Lee cut from Sweeney Todd

Horror movie icon Christopher Lee has been cut out of another major movie - director Tim Burton has axed the actor's role as a ghost in Sweeney Todd.

Lee raged when his character Saruman was cut from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - and now he's been left out of another major blockbuster.

According to FilmStew.com, Lee was slated to play a Gentleman Ghost in Burton's movie musical, which stars Johnny Depp as the fabled Demon Barber of Fleet Street, London - but Lee won't be needed afterall.

However, at least the aged actor didn't waste time filming his scenes for the movie.

He tells London's Daily Telegraph: "It would have been worse if I had done the scenes, but I never got to film them."