Sabrina Carpenter is officially heading down the rabbit hole – and straight onto the big screen. Universal Pictures has tapped the 26-year-old pop star to star in and produce a new musical film inspired by Alice in Wonderland. The project marks Carpenter’s first major studio lead role, teaming her with director Lorene Scafaria (Hustlers) and mega-producer Marc Platt (Wicked). According to Universal’s announcement, Carpenter actually pitched the modern-day Alice concept herself over a year ago, helping bring this ambitious, whimsical reimagining to life.
For Carpenter, who broke out on Disney’s Girl Meets World before topping charts as a singer, the film is a full-circle moment back to acting. “I hope I get to do more [acting]… and there are definitely plans to do so,” she told Glamour UK in 2023 – words now coming true with her leading this new fantasy musical. Fittingly, Carpenter has long been a self-professed “huge fan” of Alice in Wonderland (she even threw a Wonderland-themed sweet 16 party), so she’s poised to channel that passion directly into the role.
Plot details are still under wraps, but Universal promises a bold, contemporary twist on Alice’s journey through a whimsical world – likely far from the classic Disney version. Production is expected to begin soon. With Carpenter’s creative vision shaping the project as both star and producer, fans can anticipate a trip to Wonderland that’s as musical as it is magical.