Tim Burton and Johnny Depp's next collaboration will be on the musical Sweeney Todd, say reports.

The main character in the 1979 show, apparently to be played by Depp, is a twisted ex-prisoner, who starts killing customers in his barbershop. He then disposes of the body parts by getting an unassuming partner to use them in meat pies.

According to Cinematical.com, Jarhead director Sam Mendes was previously planning to make a film of the Stephen Sondheim story, but abandoned it.

This project would be Burton and Depp's sixth joing-work, their latest movies having been Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Corpse Bride.