Sweeney Todd from the Titan Squad

Titan Books has acquired the worldwide publishing rights for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, the new Tim Burton movie slated for UK release on 25 January 2008.

The film, which stars Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter is based on the hit Broadway musical which tells the infamous (but fictitious) story of Benjamin Barker, a.k.a Sweeney Todd, who sets up a barber shop down in London which is the basis for a sinister partnership with his fellow tenant, Mrs. Lovett.

Titan's companion hardback, slated for US release in December and UK release in January, will be written by Mark Salisbury, the only journalist on the movie's set and will include interviews with Burton and the cast and crew, extracts from the shooting script, over 200 photos, plus concept drawing and production designs.

• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street from amazon.co.uk
• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street from amazon.com

Dalek Invasion of Earth Art Auction

Doctor Who and Dalek fans reading this blog might like to know I have just begun an ebay auction of Alister Pearson's original artwork for the 1990 Target Book and BBC Video Dalek Invasion of Earth.

The painted artwork measures 49 x 37 cm in frame. The art was originally used on the BBC Video release.

The "On Target" web site notes the art originally did not feature Big Ben, but BBC Video requested the famous landmark be added. Alister kindly gave this to me on my departure from Doctor Who Magazine but I no longer have a place to hang it. It was my idea to make the time on the clock (checked with Andrew Pixley!) the time of the screening of the original brodcast of the show.

And yes, that is my fridge.

Keanu plays Klaatu

The classic 1951 SF film The Day the Earth Stood Still is to be remade, with Keanu Reeves playing noble alien Klaatu.

Variety reports that Michael Rennie's distinct performance in the original is so revered that finding the right actor to take the role has been one of the chief reasons the 20th Century Fox remake has been in development for so long.

Production will most likely start in late autumn or early 2008, directed by Scott (The Exorcism of Emily Rose) Derrickson with a script from David (The Last Castle) Scarpa. He has reworked the original screenplay, updating the Cold War premise which sees Klaatu arriving on Earth with an indestructible android with a warning that if Earth does not stop its warring, the intergalactic planets will be forced to destroy the planet.

New broom at Doctor Who Magazine...

-- I'm sure the power won't go to Mr Spilsbury's head, after all it never affected me!