Remember back in August we ran a little somethin’-somthin’ on SWEENEY TODD? You know, the one about the big screen adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s musical being directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp? Well, things just got a whole lot better for the film (or a whole lot worse, depending on you point of view).
According to Production Weekly, Sacha Baron Cohen, who people know more as Ali G (or more infamously, Borat), is currently in negotiations to star opposite Depp in the film. Cohen will play Signor Adolfo Pirelli, Todd’s competitor in the haircutting world. Production set to begin shooting in early February at Pinewood Studios near London.
Now, let me get this out there: I’m not a big fan of Cohen’s schtick. Ali G annoys the hell out of me, and while I can see the satire in the Borat character, it still doesn’t do anything for me. I’d put Cohen’s comedy in the same group as Jerry Seinfeld or Will Farrell: Funny for a lot of people, but just not me. Before you flame me with emails about this, look at it this way: At least I didn’t put Cohen in the same category as Jimmy Fallon or Pauly Shore.