Pop icon Sabrina Carpenter will star in and produce a new musical adaptation of Alice in Wonderland for Universal Pictures. The film is directed and written by Lorene Scafaria, best known for Hustlers, the 2019 drama starring Jennifer Lopez.
Producer Marc Platt, the creative force behind Wicked, joins Leslie Morgenstein and Elysa Koplovitz Dutton of Alloy Entertainment, known for Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars. Together, they will bring Lewis Carroll’s timeless story to life once again.
Carroll’s 19th-century classic follows a curious girl named Alice, who tumbles down a rabbit hole into a world filled with talking animals and surreal adventures. The story inspired Disney’s 1951 animated film and the 2010 live-action hit directed by Tim Burton, which starred Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter.
Reports suggest Carpenter initiated the project about a year ago, presenting Universal with her creative vision and a detailed lookbook. The studio later brought in Scafaria and the producers to develop the film further.
Ryan Jones, senior vice president of production development, and Jacqueline Garell, director of production development, are overseeing the film for Universal. Katie McNicol manages the project for Marc Platt Productions.
Platt’s next major release, Wicked: For Good, arrives in theaters on November 21, 2025.
Carpenter recently earned six Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for Man’s Best Friend. Her single Manchild received nominations for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, and Best Music Video.
Her acting career includes roles in The Hate U Give, Emergency, and the popular series Girl Meets World.
Meanwhile, Lorene Scafaria continues to build her television portfolio, directing and executive-producing the HBO comedy I Love LA, which premiered November 2. She has also directed episodes of Succession and wrote films such as Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Her film Hustlers earned widespread acclaim and a Best Director nomination from the Independent Spirit Awards.
Fans can expect this new Alice in Wonderland musical to blend strong storytelling, vivid visuals, and Carpenter’s signature musical energy.
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