The Stephen Sondheim Society

Oooh I am pleased! Julie was great in AA and would make an interesting Mrs Lovett. I wonder why Sweeney has never been filmed? It's more accesible than other SS shows and I'd imagine it would transfer quite well.

A film version of SWEENEY TODD is currently in active development at Dreamworks, with Stephen Spielberg producing and Sam Mendes attached to direct. It will most likely be Mendes' next project after JARHEAD, a movie about the 1991 Gulf War that stars Jamie Foxx and is in production now. Some Hollywood sources have SWEENEY listed for a possible December 2005 release, but that's probably optimistic. The screen adaptation is by John Logan, who wrote THE AVIATOR. To date no announcements have been made about casting.

Baz Bamigboye (usually a pretty reliable source) reported in his showbiz column in last Friday's Daily Mail that :

"Russell Crowe is mulling over whether or not to star in the film of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd.

Scamp Films plans to make the picture from a screenplay by John Logan. The project is a long way off and Sam Mendes may or may not direct.

Someone close to the production said there are several names in the mix for Mrs Lovett, including Emma Thompson, Imelda Staunton and Toni Collette.

It’s all very early days and Caro Newling, Pippa Harris and Sam Mendes of Scamp have other stage and screen projects to sort out before they get to Sweeney Todd."

Hello futurestar, remember me? What are your other suggestions for Sweeny casting then?

But of course. Imelda Staunton. She'd be fantastic as Mrs L.

Meanwhile, I did see a televised piece of the London show many years ago, with Julia McKenzie. It was the Ballad of Sweeney Todd and Priest, and was the first thing that hooked me on the show. Not at all sure what/why it was on TV, but it looked great. And there were pies everywhere!

Anne-Marie