Pop star and “Mean Girls” Broadway alum Sabrina Carpenter is stepping into a new role — both in front of and behind the camera. The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter will star in and produce a new “Alice in Wonderland” movie musical for Universal Pictures, according to Playbill.
The project will be written and directed by “Hustlers” filmmaker Lorene Scafaria and produced by Marc Platt, along with Leslie Morgenstein and Elysa Koplovitz Dutton of Alloy Entertainment. Unlike Disney’s 1951 animated version or Tim Burton’s live-action adaptation, this retelling will serve as a fresh musical take directly inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic novel.
According to reports, Carpenter personally pitched the concept to Universal in 2024, driven by her passion for Carroll’s imaginative world. The singer, who recently earned six Grammy nominations for her album “Man’s Best Friend” — including Album of the Year and Song of the Year for “Manchild” — is now expanding her creative reach with this ambitious dual role as both star and producer.
Further details about the film, including additional casting and a release timeline, have not yet been announced.
A Modern Take on a Classic Tale
As reported by Variety, Carpenter’s untitled musical will reimagine “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” as a contemporary fantasy grounded in original music and vibrant storytelling. Universal executives Ryan Jones and Jacqueline Garell will oversee the production.
Before becoming one of pop’s biggest stars, Carpenter built an early acting résumé that included “The Hate U Give”, Netflix’s “Tall Girl” films, and her Broadway debut in “Mean Girls” before the COVID-19 pandemic cut her run short. This project marks her return to acting after the critical and commercial success of her 2024 album “Short n’ Sweet.”
Scafaria, whose directing credits include “Succession”, “The Meddler”, and the 2019 hit “Hustlers,” is expected to bring her signature blend of wit and emotional depth to the project. Her films have grossed over $100 million domestically and are known for centering complex, multidimensional women.
Revisiting a Dream Years in the Making
Interestingly, this isn’t Carpenter’s first journey down the rabbit hole. According to reports, the artist was previously attached to a separate “Alice in Wonderland” musical at Netflix under her production banner, At Last Productions. That project, announced in 2020, never came to fruition.
Now, five years later, Carpenter is reviving her vision on a grander scale with Universal, collaborating with an Oscar-nominated producing team and a seasoned filmmaker. The move not only highlights her creative persistence but also solidifies her transition into film production adding yet another chapter to her impressive year.
Production details remain under wraps, but fans can expect Carpenter’s signature mix of artistry and storytelling to bring Wonderland to life in a way that’s both nostalgic and new.
As she first teased in her 2020 post when the “Alice in Wonderland” project was still in its earliest stages, “We’re going to Wonderland !!!!”
