Alan Rickman has signed on to Tim Burton's ensemble musical "Sweeney Todd" for DreamWorks Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures reports Reuters.

Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen already have boarded the project, based on the macabre Stephen Sondheim Broadway musical.

Rickman will play the lecherous Judge Turpin in the film. He imprisons Benjamin Barker (Depp) who later returns as barber Sweeney Todd and exacts revenge.

John Logan penned the big-screen adaptation scheduled to begin production next month in London.