Empire Online – Tuesday 29th June 2004

Burton’s voice cast announced.

Way back in January we talked to the mop-headed genius that is Tim Burton, and he told us about a new animated project he was working on called The Corpse Bride. Made in the stop-motion style of The Nightmare Before Christmas, the story is based on a Russian folktale about a man who mistakenly marries a dead woman. According to Burton, the whole thing is a “cheery story in a similar vein” to Nightmare – clearly this is a man for whom cheerfulness is relative – and will have some musical numbers, although not to the same extent as the Christmas classic.

The big news today, however, is that the cast have been recruited, and rather exciting it is too. Johnny Depp will be Burton’s muse once more, as he combines lead voice duties in The Corpse Bride with his starring role in Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Fellow Burton alumni Helena Bonham Carter, Albert Finney and Christopher Lee will take roles, as will Emily Watson, Richard E Grant and Joanna Lumley.

Danny Elfman will also be returning to work with Burton when he scores the film, his thirteenth collaboration with the director. We therefore declare today National Hooray Tim Burton’s Making A Film With All His Favourite People Day, so go celebrate.