Sabrina Carpenter is stepping into one of her most ambitious projects yet — and this time, she’s heading down the rabbit hole. The multi-talented singer and actress will star in and produce a new musical adaptation of Alice in Wonderland for Universal Pictures, reimagining Lewis Carroll’s 1865 literary classic through a modern lens.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lorene Scafaria — the acclaimed filmmaker behind Hustlers — will write and direct the film. The project reunites Carpenter with Universal Pictures following her recent Grammy recognition, marking a significant creative leap as both performer and producer.
Joining the production are Wicked producer Marc Platt, along with Leslie Morgenstein and Elysa Koplovitz Dutton of Alloy Entertainment, the powerhouse company behind Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars. Universal’s senior VP of production development Ryan Jones and director of production Jacqueline Garell will oversee the project, with Katie McNicol managing for Marc Platt Productions.
Sources reveal that the film began as a passion project for Carpenter, who first pitched the idea to Universal in 2024 with a detailed concept and lookbook. Her creative vision reportedly helped shape the tone and direction of the musical, eventually attracting producers and Scafaria to the team.
Based on Carroll’s timeless Victorian tale about a curious young girl’s journey through a whimsical, topsy-turvy world, the new adaptation aims to bring a fresh musical twist to the story. The classic has been adapted many times before, most famously by Disney in 1951 and by Tim Burton in 2010.
The announcement comes on the heels of Carpenter’s six nominations at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for her hit album Man’s Best Friend. In addition to her chart-topping music career, Carpenter has built an impressive acting résumé with roles in The Hate U Give, Emergency, and Girl Meets World.
Scafaria, who earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Hustlers, has also directed episodes of HBO’s Succession and I Love L.A., and wrote the cult-favorite Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.
While casting details and a release date have yet to be announced, Universal’s Alice in Wonderland musical is already shaping up to be one of Carpenter’s most exciting — and imaginative — ventures yet.
