Judge ye not lest ye be eaten

Alan Rickman, who plays a wizard schoolteacher in the "Harry Potter" films, will don different robes for his latest project.

The actor has signed on for Tim Burton's movie adaptation of "Sweeney Todd," Stephen Sondheim's gruesome Broadway musical, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He joins Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen in the cast.

Rickman will play the lecherous Judge Turpin, who has Benjamin Barker (Depp) unjustly sent to prison and then preys on Barker's wife. Once released, Barker becomes Fleet Street barber Sweeney Todd and exacts revenge. With the help of his friend Mrs. Lovett (Bonham Carter), Todd kills various clients and then gives their remains to Mrs. Lovett who makes them into meat pies. "Borat" star Cohen plays Signor Adolfo Pirelli, a rival barber.

Earlier versions of the Sweeney Todd urban legend never explained why Todd killed his victims, other than for greed. Playwright Christopher Bond's 1973 play first created the revenge motive, which was then adopted by Sondheim for the popular musical.

Production is scheduled to begin production in February in London.

Rickman is currently in theaters with "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer." He recently wrapped shooting "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," in which he plays the creepy potions professor, Severus Snape.