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Paramount and Dreamworks will release Tim Burton' s film version of the Stephen Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler musical Sweeney Todd on December 21, according to Variety. The film, which is expected to get an "R" rating because of its violence and gore, will immediately go into wide release.

As previously announced, the film stars Johnny Depp in the title role, Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett, Alan Rickman as Judge Turpin, Sacha Baron Cohen as Pirelli, Timothy Spall as Beadle Bamford, Laura Michelle Kelly as the Beggar Woman, Jamie Campbell Brown as Anthony, Jayne Wisener as Johanna, and Ed Sanders as Toby. All of the actors will do their own singing.

The film version of the Tony Award-winning musical features a screenplay by Christopher Bond and John Logan, cinematography by Dariusz Wolski, production design by Dante Ferretti, and costume design by Colleen Atwood. Burton's previous films include Edward Scissorhands, Batman, and Big Fish.