Meet the cast: Tim Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland'

 

Work is underway on Tim Burton's decidedly un-Disney adaptation of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," and the principal cast has been announced. The latest additions to be made public are Anne Hathaway (pictured above), who catapulted to fame in "The Princess Diaries" and will reportedly portray the White Queen, and Crispin Glover (center), who is coming off of "Beowulf" (and was so memorable in "Back to the Future") and is slated for the Knave of Hearts role. Johnny Depp (right) is the Mad Hatter in a movie that Burton told me he hoped would have "a gravity that most film versions haven't had."

The filmmaker turns to Depp a lot, of course, (this is their seventh project together) and he also is steady in his screen devotion to his partner, Helena Bonham Carter (pictured below, at left) who will be the Red Queen in "Alice." (Burton's movie, like the 1950s Disney adaptation, will apparently combine the Queen of Hearts from "Alice's Adventures" with the Red Queen from "Through the Looking Glass," but that's a conversation for another day.) The title "Alice" role belongs to Aussie newcomer Mia Wasikowska (middle picture, and you can see some photos of her in the role in England in September right here) while British funny guy Matt Lucas (pictured at right, of the U.K. sketch show "Little Britain") will play the rotund dimwits Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Lots more to come on this film....

 

-- Geoff Boucher

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Credits: Anne Hathaway photo by Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times. Crispin Glover photo by Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times. Johnny Depp photo by Frank Robichon / Getty Images. Helena Bonham Carter in the film "Conversations with Women." Mia Wasikowska in Getty Images photograph. Matt Lucas photo courtesy of Virgin Media.

UPDATE: An earlier version of this post suggested that Crispin Glover was in more than one of the "Back the the Future" movies. Spliced footage of Glover and a look-a-like was used in the sequel.

Comments

[alice hirsch]

Oh my, what will they think of next ,,,,Hmmm let's see how about Calys pronounced See-Alice adrug named after a fairy tale heroin [ the most recognizable] and a little girl] and use this name to sell a drug to give erections to older men . is that dark enough???

[alice hirsch]

the perfect Mad Hatter - Tim Burton!

[meagan]

I would like to see Dakota Fanning play Alice in the movie

[marni]

I can't wait!!!!!!!!!

[alyssa]

nothanks to Dakota Fanning. She can stick to lame chick flicks please.

This new girl looks like an excellent Alice. And the person who commented second about this cast being bad is kind of dumb, this cast is excellent. It probably couldn't be better, with the exception of Anne Hathaway...

[Carly]

Wow, very mixed opinions about this movie, but i think it's going to be amazing. The cast is awesome, despite what anyone says. It's true, Anne Hathaway may be a little out of place in this film, but other than that, it's good. Tim Burton and Johnny Depp are absolutely amazing, so yeah. Ha.

[Amelia vixen]

Im sooo excited! i dont think a scary version has been done yet, i would of liked to see Evan Rachael Wood as Alice though or Sarah michelle geller..
xxx

[Mika R.]

Wow this movie is gonna be amazing!! I absolutely can't wait to go see it. I heard about a while back in a magazine but there were no details so I just had to look it up. =]
What's with all the hater comments? Jeez if you don't like it then just don't read or comment about it. It's as easy as that.

[Tim burton HBC fan!!]

This film is going to be AMAZING!! with the best director,and the talented helena bonham carter and johnny depp what can go wrong??

[chris]

woooww im realy excited i cant wait till this film has come out

[XtianSays]

lets see here...

1. Alice - Adventures and Looking Glass = Fave stories of all time.
2. Depp = Fave actor
3. Bonham-Carter = Fave actress since A Room With A View
4. Burton = One of Fave Producer/Directors
5. Eflman (assuming, but gotta go with who Burton almost always works with here) = Musical/Score genious

ummm... i dont see where this could go wrong AT ALL.

not even with Hathaway, whom I actually think is a very good actress and hey, just cuz she hasnt always done the best movies doesnt mean she isnt right for the part. allow someone to stretch their legs and they may just surprise the pants off of you.

i am extremely excited about this. thats just one persons opinion.

and no, im not a depressed/emo/goth teenager. i just know great talent and vision and art and appreciate it.

am i saying these people are the greatest, no. but they are top of the line and yes, i am including Hathaway in that.

[anon]

I think this film will be one to remember. Burton, Carter and Depp are awesome together. Don't think they'll ever fail to disappoint. Quirky and different. I'm excited. I like the new pick for Alice too. People are putting too much a negative twist on this film.

[SouthernGothic]

The cast looks pretty good except for Depp. I like his work as a whole but he just cannot play a whimsically mad character, ie the silly butchering of Willie Wonka, and the role is way beyond what he can do. I look forward to the film other than his part in it.

[Saruh]

to be honest you can call it whatever you want i guess we all have our own opinions. alice in wonderland is supposed to be a bit on the twisted side, just because you were pacified with the sugar coated images disney produced for you less-than-original thinkers, doesn't mean you should nitpick burton's work. i despise the disney version. i have held true to the books & i've been waiting for someone with an off the wall almost exxcentric personality to undergo the journey of turning the book into a reality. the books were based on madness, so why not pick someone who will make it how it was MEANT to be. if you want it to be all bright colours & a good time for the whole family - sit at home with your disney copy, i'd much rathersee something worth while by someone who actually processed the thought that wonderland was full of crazies.

[Christine]

personally I think it's pretty ridiculous to come on here and not only attack great actors, but also directors. Yes, it is a widely known fact that Tim Burton and Johnny Depp work together in the moajority of his movies. If you don't like the fact that this happens simply don't watch his movies. Also if you think Burton's ideas are tired and played out don't watch them. However to have nothing better to than to get online and blast these people for getting ahead in their craft is dumb. Obviously they are all doing something right or they wouldn't be as sucessful as they are... I can't wait to see this movie and any other great movie Tim Burton comes out with. I think his attention to detail is outstanding, and I thoroughly enjoy watching the twisted spins Depp puts into his character.

[The me]

I think the movie will be amazing Mr. Burton always puts a good spin on things :) And johnny depp as the mad hatter is genius... but I think he could have had a better alice... but thats just my opinion otherwise the rest of the cast rocks my socks WOOT!!!

[Corey]

@ oomingmak

Technically, Tim Burton wouldn't be the first to go the creepy, goth route. American McGee, about 6 or 7 (more or less) years ago, made the video game "American McGee's Alice" and it was in talks to be adapted for the screen. It never did, but nevertheless - the video game was made.

[ariana]

whether you like it or not. alice in wonderland is being made and im going to watch it because i love alice in wonderland!!!

[Alden]

Anyone who's wondering about Mia Wasikowska, the young lady chosen to portray Alice, don't worry about her being a 'newcomer'. Anyone who watched her amazing turn in season one of HBO's 'In Treatment' know that she's brilliant (Google her name with 'In Treatment', you'll get a sense of how great she was). She's actually the main reason I'm excited for the film, despite being a big fan of Depp, Burton and Hathaway as well.

[Jessica]

i my self cant wait. johnny depp is great at weird and twisted and alice in wonderland is just that, a weird and twisted place. so i think it will be a great interpratation of the original.

[Christine J]

I'm totally excited about this movie. I would have like to have seen Christina Ricci play Alice though. But happy Burton is making an Alice movie none the less!!

[Namu]

Alice in Wonderland is my favorite book, so I'm very excited!

But you know, even if this movie looked like it was gonna suck, it's got Alan Rickman. And a movie with Alan Rickman = my butt in a seat.

[Beca]

Chosing an unfamiliar actor to play alice is a smart move- she's the main character and we don't want to have any preconcieved notions about her-otherwise it would ruin the movie because we've already seen the "normal alice" forget about that- i want to see the OTHER ALICE!-the one that's new, and different. That's what Burton is all about- taking something we already understand & turning it into something new and mysterious.

[SuicideAngel65]

I think this movie will be amazing and have soooo many hits.It has a whole bunch of awesome actors and actresses that will make this movie increadiable.I can't wait to see it.I'm soo pumped.