Christopher Lee and a number of other characters have been cut from the upcoming ""Sweeney Todd"" film starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter.

A DreamWorks Studios representative confirmed reports that the ghost characters ? including Lee's ""Gentleman Ghost,"" as a previous release titled his role ? have been cut from the film.

The new ""Gentleman Ghost"" character raised many inquisitive eyebrows when Tim Burton's film cast was announced, since the stage musical does not employ such a character. Lee, speaking to London's Telegraph who broke the story, saw the bright side: ""It would have been worse if I had done the scenes, but I never got to film them. It's a shame as the lyrics were wonderful, but these things happen.""

The film would have marked the actor's fourth collaboration with director Burton ? following his work on ""Sleepy Hollow,"" ""Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"" and, in voice, on ""Corpse Bride.""

The DreamWorks Studios/Warner Bros. film adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim musical is penned by John Logan (""The Aviator,"" ""Gladiator""). Work is underway at London's Pinewood Studios for the film, which is slated for a Dec. 21 limited release with a wide opening on Jan. 11, 2008.

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