Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland

Tim Burton has always been lucky in his directing career. He started out as an animator for Disney, before being given a chance with a big film with Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (1985), since then there's been no looking back. It was from this that he went on to the likes of Beetlejuice (1988), Batman (1989), Edward Scissorhands (1994) and Ed Wood (1994). His last 3 films done with Johnny Depp were hugely successful films, (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Corpse Bride (2005) and Sweeney Todd (2007)). For his next film, he's returning to Disney, for his next film, he's doing a new version of a story originally done by Disney back in 1951. Yes, Burton will find himself in familiar territory with this one, a new adaptation of Lewis Carroll's 1865 children's fantasy novel Alice in Wonderland!! Only this time it'll be part live-action, part-motion capture in 3-D!!

The story of Alice in Wonderland has been known for years, it concerns a young girl named Alice, who one day, whilst sitting by a river, spots a white rabbit running by with a watch saying he's late. Alice follows the rabbit down the rabbit-hole, and she enters a weird and wonderful world. She meets the White Rabbit, as well as other such vivid and weird characters such as The Cheshire Cat, The Mad Hatter, The March Hare, The Dormouse and The Queen of Hearts.

This is perfect material for Tim Burton, and he's always known for adding gothic overtones to all his films, whether it be in the set design, or the look of the characters or even in the music score, (usually composed by Danny Elfman.) But, because Wonderland is depicted as such a colourful world, I wonder if we'll be seeing some of the gothic psychedelia Burton used in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory put into this, instead of it being black and white and grey, (as we've normally seen in his films.) However, he's gonna film the real-world sequences in live-action, whilst the sequences in Wonderland will be all mostly motion capture and animation!! Filming started in September in England in Devon and Cornwall!!

However, as if the motion capture was one challenge, another was finding someone to play Alice. It was a search that lasted many months, Burton eventually settled on a relative newcomer, 18 year old Australian actress Mia Wasikowska, who has done some films in Australia, and has a small part in Mira Nair's Amelia, (due out next year.) It'll be interesting to see if Burton can make Wasikowska a star!! For the supporting roles, both in Wonderland and the real world, Burton has had a field-day!! Unsurprisingly, he's cast Johnny Depp in the role of The Mad Hatter!! (Who else??) Also, he's cast Matt Lucas, (off Little Britain), as Tweedledum and Tweedledee!! (Can you think of anyone better??) Other rumoured is his fiance Helena Bonham Carter, who is up for the Queen of Hearts, (typical.) Plus, in smaller parts, although unannounced yet, include Michael Sheen, (best known for playing Kenneth Williams, Tony Blair and David Frost), and Christopher Lee!! Who should they play??

Pictures from the location shoot in Cornwall!!







Anyone looking forwards to this one?? You should be, Burton was born to do a film like Alice in Wonderland, and there are very few directors who would be able to do the story justice, (maybe Guillermo Del Toro or Terry Gilliam could do it.) But, Burton is a perfect fit for the story, a man of his talent will be able to bring the weird and wonderful imagery of Lewis Carroll's book to life!! Plus, it'll look all the more unique in 3-D/Motion Capture, even though the technology is still not quite perfected yet, although the likes of Beowulf (2007) shows us that we're nearly there, maybe Burton can handle it. The film is set for release on March 5th 2010!! A bit away, but Burton is also working an a stop-motion version of his 1984 short film Frankenweenie, and a film version of the gothic US soap-opera, Dark Shadows. It'll be interesting to see what he does with Alice in Wonderland though!!

I can't wait for this, it should be great. It seems like a story made for Burton, and any Depp film is worthwhile.

Anne Hathaway has joined the cast as The White Queen!! And Helena Bonham Carter is officially in the film as The Red Queen!! Good choice??

Crispin Glover has joined the cast!! Yep, George McFly has been cast as Knave Of Hearts!! Glover is no stranger to motion capture, as some of you may remember, he was Grendel in Robert Zemeckis' Beowulf, and a fine job he did of it too!!

Oh, and Frances de la Tour (Miss Jones from Rising Damp), has also been cast!!

Some very intresting additions to the cast.

Freaky and awesome!!

Stephen Fry is the Cheshire Cat!! How's THAT for good casting!?

New Images/Concept Art!!









And the executives at Disney like Depp's Mad Hatter!!

Good stuff! Should be another winner.

I know, plus Timothy Spall is in the film as well, as The Bloodhound, a henchmen of the Red Queen.

Tim Burton talks about Alice in Wonderland!!

Plus, Disney plan to give it a 3-D IMAX release!!

CONCEPT ART AND IMAGES!!

I love that Mad Hatter pic!

I do as well!! And here's a couple more!! Here's Mia Wasikowska as Alice and Matt Lucas as Tweedledum and Tweedledee!!

OFFICIAL WEBSITE!!

Sparse for now, and that ticking could get on your nerves...

Vanity Fair pictures!!

I think I know where that first pic of Depp came from now...

TEASER TRAILER!! WATCH IT QUICK BEFORE DISNEY REMOVE IT!!

It's gone already!

Oh no it hasn't!!

According to this, the Dormouse will be voiced by Barbara Windsor!!

(Prays for some Carry On japery... )

Woohoo!


Looking good, but I wonder it if might be overly quirky for some?

Well, that was one of the main criticisms when Burton did Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, wasn't it?? And that turned out alright, didn't it??

Anyways, more casting news, Paul Whitehouse is voicing the Dodo!! Now, being a Fast Show fan, I bet Johnny Depp put him up to that!!

Check this out!!