Sabrina Carpenter to Star in and Produce Alice in Wonderland-Inspired Musical for Universal
Pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter is heading back to the big screen — and this time, she’s taking a trip down the rabbit hole. The singer and actress is set to star in and produce an untitled movie musical inspired by Alice in Wonderland for Universal Pictures, according to multiple US news outlets. The project will be written and directed by Lorene Scafaria, the filmmaker behind Hustlers and HBO’s I Love L.A.
The film is said to be a passion project for Carpenter, who reportedly pitched the idea to Universal herself last year, complete with a concept lookbook. As the idea developed, Scafaria and a team of heavyweight producers — including Marc Platt (Wicked, La La Land), and Leslie Morgenstein and Elysa Koplovitz Dutton of Alloy Entertainment (Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars) — joined the production.
While plot details are being kept secret, the film will draw inspiration from Lewis Carroll’s classic 1865 tale, which follows a curious girl named Alice as she tumbles into a bizarre world of talking creatures, tea parties and impossible adventures. Previous adaptations include Disney’s 1951 animated version and Tim Burton’s 2010 blockbuster starring Johnny Depp.
If the project moves forward, this will mark Carpenter’s first time leading a major studio film. The 26-year-old star, who first rose to fame on Disney Channel’s Girl Meets World, has since appeared in Netflix’s Tall Girl and Work It, as well as the acclaimed drama The Hate U Give.
The announcement comes hot on the heels of Carpenter’s massive year in music. Her seventh studio album, Man’s Best Friend, earned six Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year. She’s also wrapping up her Short n’ Sweet world tour, which included sold-out headline shows at London’s BST Festival.
Scafaria, who earned praise for her sharp writing and direction on Hustlers, is expected to bring her signature mix of humor and emotional depth to the project. Universal’s Ryan Jones and Jacqueline Garell are overseeing production, with Katie McNicol supervising for Marc Platt Productions.
Neither Carpenter nor Universal has commented publicly on the project yet, but fans are already buzzing at the idea of the “Espresso” singer putting her own modern twist on Wonderland.
