This holiday
season the nation will be able to see Johnny Depp on the
silver screen in Sweeney Todd. DreamWorks and
Paramount Pictures have decided to do a wide release of the
film, as opposed to a limited release in December
followed by national screenings in January,
Variety reports.
Tim Burton's film
adaptation of the Steven Sondheim musical was
previously set for a staggered release because of its less
commercial nature--the story line is somewhat
dark. In that case, there would have been
more of a chance for the movie to build momentum
toward the wide release.
According to the
article, however, DreamWorks executives saw in the film
a broader appeal that made it marketable for the holiday
movie season.
Depp plays a
revenge-seeking barber trying to avenge his family's
murders. (The Advocate)