'Sweeney Todd' To Release Earlier Than Expected

Sweeney Todd, the highly anticipated film from the twisted mind of director Tim Burton, recently got the okay from DreamWorks and Paramount to move-up its wide-release date from Jan. 11, 2008 to Dec. 21 (just in time for Christmas!). Studio executives came to this decision after viewing clips from the upcoming movie. Variety reports that the studios hope “Sweeney will be the sort of signature role for Depp that Captain Jack Sparrow in Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean franchise was.”

The film, which is adapted from the Broadway musical, follows Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp), who is wrongfully sent to prison for a crime he did not commit. Years later, when Sweeney is let out of jail, he opens up a barbershop and begins to plot revenge against the judge who put him behind bars. But, before can embark on his quest for vengeance, he decides to practices his murder skills on innocent customers. When corpses start piling up, Sweeney partners with Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter) who uses the bodies for her new meat-pies, that quickly become the talk of the town.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street hits theaters Friday, December 21.

--Diana DiSilvestro