Tim burton39s film version of the stephen sondheim musical starring johnny depp and helena bonham carter based on a 39penny dreadful39 tale which later became an urban myth from the mid 19th century this musical tells the tale of benjamin barker depp a barber who returns to london after spending years in exile for a crime he didn39t commit he soon discovers from pie maker mrs lovett bonham carter that in his absence his wife has taken her own life and his daughter is now in the car