and all films received multiple Golden Globe nods. The last of the major guild awards, the PGA honors effectively put the kibosh on such hopeful Oscar contenders as Atonement, Charlie Wilson's War and Sweeney Todd, which received no love from the Directors Guild, the Screen Actors Guild or the Writers Guild. While the nominations from the guild aren't exact precursors for the Academy Awards, a majority of guild members are also Academy voters. Bee Movie, Ratatouille, and The Simpsons Movie were nominated for the PGA's animated film award, while Body of War, Hear and Now, Pete Seeger: The Power of Song, Sicko, and White Light/Black Rain are in competition for the documentary award.

Atonement Wins Top Award at Golden Globes
14 January 2008 (IMDb News Flash)
Atonement took the top honor at the extremely short Golden Globe Awards, nabbing Best Picture (Drama), but no single film took home more than two awards. The literary adaptation also won the Best Score award as well, while on the Comedy/Musical side, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street was Best Picture (Comedy/Musical), with star Johnny Depp winning his first Globe ever for the title role. Other movies winning two awards were critical favorite No Country for Old Men (screenplay and supporting actor for Javier Bardem) and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Foreign Language Film and a surprise win for director Julian Schnabel). Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood) and Julie Christie (Away From Her), now officially heavy Oscar favorites, won dramatic lead honors, and Marion Cotillard (La Vie En Rose) was named Best Actress - Comedy/Musical. Cate Blanchett nabbed Best Supporting Actress for I'm Not There -- which could have been the subtitle of the Globes show -- and other winners included Ratatouille (animated film) and Into the Wild (song).

On the television side, freshman drama Mad Men was the top series winner, taking home the only two awards for which it was nominated -- Dramatic Series and Best Actor (Drama) for star Jon Hamm; the new show with the most nominations, Damages, won only one, for lead actress Glenn Close. The comedy winners were all a bit unexpected, with Extras nabbing the series award, and comedy acting honors going to Tina Fey (30 Rock) and David Duchovny (Californication). Winning three awards -- more than any other television show or film -- was the HBO film Longford, starring Globe winners Jim Broadbent and Samantha Morton. Other winners were also HBO stars - Queen Latifah for Life Support and Jeremy Piven, winning his first Globe for Entourage.

As for the show itself, it was devoid of movie stars, but filled with correspondents from entertainment news shows -- Mary Hart, Giuliana Rancic, and Jim Moret, among others -- who simultaneously saluted the striking writers of the WGA and praised Hollywood Foreign Press Association President Jorge Camara, who presented the final awards of the evening. At around 32 minutes, it was succinct and to the point, but without the stars, the fashion, the high-profile goofs, the speeches, and the champagne, this year's Globes were a shadow of their former incarnations. But Camara promised next year's show would be "bigger and better" than ever before. Hopefully, no one will be on strike then. --Mark Englehart, IMDb staff

Get the full list of winners in our Road to the Oscars section.

Atonement Wins Top Award at Golden Globes
13 January 2008 (IMDb News Flash)
Atonement took the top honor at the extremely short Golden Globe Awards, nabbing Best Picture (Drama), but no single film took home more than two awards. The literary adaptation also won the Best Score award as well, while on the Comedy/Musical side, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street was Best Picture (Comedy/Musical), with star Johnny Depp winning his first Globe ever for the title role. Other movies winning two awards were critical favorite No Country for Old Men (screenplay and supporting actor for Javier Bardem) and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Foreign Language Film and a surprise win for director Julian Schnabel). Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood) and Julie Christie (Away From Her), now officially heavy Oscar favorites, won dramatic lead honors, and Marion Cotillard (La Vie En Rose) was named Best Actress - Comedy/Musical. Cate Blanchett nabbed Best Supporting Actress for I'm Not There -- which could have been the subtitle of the Globes show -- and other winners included Ratatouille (animated film) and Into the Wild (song).

On the television side, freshman drama Mad Men was the top series winner, taking home the only two awards for which it was nominated -- Dramatic Series and Best Actor (Drama) for star Jon Hamm; the new show with the most nominations, Damages, won only one, for lead actress Glenn Close. The comedy winners were all a bit unexpected, with Extras nabbing the series award, and comedy acting honors going to Tina Fey (30 Rock) and David Duchovny (Californication). Winning three awards -- more than any other television show or film -- was the HBO film Longford, starring Globe winners Jim Broadbent and Samantha Morton. Other winners were also HBO stars - Queen Latifah for Life Support and Jeremy Piven, winning his first Globe for Entourage.

As for the show itself, it was devoid of movie stars, but filled with correspondents from entertainment news shows -- Mary Hart, Giuliana Rancic, and Jim Moret, among others -- who simultaneously saluted the striking writers of the WGA and praised Hollywood Foreign Press Association President Jorge Camara, who presented the final awards of the evening. At around 32 seconds, it was succinct and to the point, but without the stars, the fashion, the high-profile goofs, the speeches, and the champagne, this year's Globes were a shadow of their former incarnations. But Camara promised next year's show would be "bigger and better" than ever before. Hopefully, no one will be on strike then. --Mark Englehart, IMDb staff

Get the full list of winners in our Road to the Oscars section.

WGA Nominees Announced
10 January 2008 (WENN)
Nominees for the Writers Guild of America Awards have been announced, with a few suprises and notable omissions. Original Screenplay nods went to four comedies -- Juno, Knocked Up, Lars and the Real Girl, and The Savages -- and one drama, Michael Clayton, while the films up for Adapted Screenplay are four critical favorites -- The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Into the Wild, No Country for Old Men, and There Will Be Blood -- and one surprising left-field contender, the thriller Zodiac, released back in March. Missing from contention were such high-profile films as Atonement, Charlie Wilson's War, and Sweeney Todd, which were also passed over for the Directors Guild of America awards. Documentary nominees were The Camden 28, Nanking, No End in Sight, The Rape of Europa, Sicko and Taxi to the Dark Side. The WGA Awards will be handed out on Saturday, February 9th.

'Juno' Winds Up in Second Place
8 January 2008 (StudioBriefing)
The critically acclaimed indie comedy Juno rocketed up the box-office chart to place second over the weekend, according to final figures released Monday by Media by Numbers. Although weekend studio estimates showed Warner Bros.' I Am Legend taking second place, official results showed Juno at No. 2 with $15.9 million and Legend at No. 3 with $15.7 million. Disney's National Treasure: Book of Secrets remained at the top of the list with $20 million.

The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Media by Numbers (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date): 1. National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Disney, $20,062,684, 3 Wks. ($170,870,795); 2. Juno, Fox Searchlight, $15,860,744, 5 Wks. ($51667586); 3. I Am Legend, Warner Bros., $15,717,458, 4 Wks. ($228,055,662); 4. Alvin and the Chipmunks, 20th Century Fox, $15,546,125, 4 Wks. ($176,283,861); 5. One Missed Call, Warner Bros., $12,511,473, (New); 6. Charlie Wilson's War, Universal, $8,106,250, 3 Wks. ($52,552,540); 7. P.S. I Love You, Warner Bros., $7,834,467, 3 Wks. ($39,202,724); 8. The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep, Sony, $6,230,489, 2 Wks. ($30,823,470); 9. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, DreamWorks/Warner Bros., $5,536,538, 3 Wks. ($38,608,100); 10. Atonement, Focus Features, $5,064,577, 5 Wks. ($19,155,607).

'Juno': Birth of a Big Hit
7 January 2008 (StudioBriefing)
Disney's National Treasure: Book of Secrets stayed at the top of the box office for the third consecutive weekend with an estimated $20.2 million. But the big story was the rise of Fox Searchlight's Juno to No. 3 on the list with $16.2 million, just a notch below I Am Legend, which earned $16.4 million. When final figures are released today (Monday), rankings of the two runner-up films could well be reversed. Also performing strongly was the critically praised Atonement, which came in at No. 10 on the list of top films with $5.1 million despite playing in only 538 theaters. Overall, the box office was up about 7 percent above the comparable weekend last year. Meanwhile, I Am Legend remained the No. 1 film overseas for the third weekend in a row, with ticket sales of $34 million, according to studio estimates. The Golden Compass, a disappointment domestically, remained in second place overseas with $29 million. It has now taken in $232 million abroad compared with $62 million in North America.

The top ten films at the box office over the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Media by Numbers: 1. National Treasure: Book of Secrets, $20.2 million; 2. I Am Legend, $16.4 million; 3. Juno, $16.2 million; 4. Alvin and the Chipmunks, $16 million; 5. One Missed Call, $13.5 million; 6. Charlie Wilson's War, $8.2 million; 7. P.S. I Love You, $8 million; 8. The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep, $6.3 million; 9. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, $5.4 million; 10. Atonement, $5.1 million.

Depp Top Draw in 2007
4 January 2008 (StudioBriefing)
Johnny Depp, who was once relegated to relatively low budget films because producers thought him too outré to attract sizable audiences, was named Top Money Making Star for the second year in a row in the 76th annual Quickley Publishing Co. poll. Depp starred in 2007 in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. The poll. which surveys motion picture exhibitors, put Will Smith (I Am Legend) in second place. Other top finishers: 3: George Clooney (Ocean's Thirteen, Michael Clayton); 4. Matt Damon (Ocean's Thirteen, The Bourne Ultimatum); 5. Denzel Washington (American Gangster, The Great Debaters).

Moviegoers Open 'Treasure' Box
31 December 2007 (StudioBriefing)
Without the distraction of last-minute Christmas shopping and family get-togethers, moviegoers returned to the theaters over the weekend to see the movies that they may have missed over last weekend's holiday. (No new movies opened wide.) The result was a second big weekend for Disney's National Treasure: Book of Secrets, which declined just 20 percent, to take in an estimated $35.6 million, bringing its 10-day total to $124 million. Surprisingly 20th Century Fox's I Am Legend for second place with $30 million in ticket sales. Legend placed third with $27.5 million, bringing its total to $194.6 million and putting it on track to cross the $200-million mark today (Monday), as moviegoers return to theaters on New Year's Eve. Charlie Wilson's War came in fourth with an estimated gross of $11.8 million. The film, which stars Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts and was directed by Mike Nichols, has been making steady progress since opening slowly last week. Widening its release to 998 theaters, Fox Searchlight's Juno placed fifth with $10.3 million, giving it a per-theater average of $10,321, a figure that exceeds the $9,290 per-theater average of Treasure. Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that the critically hailed There Will Be Blood, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, took in $185,525 in just two theaters -- that's $92,763 per theater. On the other hand, The Golden Compass and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story fell out of the top ten faster than most analysts had thought possible.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Media by Numbers: 1. National Treasure: Book of Secrets, $35.6 million; 2. Alvin and the Chipmunks, $30 million; 3. I Am Legend, $27.5 million; 4. Charlie Wilson's War, $11.8 million; 5. Juno, $10.3 million; 6. Alien Vs. Predator: Requiem, $10.05 million; 7. The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep, $9.2 million; 8. P.S. I Love You, $9.1 million; 9. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, $8 million; 10. Enchanted, $6.5 million.

Burton: 'Studios Feared Sweeney Todd'
28 December 2007 (WENN)
Studio bosses balked at proposals for Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd movie, because they feared a musical/horror film with no "pop songs" would bomb at the box office, according to the director himself. The maverick filmmaker struggled to win over movie bigwigs, not least when he opted to cast Johnny Depp - who has no previous singing experience - in the lead role. But Burton has praised Hollywood for greenlighting such a risky project. He tells British film magazine Empire, "What's weird is that they (the studios) are afraid of musicals anyway, but an R-rated musical with blood that's not based on pop songs, it's like, 'F**k!' "Then it was like, 'Um, can he (Depp) sing?' Nobody knew. I didn't know. So that's the joke of the whole thing. In a way, that's the surreal nature of Hollywood, so you have to love it for that because on paper, it's like the worst idea of all time!"

Box Office Full of 'Treasure'
27 December 2007 (StudioBriefing)
The five-day Christmas holiday brought joy to studio execs as ticket sales soared 34 percent higher than those for the comparable weekend a year ago. The leader of the pack was National Treasure: Book of Secrets, which finished with $65.4 million over the five-day period. In second place was Will Smith's I Am Legend, which collected $47.6 million. Alvin and the Chipmunks finished third with $38.6 million. Opening on Christmas Day Alien vs. Predator: Requiem took in $9.5 million and presumably drew moviegoers away from Treasure, which had the same young-male target audience. Also opening wide on Christmas were The Great Debaters, which took in $3.5 million, and The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep, which brought in $2.4 million. In limited release, the award-winning animated film Persepolis took in $37,118 in seven theaters.

The top ten films over the five-day holiday weekend, according to final figures compiled by Media by Numbers (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date): 1. National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Disney, $65,444,195, (New); 2. I Am Legend, Warner Bros., $47,685,378, 2 Wks. ($150,950,671); 3. Alvin and the Chipmunks, Fox, $38,609,310, 2 Wks., ($94,476,107); 4. Charlie Wilson's War, Universal, $15,952,430, (New); 5. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, DreamWorks/Paramount, $13,635,390, (New); 6. P.S. I Love You, Warner Bros., $10,048,349, (New); 7. Alien vs. Predator: Requiem, Fox, $9,515,615, (New); 8. The Golden Compass, New Line, $6,931,000, 3 Wks, ($51,379,000); 9. Juno, Fox Searchlight, $6,817,494, 3 Wks., ($9,802,170); 10. Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Sony/Columbia, $6,257,174, (New).

Christmas 'Treasure'
26 December 2007 (StudioBriefing)
It appeared Tuesday that National Treasure: Book of Secrets would wind up with about $65 million for the five-day Christmas holiday. The figure, released by Walt Disney Pictures on Tuesday, was based on actual receipts through Monday and an estimate for Tuesday. However, a wild card for Tuesday was the opening of the latest Aliens vs. Predator movie, which was expected to compete for the same audience that would ordinarily be attracted to Treasure. Final results are due to be announced later today (Wednesday). Warner Bros.' I Am Legend, starring Will Smith, was expected to finish the holiday in second place with about $47.5 million, bringing its 12-day total for $150.8 million. Twentieth Century Fox's Alvin & the Chipmunks was expected to finish in third place. However, the studio declined to issue a five-day estimate, saying that it was impossible to forecast business for Christmas Day. It had taken in $32.8 million from Friday through Monday. Universal estimated that its comedy, Charlie Wilson's War, starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, had earned about $14.75 million, while DreamWorks figured its Sweeney Todd musical would take in $12.75 million. Sony's Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story was widely believed to have bombed. The studio said that it had earned just $4.7 million through Monday with little hope for a significant pick-up in receipts on Tuesday.

Bonham Carter's Shrinking Breasts
26 December 2007 (WENN)
Actress Helena Bonham Carter has pointed out one major inaccuracy in new movie Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - the size of her breasts. The 41-year-old star was pregnant with her and boyfriend Tim Burton's second child during much of the filming of Steven Sondheim's musical about a barbaric London barber, and she admits the changing appearance of her chest is more than noticeable in the final edit. She tells British magazine Heat, "There's no continuity. The first half of filming I wasn't pregnant, and the second half I was. And because we didn't shoot in order, I start off with huge breasts, then I walk upstairs and I've got tangerines again." Bonham Carter gave birth to a baby girl in London earlier this month .

Late Shows, Who Needs Them? Not New Movies
24 December 2007 (StudioBriefing)
As it turns out, the movie studios haven't needed those late-night talk shows to promote their newest releases, after all. For the second weekend in a row, the box office produced solid results, soaring 36 percent above those for the comparable weekend a year ago. It was led by National Treasure: Book of Secrets, which recorded an estimated $45.5 million for the first three days of a five-day holiday weekend -- 30 percent more than the original National Treasure earned when it opened with $35.1 million in 2004. Last week's No. 1 and No. 2 films finished No. 2 and No. 3, with the Will Smith starrer I Am Legend producing $34 million and Alvin and the Chipmunks, $29 million. Charlie Wilson's War debuted in fourth place with a soft $9.6 million, a veritable bomb for a movie starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, directed by Mike Nichols, and written by Aaron Sorkin. The film received all-over-the-place reviews. Although it's supposedly based on a true story, Wall Street Journal critic Joe Morgenstern wrote, "I didn't believe a word of it," while Claudia Puig in USA Today described it as "an eye-opening and sassy tale." It barely edged out Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, starring Johnny Depp, a veritable blockbuster for a non-stop singing musical -- and especially one showing on only 1,250 screens. Also surprising was the performance of P.S. I Love You, which was savaged by critics but nevertheless managed to draw $6.5 million in ticket sales. Its audience turned out to be 70 percent female. (They perhaps followed New York Post critic Lou Lumenick's advice: "Ladies, love means never having to force your significant other to sit through something as sloppy as P.S. I Love You.") Also surprising -- for the opposite reason -- was the poor performance of Judd Apatow's Walk Hard, which received mostly good reviews and strong studio promotion but tanked with just $6.5 million.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Media by Numbers: 1. National Treasure: Book of Secrets, $45.5 million; 2. I Am Legend, $34.2 million; 3. Alvin and the Chipmunks, $29 million; 4. Charlie Wilson's War, $9.6 million; 5. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, $9.35 million; 6. P.S. I Love You, $6.5 million; 7. Enchanted, $4.15 million; 8. Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, $4.1 million; 9. The Golden Compass, $4 million; 10. Juno, $3.4 million.

Movie Reviews: 'Sweeney Todd'
21 December 2007 (StudioBriefing)
The publicity and merchandising folks responsible for drawing audiences to the movie theaters to see the musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street have had a tough time selling this film, despite the fact that it is directed by Tim Burton and stars Johnny Depp. It is, after all, a movie that is sung from beginning to end, in which the colors are nearly non-existent, and which is set in 19th century London. And, oh, yes. as Roger Ebert observes in his four-star review in the Chicago Sun-Times: "The bloodiest musical in stage history, it now becomes the bloodiest in film history, and it isn't a jolly romp, either." How bloody is it? Well, consider A.O.Scott's description in the New York Times. "[It] is as dark and terrifying as any motion picture in recent memory, not excluding the bloody installments in the Saw franchise. Indeed, Sweeney is as much a horror film as a musical: It is cruel in its effects and radical in its misanthropy, expressing a breathtakingly, rigorously pessimistic view of human nature. It is also something close to a masterpiece, a work of extreme -- I am tempted to say evil -- genius." Nevertheless, writes Claudia Puig in USA Today, "Unlike more realistic violent fare, the gore in this gloomy Gothic marvel feels exaggeratedly theatrical and a vital part of the melodramatic mayhem. Sweeney Todd is the perfect marriage of filmmaker and material. Director Tim Burton has adapted Stephen Sondheim's Tony Award-winning musical in a darkly clever and comical fashion." Kyle Smith in the New York Post begins his review of the movie this way: "Tell me, is it good? Sir, it's too good, at least. Director Tim Burton's fierce and fast adaptation of the greatest stage musical of the last 30 years ... is mighty entertainment that makes you feel sorry for the saps next door in the multiplex." And Peter Marks in the Washington Post can barely contain his enthusiasm and praise. "With oceans of gore, streams of luscious musicality and a performance by Johnny Depp redolent of malevolence and magnetism, Burton brings Sondheim's 1979 musical to the screen with a bravura visual style thrillingly in touch with the timelessly depraved delights of Grand Guignol," he writes.

Bonham Carter Gives Birth to a Girl
17 December 2007 (WENN)
Sweeney Todd actress Helena Bonham Carter and director Tim Burton have welcomed their second child. The Golden Globe nominee, 41, gave birth to a girl in London on Saturday. The baby is her second child with Burton, 49, - the couple already have a four-year-old son, Billy. A spokesman for Bonham Carter tells People.com, "They are absolutely delighted they have a daughter. It's a lovely Christmas present for the family." Burton and Bonham Carter have been dating since meeting on the set of the 2001 movie Planet Of The Apes.

'Atonement' Takes the Lead
13 December 2007 (StudioBriefing)
Atonement, the British period romance which received strong reviews and has attracted solid box-office business in limited release, received seven Golden Globes nominations today -- more than any other film. Joining it among best drama nominees were American Gangster, Eastern Promises, The Great Debaters, Michael Clayton, No Country for Old Men, and There Will Be Blood.It was the first time that seven films had ever been included in a Golden Globes category. (The usual number is five.) The Globes, which divides the best film award into drama and comedy/musical categories, nominated in the latter category: Across the Universe, Charlie Wilson's War, Hairspray, Juno, and Sweeney Todd. While the dramatic category reflected the fare being considered by many other awards groups, the comedy/musical group surprisingly omitted the two Judd Apatow features, Knocked Up and Superbad, easily the two best reviewed and best-attended comedy films of the year. Two other surprise omissions were I'm Not There and Into the Wild in any of the drama categories. It was a particularly good day for Philip Seymour Hoffman and Cate Blanchett, each of whom received two acting nominations, Hoffman for The Savages and Charlie Wilson's War and Blanchett for Elizabeth: The Golden Age and I'm Not There. Winners are scheduled to be announced during an NBC telecast on Sunday, Jan. 13.

Atonement Leads Golden Globe Nominations
13 December 2007 (IMDb News Flash)
Atonement was the dominant movie at this morning's announcement of the Golden Globe nominations with seven nods, including Best Picture (Drama) and three acting nominations. The adaptation of Ian McEwan's acclaimed bestseller also received nominations for directing, screenplay, and score as well as for its two leads, James McAvoy and Keira Knightley, and a supporting actress mention for young Saoirse Ronan. Critical favorite No Country for Old Men received four nominations, including picture, supporting actor (Javier Bardem), and directing and screenplay nominations for Joel Coen and Ethan Coen; legal thriller Michael Clayton also received four nods, including picture and three acting nominations for George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson and Tilda Swinton. Rounding out the dramatic Best Picture nominees -- there were an unprecedented seven in all -- were American Gangster, Eastern Promises, The Great Debaters, and There Will Be Blood.

Over on the Comedy/Musical side, Charlie Wilson's War led the pack with five nods, including Best Picture (Comedy/Musical), three acting nominations for stars Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, and a screenplay nomination for Aaron Sorkin. Tim Burton's blood-filled adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim musical Sweeney Todd received four nominations in the Comedy/Musical categories for picutre, Best Actor (Johnny Depp), Best Actress (Helena Bonham Carter), and a directing nod for Burton. Indie hit Juno also scored well, with mentions for star Ellen Page and screenwriter Diablo Cody as well as a best picture nod, and summer musical Hairspray bounced back to life with nominations for picture, lead actress (Nikki Blonsky) and supporting actor (John Travolta). The other nominee for Best Picture (Comedy/Musical) was the Beatles musical Across the Universe.

In the television categories, FX newcomer Damages was the leading series contender with four nominations, while the HBO movie Longford also received four nods. Freshman hit Pushing Daisies, returning comedies Entourage and 30 Rock, and miniseries Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee received three nominations each.


Get all of the Golden Globe Nominations in our Road to the Oscars section

Critics Choice Nominees a Mixed Bag
12 December 2007 (StudioBriefing)
Once again pointing up the lack of consensus over which motion picture deserves best film honors, the Broadcast Film Critics Association divided its major nominations among seven films for its annual Critics Choice Awards. Into the Wild led with seven nominations; Juno received six; and Atonement, Michael Clayton, No Country for Old Men, Sweeney Todd and Hairspray each received five. All of the films received best picture nominations with the exception of Hairspray. Also nominated for best picture were American Gangster, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, The Kite Runner, and There Will Be Blood.Winners are due to be announced during an awards telecast on VH1 set for January 7.

Bait-and-Switch Ad Campaign for 'Sweeney'?
10 December 2007 (StudioBriefing)
Chicago Sun-Times advertising/marketing columnist Lewis Lazare has accused Paramount/DreamWorks of launching a "bait and switch" ad campaign for its forthcoming (Dec. 21) release of Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Lazare observes that although the movie employs the entire Stephen Sondheim score from the stage production and that 90 percent of the movie is sung, the official trailer "makes the movie seem like a fast-paced bloody period thriller/horror flick." Lazare suggests that the ads should "lure in enough unsuspecting moviegoers in the opening weekend" but that sales may fall off following "negative word-of-mouth from slasher movie fans who feel they've been badly tricked."

'No Country' Wins First Award of Season
6 December 2007 (StudioBriefing)
The movie awards season got under way Wednesday with the National Board of Review naming the Coen Bros.' No Country for Old Men best picture of 2007. Tim Burton received the best director award for his adaptation of the musical Sweeney Todd.The best actor award went to George Clooney for Michael Clayton, while Julie Christie took best actress honors for Away From Her. Julian Schnabel's The Diving Bell and the Butterfly was named best foreign film, while Body of War was voted best documentary.

'No Country for Old Men' Named Best Picture by National Board of Review
6 December 2007 (WENN)
In a year with no one film as a specific front-runner of the awards season, the National Board of Review has given a leg up to the Coen brothers' No Country for Old Men, honoring it as Best Picture, as well as with the group's ensemble cast award and adapted screenplay honor. In a reflection of the lack of heavyweight pictures and performances favored for potential Academy Award nominations, the National Board spread around its awards to a number of movies and actors. Tim Burton was named Best Director for Sweeney Todd, while former Oscar winners George Clooney (Michael Clayton) and Julie Christie (Away From Her) were honored as Best Actor and Actress; the supporting awards went to two highly acclaimed performances: Casey Affleck for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and Amy Ryan in Gone Baby Gone (which also starred Affleck). The Diving Bell and the Butterfly won the Foreign Film Award, with Body of War and Ratatouille named the best documentary and animated films, respectively. A group of film aficionados and academics, the National Board is not a critics' group per se, but has gained its fame by handing out the first honors of the awards season. Winners named by critics' groups in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles will follow in the next week, with the Golden Globe nominations being announced on Thursday, December 13.

Other awards include: Breakthrough Performance by an Actor - Emile Hirsch, Into The Wild; Breakthrough Performance by an Actress - Ellen Page, Juno; Best Directorial Debut - Ben Affleck, Gone Baby Gone; Best Original Screenplay (tie): Diablo Cody, Juno and Nancy Oliver, Lars and the Real Girl.

In addition to its Best Picture award, the National Board of Review also names the top ten films of the year, in alphabetical order: The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford, Atonement, The Bourne Ultimatum, The Bucket List, Into The Wild, Juno, The Kite Runner, Lars And The Real Girl, Michael Clayton, and Sweeney Todd. --Mark Englehart, IMDb staff

'No Country for Old Men' Named Best Picture by National Board of Review
5 December 2007 (WENN)
In a year with no one film as a specific front-runner of the awards season, the National Board of Review has given a leg up to the Coen brothers' No Country for Old Men, honoring it as Best Picture, as well as with the group's ensemble cast award and adapted screenplay honor. In a reflection of the lack of heavyweight pictures and performances favored for potential Academy Award nominations, the National Board spread around its awards to a number of movies and actors. Tim Burton was named Best Director for Sweeney Todd, while former Oscar winners George Clooney (Michael Clayton) and Julie Christie (Away From Her) were honored as Best Actor and Actress; the supporting awards went to two highly acclaimed performances: Casey Affleck for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and Amy Ryan in Gone Baby Gone (which also starred Affleck). The Diving Bell and the Butterfly won the Foreign Film Award, with Body of War and Ratatouille named the best documentary and animated films, respectively. A group of film aficionados and academics, the National Board is not a critics' group per se, but has gained its fame by handing out the first honors of the awards season. Winners named by critics' groups in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles will follow in the next week, with the Golden Globe nominations being announced on Thursday, December 13.

Other awards include: Breakthrough Performance by an Actor - Emile Hirsch, Into The Wild; Breakthrough Performance by an Actress - Ellen Page, Juno; Best Directorial Debut - Ben Affleck, Gone Baby Gone; Best Original Screenplay (tie): Diablo Cody, Juno and Nancy Oliver, Lars and the Real Girl.

In addition to its Best Picture award, the National Board of Review also names the top ten films of the year, in alphabetical order: The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford, Atonement, The Bourne Ultimatum, The Bucket List, Into The Wild, Juno, The Kite Runner, Lars And The Real Girl, Michael Clayton, and Sweeney Todd. --Mark Englehart, IMDb staff

Depp Gifts Paradis With Vineyard
26 November 2007 (WENN)
Johnny Depp has given his long-time partner Vanessa Paradis a vineyard as congratulations for her months of hard work recording a new album. The 44-year-old purchased the vineyard near the villa in Plan de la Tour, France, which he shares with the singer and their two children Lily-Rose, eight, and Jack, five. The Sweeney Todd star also owns a 45-acre island in the Bahamas, where he frequently vacations. Depp has been with the French beauty for nearly 10 years, but insists he has no plans to marry again after his two-year marriage to musician Lori Anne Allison ended in divorce in 1985.

Depp Delighted With Daughter's Recovery
2 November 2007 (WENN)
Johnny Depp's life is full of "mini-celebrations" now his eight-year-old daughter Lily-rose has been given the all-clear after her health scare earlier this year. The little girl was hospitalized in London, where she received treatment for an undisclosed ailment as her father started work on movie musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street. Depp still isn't going into details about his daughter's illness, but he admits he can't be thankful enough that she pulled through. He tells Entertainment Weekly magazine, "Now every single millisecond is a mini-celebration. Every time we get to breathe in and exhale is a huge victory. She pulled through beautifully, perfectly, with no lasting anything." And Depp will always be grateful to director pal Tim Burton and the cast and crew of Sweeney Todd for their support. He adds, "Knowing that those people, Tim and the crew, shut down and stood by and waited... I didn't know if I was coming back. I remember talking with Tim, saying, `Maybe you need to recast.'" Lily-Rose is Depp's daughter by long-time girlfriend Vanessa Paradis. The couple also has a son, Jack, who is five.

Bonham Carter Is Pregnant
9 August 2007 (WENN)
A Room With A View actress Helena Bonham Carter is expecting her second child with her director boyfriend Tim Burton. The couple already have a three-year-old son, Billy Raymond Burton. Their new baby is due in December. Bonham Carter's spokesperson Karon Maskill tells website People.com, "They are very happy to be expecting their second child later this year." Bonham Carter and Burton, who live in London, got together after he directed her in the 2001 movie Planet Of The Apes. She will appear opposite Burton favorite Johnny Depp in the director's upcoming musical adaptation of Sweeney Todd, which also stars Sacha Baron Cohen and Alan Rickman.

Lee Cut from 'Sweeney Todd'
28 May 2007 (WENN)
Horror movie icon Christopher Lee has been cut out of another major movie - director Tim Burton has axed the actor's role as a ghost in Sweeney Todd. Lee raged when his character Saruman was cut from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - and now he's been left out of another major blockbuster. According to FilmStew.com, Lee was slated to play a Gentleman Ghost in Burton's movie musical, which stars Johnny Depp as the fabled Demon Barber of Fleet Street, London - but Lee won't be needed afterall. But at least the aged actor didn't waste time filming his scenes for the movie. He tells London's Daily Telegraph, "It would have been worse if I had done the scenes, but I never got to film them."

Depp Speaks of "Great Scare" Following Daughter's Illness
10 May 2007 (WENN)
Hollywood heartthrob Johnny Depp has broken his silence over his seven-year-old daughter's terrifying illness two months ago, declaring the time was a "great scare" for his family. Lily-Rose was rushed to a London hospital after contracting the E.coli bacteria, which caused her kidneys to shut down. Filming on Depp's latest movie Sweeney Todd was halted so he could keep a vigil at the youngster's bedside with partner Vanessa Paradis. Fortunately, little Lily pulled through and her proud father she is back to her old self already. He says, "It gave us a great scare. What got us through this wasn't the strength of Vanessa or me but our daughter and her incredible ability to make us feel OK even though she was very unwell. She was super-strong. It was a very bumpy patch but she has come through it beautifully and unscathed and she is now as healthy as she always was. She is wonderful. It was a reminder to us of how to breathe, walk, talk, think and surround ourselves with people we love."

Depp's Daughter Released from Hospital
15 March 2007 (WENN)
Johnny Depp's seven-year-old daughter, Lily-Rose, has been released from hospital in London after a frightening bout of blood poisoning. Depp and partner Vanessa Paradis had been keeping a vigil at the child's bedside since she was admitted to London's Great Ormond Street Hospital at the end of February. A source close to Depp tells American publication Us Weekly, "She is doing much better." Despite media reports she had developed the condition after stepping on a rusty nail, the cause has not been confirmed. The source says, "They don't know how she got it." The 43-year-old actor is currently filming a movie version of the stage musical Sweeney Todd in England, which was temporarily put on hold while his daughter was in hospital.

Depp's Daughter 'Doing Much Better'
8 March 2007 (WENN)
Johnny Depp's young daughter is "doing much better" after being struck down by an undisclosed illness, according to the star's representative. The British newspaper Daily Mirror reported yesterday that Depp's seven-year-old daughter, Lily-Rose, had been rushed to an English hospital 10 days ago and the actor and his longtime partner, Vanessa Paradis, had been by her bedside every day. But, in a statement released by the actor's representative, Robin Baum, she says, "We are happy to report that their daughter is doing much better. The family greatly appreciates the continued support and respect of their privacy." Depp has been filming a movie version of the stage musical Sweeney Todd in England. A representative from the studio adds, "We have adjusted the schedule to accommodate (Depp's) needs at this moment. We understand that (Lily-Rose) is improving. Obviously, everybody at the studio is certainly with them in their good spirits." Depp and French model/actress Paradis also have a four-year-old son Jack.

Depp's Daughter 'Seriously Ill'
7 March 2007 (WENN)
Johnny Depp's seven-year-old daughter Lily-rose is seriously ill in an English hospital, according to British newspaper Daily Mirror. The Pirates Of The Caribbean actor, 43, and his partner Vanessa Paradis, 34, are holding a vigil at the child's bedside after she was struck down by the undisclosed illness nine days ago. The Mirror claims it knows what medical condition Lily-Rose is suffering from, but have decided to withhold it from the press out of respect for the privacy of Depp's family. Depp had been filming Sweeney Todd in London and Buckinghamshire when his daughter was rushed to hospital last week. A hospital source says, "He has not asked for any special favors but just wants the best for his child, like any parent. "It is such a difficult time for him but he is hanging in there for the sake of his daughter and the whole family is just praying that she gets better. They are taking each day as it comes. "It's been an emotional rollercoaster for all of them and he's been worrying himself silly. He's a devoted dad and is spending as much time as he can with Lily." Depp and French model/actress Paradis also have a four-year-old son Jack.

Cohen's 'Sweeney Todd' Role Not Confirmed
29 November 2006 (WENN)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory filmmaker Tim Burton has slammed reports Sacha Baron Cohen has signed up to star in upcoming film Sweeney Todd, insisting talks with the Borat funnyman are far from concluded. Earlier this month, media outlets claimed Cohen had landed the coveted villain role of Adolfo Pirelli opposite leading man Johnny Depp and Burton's partner Helena Bonham Carter. But Burton tells movie magazine Empire, "It's very early days of discussions. I don't know that got out there. The internet is a very strange place." The film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's musical is scheduled to begin filming in February.

Carter Reunites with Burton and Depp for Musical
19 October 2006 (WENN)
Helena Bonham Carter will re-team Tim Burton and Johnny Depp in the big screen adaptation of Sweeney Todd. Carter, Burton's longtime off-screen partner, has starring roles in Burton-directed films such as Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Big Fish and Planet Of The Apes. Carter and Depp starred in Charlie And The Chocolate Factory together and both voiced characters in Burton's animated film Corpse Bride. She will play the devious Mrs. Lovett in the new film, a role originated onstage by Angela Lansbury, who is a murderess who dispenses of her victims' bodies in meat pies and becomes the girlfriend and accomplice of the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, played by Depp. In most stage productions of the musical, Mrs. Lovett has been nearly a decade older than the Demon Barber and is usually someone in her fifties, but Carter and Depp are both in their early forties. Media reports has British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen joining the cast as rival barber Signor Adolfo Pirelli, but the studio would not confirm whether he'll be part of the film. Shooting begins early next year for a late 2007 release.

DreamWorks To Offer 'Madagascar' Sequel, 'Shrek' Stage Show
15 September 2005 (StudioBriefing)
DreamWorks Animation chief Jeffrey Katzenberg confirmed Wednesday that his company plans to produce a sequel to its summer hit Madagascar -- he expects it to premiere in 2008 -- and to mount a Broadway musical production of Shrek. British publications have reported that DreamWorks will be partnering in the stage production with London-based Neal Street Productions, headed by Sam Mendes, who manages to direct hit movies and stage productions with equal accomplishment. (Mendes, who won the best director Oscar for 1999's American Beauty, is also reportedly at work turning a Broadway musical into a movie -- a film version of the Stephen Sondheim musical Sweeney Todd -- for DreamWorks.) Appearing at an investors conference in Pasadena on Wednesday, Katzenberg said that successful stage versions of movies can produce a steady revenue stream for a long time. "When these things work, they are very, very, very powerful and seem to go on for a very long time," he said.