UK Premiere of 'Sweeney Todd'

According to the City of Westminster's web site, the UK premiere of Sweeney Todd will be held Jan. 10 at the Odeon Cinema, Leicester Square. Thanks to Linda for the info!

Photos from L.A. Screening

I've created a new album for photos from last night's L.A. screening of Sweeney Todd. Enjoy!

Depp Courts Dillinger Role

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Johnny Depp is in talks this week with director Michael Mann for a possible role in a film about Depression-era gangsters.

Johnny Depp doesn't shy away from blood in the upcoming "Sweeney Todd," for which he's being touted as a major Oscar contender, and he might again find himself awash in blood if he opts to join up with producer-director Michael Mann for a film about the Depression-era crime wave.

Mann has long been interested in mounting a screen adaptation of Brian Burrough's nonfiction book "Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34" for Universal; at one point, Leonardo DiCaprio was attached to the project, but DiCaprio is headed into Martin Scorsese's "Shutter Island."

But Mann -- who has considered taking the helm of Columbia's spy thriller "Edwin A. Salt" but has not committed to that project because he believes it needs a rewrite -- has an open slot.

As for Depp, he was to have starred in Warner/Initial Entertainment's "Shantaram" followed by Warner Independent's "The Rum Diaries," but both of those projects were postponed last month, leaving the star with an opening in his schedule.

So Depp and Mann are sitting down this week to discuss the possibility of joining forces; Depp is said to be eyeing the role of bank robber John Dillinger. Along with Mann, Kevin Misher is on board as producer; Robert De Niro and his partner Jane Rosenthal, who originally optioned the book, have been involved as exec producers; and the studio is looking at a March start in Chicago if all the elements come together.

Depp & Burton Visit "Today"

MSNBC offers the video of Johnny Depp and Tim Burton's appearance on the Today Show discussing Sweeney Todd. Click the image below to view the video.

No Ballet for Johnny

RadarOnline reports Tim Burton has dispelled rumors that he has signed Johnny Depp for a role in a ballet film.

Sorry Johnny Depp fans ... you won't be seeing the star in tights anytime soon. Despite Internet rumors that crazy-haired director Tim Burton has tapped Depp for a ballet flick, Burton cleared up any misconceptions at Monday's Sweeney Todd premiere.

"There's no truth to that. But I did read that rumor on the Internet," Burton told reporters at the Ziegfield Theater. "I guess once people read anything on the 'Net, they assume it's true, right?"

Burton added, "You know, I do think Johnny's going to become the next David Hassellhoff in Germany. He'll be getting a recording contract there once they hear him sing and realize he can do it."

Burton Earns Best Director Honors

Reuters Canada reports Tim Burton won the National Board of Review's Best Director award today for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Congratulations, Tim!

The NBR, though fallible, is often viewed as a reliable predictor of Oscar results:

NBR members include educators, historians and film industry professionals, and its awards can portend winners at the Oscars, the world's top movie honors presented in February by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Still, NBR honors are no guarantee of Oscar success. The board sometimes disdains box office blockbusters in favor of more esoteric choices, and two years ago delayed announcing winners after garnering criticism for omitting directors of critically acclaimed films like "Capote" and "Walk the Line."

Johnny Depp Is Sexy. Duh.

Johnny Depp took the #5 spot in the list of 100 Sexiest Movie Stars in a poll conducted by EmpireOnline.

Johnny Depp
Living proof that there’s nothing more sexy than not giving a damn what others think. Depp’s taken roles that could have been embarrassments in any other hands (Edward Scissorhands, Willy Wonka) and dresses like he’s being attacked by a charity shop, but his innate air of cool makes everything work.

Sexiest Moment
Hallucinating numerous incarnations of himself in Pirates of the Caribbean 3. The only thing better than Captain Jack is more Captain Jacks.

Did You Know...?
He’s played guitar on two Oasis records.

'Sweeney Todd' New York Premiere

I've added an album for new photos from tonight's premiere of Sweeney Todd in New York. More photos will be added as they become available, so stay tuned!

He's color-coordinating with Depp Impact again. *heh*

Photo Gallery Updates

I'm in the process of updating all the photo galleries on the site to a new and much more efficient design. It will take a little time to transfer it all over, but once it's done, it will be a lot easier to use on your end and to keep updated on mine. (Yay!)

In the meantime, here's a look at the new design with photos from the recent Sweeney Todd press conference. I'll also be adding screencaps from "At World's End" when the DVD is released tomorrow.

If you have any issues using the new gallery format, downloading pics, etc., please let me know so I can fix it as quickly as possible.

Thanks, and enjoy!

'Sweeney Todd' Advance Screenings

The following is a list of advance screenings for Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Hopefully there's still time to get tickets before the screenings. Good luck!

From The San Francisco Film Society --

• An advance screening will be held December 5 for members of the film society.

From YTIC.com --

• Win tickets for an advance screening to be held December 6 in Washington, D.C.

From Film Metro --

December 6:

• Atlanta, GA
• South Miami, FL
• Tampa, FL

December 11:

• Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Orlando, FL
• Tampa, FL
• West Palm Beach, FL

From HamptonRoads.com --

• Win tickets to a screening at AMC Lynnhaven in Virginia Beach, VA scheduled for 7:30 p.m. December 18. Winners will be drawn December 13.

From Showbizmonkeys.com --

• Win tickets to an advance screening. Winners limited to the areas of Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg, Canada.

From Live 105.3 --

• Screening to be held December 18 at AMC North Park Mall in Dallas, TX.

From Cleveland Museum of Art --

• Screening SOLD OUT for December 19.

From The Rake --

• Enter to win tickets in Minneapolis, MN for a screening to be held at 7:30 p.m. December 20.

From The Edge --

• The Edge is giving away tickets to advance screenings in a variety of cities. Click the individual links for your local Edge site. Cities include Philadelphia, PA; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; and Dallas, TX.

Good luck!