A year after submitting an original proposal to Universal Pictures, American singer and actress Sabrina Carpenter will see one of her most ambitious projects come true: a movie musical inspired by the classic Alice in Wonderland. As confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter, the studio is officially working on the development of this production, which promises to reinterpret Lewis Carroll’s famous work for a new generation of viewers.
The 25-year-old artist, known for her musical career and her time on series such as Girl Meets World, will not only star in but also produce the feature film, reaffirming her growing role as a creator and entrepreneur in the entertainment industry.
According to sources quoted by The Hollywood Reporter, the idea emerged as a “personal passion” for Carpenter, who approached Universal about a year ago with an aesthetic and conceptual proposal to reinvent the world of Alice in a contemporary musical format. His goal, according to these sources, was to offer a more modern, visually innovative and emotionally relatable version for today’s audiences.
Since then, the project has been taking shape with the incorporation of a high-profile team, including producers, screenwriters and filmmakers with extensive experience in the musical and narrative genre.
The film – still without an official title or release date – will be written and directed by Lorene Scafaria, a renowned American filmmaker and screenwriter. Scafaria is known for her work on the film Hustlers (2019), starring Jennifer Lopez and nominated for several international awards, and for her participation in renowned series such as Succession and HBO’s I Love LA.
The production features some of the biggest names in musicals: Marc Platt, veteran Broadway producer and the man behind such hits as La La Land and the Wicked saga; Leslie Morgenstein and Elysa Koplovitz Dutton of Alloy Entertainment, the company behind such iconic series as Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars.
The project also has executive oversight from Ryan Jones, Universal’s senior vice president of production development, and Jacqueline Garell, director of production development. On behalf of Marc Platt Productions, Katie McNicol will oversee production, ensuring close coordination between the various teams.
Sabrina Carpenter and a new look at the Lewis Carroll classic
Published in 1865, the original Alice in Wonderland follows a young girl who falls down a rabbit hole and enters a surreal universe populated by eccentric creatures, logic games and metaphors about identity and maturity. Its visual and symbolic richness has inspired multiple film adaptations over time.
Among the best remembered are Disney’s animated version (1951) and the one directed by Tim Burton (2010), starring Johnny Depp, which grossed more than one billion dollars at the worldwide box office.
The new interpretation led by Carpenter will seek to maintain the fantastic essence of the original tale, but with a modern vision, incorporating current themes such as personal empowerment, the search for authenticity and emotional resilience.
Marc Platt’s endorsement represents a guarantee of quality, given his track record with successful film and theatrical productions. His participation reinforces Universal’s commitment to musicals, a genre that the studio has promoted in recent years with high-impact titles such as Wicked: Part One, whose sequel(Wicked: For Good) will arrive later this year.
For her part, Lorene Scafaria brings a cinematic sensibility focused on strong, complex female characters, something that fits perfectly with Sabrina Carpenter’s approach. The combination of both visions promises a project with narrative depth and powerful visual appeal, fusing the classic style of musicals with a contemporary aesthetic.
With this project, Sabrina Carpenter takes another step in her artistic evolution, consolidating herself as an integral figure in the entertainment industry. Her participation as an actress and producer reflects her interest in building her own stories and expanding her career beyond music.
As Universal continues to develop the musical, anticipation among fans and the specialized press is growing. If this announcement has made one thing clear, it is that Carpenter is not only looking to reinterpret Alice, but also to redefine the place of young women as creators and leaders in Hollywood.
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