Alice in Wonderland (Live-Action)

[blackcauldron85]

Here are some pictures from the set:

http://community.livejournal.com/ohnoth ... 28017.html

[Disneykid]

Thanks for the link! The part that peaked my interest was this:

The security guards said that Johnny was in the film but only in CGI form.

All this time, Disney's press releases have been saying this film was a mix between live-action and CG, and I kept wondering to what extent. I wasn't sure if Wonderland and the animal characters would be CG while Alice and the other humans would be live-action, or if everyone and everything would become animated ala James and the Giant Peach. If the security guards are right, this means that even the human characters like the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts will be CG. Now the only question left on this subject is whether Alice herself will remain live in order to further alienate her from this world, or if she'll become animated, too.

[JDCB1986]

Disney officially announced today that Johnny Depp will star as the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. Not really shocking news, but it's official now.

[daydreamer22010]

Disney officially announced today that Johnny Depp will star as the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland.

Not really shocking news, but it's official now.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depp to play Tonto, Mad Hatter in upcoming films
Thursday September 25 12:09 AM ET


Johnny Depp is becoming the new face of Walt Disney Studios. The actor will preside over the manic tea party in Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" as the Mad Hatter and will play Tonto in "The Lone Ranger," whose latest screen incarnation is being produced by Jerry Bruckheimer.

Disney formally announced the casting Wednesday at a studio presentation. It also said it is officially in development on a fourth installment of "Pirates of the Carribean," which would see Depp reprise his popular role of Captain Jack.

On the "Alice" front, Depp and Burton -- who first worked together in 1990's "Edward Scissorhands" and most recently collaborated on "Sweeney Todd" -- have formed one of the longest-running director-actor partnerships in modern Hollywood. When Burton committed to filming a new live-action/CG-animated version of "Alice," Depp was touted as the most likely candidate to play the Mad Hatter -- after all, having worked with Burton on "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," he's practiced in wearing a top hat.


Mia Wasikowska, the young Australian actress who appeared in HBO's "In Treatment," has the film's title role.

Matt Lucas, who stars in the sketch comedy series "Little Britain USA," which debuts on HBO Sunday, is set to play the dual roles of Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

"Ranger," meanwhile, puts Depp back in business with Bruckheimer, who produced the "Pirates" movies. Tonto is the Native American colleague of cowboy hero the Lone Ranger. The casting could stir up controversy with Native American groups, who might accuse the studio of putting a white actor in the role. One factor that could counter such an argument is Depp's mixed ancestry, which includes German, Irish, and Cherokee.

"Ranger" is being written by "Pirates" scribes Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio and has no director at this time.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/news/va/2008 ... 59600.html

[Widdi]

Depp in a Burton movie??? NO WAI!!!1!11one!!1

[blackcauldron85]

Some new pics from the set:

http://community.livejournal.com/ohnoth ... 08683.html

[Jim's Jewel]

Awesome new pictures!

I don't know why, but I'm kinda getting a Johanna (from Sweeney Todd) vibe from that Alice...lol

[Disneykid]

Well, I have to admit I'm a bit disappointed that Tim made her blonde, afterall. Brown (despite being the most common hair color in general) was much more interesting. He's made up for that stereotype by breaking others, though. I love love love that she has another outfit to wear besides the famous pinafore one. I also love that her hair's wavy with no headband, which is actually in-tune with the original illustrations (the classic headband didn't appear until Through the Looking Glass). Of course, it's possible that since this is what opens the film, she may sport a more conventional look later on for when she goes down the rabbit hole. Still, I'm mighty pleased so far, even if leaving her as a brunette would've made me a bit more so.

The comments on that page are kind of exasperating, though. People are complaining because she doesn't have baby doll looks. First off, it's refreshing to see a normal-looking lead actress rather than a prom queen. Too many of the names thrown around for Alice (like Amanda Seyfried) actually looked too good for the part. Second, this is a Tim Burton movie, what do you expect? That plain, sunken look is his style. Were they honestly expecting him to have her be a clone of the animated one? MGM executives tried dolling Judy Garland up for the Wizard of Oz, and the results were disastrous. It wasn't until they let her look like herself (albeit with a flatter chest...) that they finally arrived at the perfect look for Dorothy.

[nomad2010]

Well, I have to admit I'm a bit disappointed that Tim made her blonde, afterall. Brown (despite being the most common hair color in general) was much more interesting. He's made up for that stereotype by breaking others, though. I love love love that she has another outfit to wear besides the famous pinafore one. I also love that her hair's wavy with no headband, which is actually in-tune with the original illustrations (the classic headband didn't appear until Through the Looking Glass). Of course, it's possible that since this is what opens the film, she may sport a more conventional look later on for when she goes down the rabbit hole. Still, I'm mighty pleased so far, even if leaving her as a brunette would've made me a bit more so.

The comments on that page are kind of exasperating, though. People are complaining because she doesn't have baby doll looks. First off, it's refreshing to see a normal-looking lead actress rather than a prom queen. Too many of the names thrown around for Alice (like Amanda Seyfried) actually looked too good for the part. Second, this is a Tim Burton movie, what do you expect? That plain, sunken look is his style. Were they honestly expecting him to have her be a clone of the animated one? MGM executives tried dolling Judy Garland up for the Wizard of Oz, and the results were disastrous. It wasn't until they let her look like herself (albeit with a flatter chest...) that they finally arrived at the perfect look for Dorothy.

i wouldn't care if she were plain jane looking i just care that she is way too old and way too tall. i think taylor momsen would have been wonderful.

[Sky Syndrome]

Anyone remember the old live-action Disney show, Adventures in Wonderland? Depp as Willy Wonka looks a heck of a lot like the Mad Hatter from that show. Watch this video for look at Mad Hatter. Link Even their dancing and facial expressions are similiar. It's like that Mad Hatter evolved into Burton's Willy Wonka!

[Jack Skellington]

I don't know what your talking about, I think she looks pretty.

Why is there a ship in the movie ? That's not accurate to the book !

[Disneykid]

Jack, it looks like Tim is expanding the opening that takes place in the real world, similar to how MGM's Wizard of Oz and Universal's Peter Pan added material in the opening real world scenes to give some meaning and purpose to the fantasy adventure. There's also some sort of bully character added in the London scenes named Fiona Chataway. I'm willing to bet that Alice won't go down the rabbit hole until 15-20 minutes into the movie.

[Jack Skellington]

Hmmm...Looks like this is gonna be one of those bottom-aching 3 hr movies, but I'd sit through it if they had scenes with The Mock Turtle and the Griffin, and they might even have enough room for The Pepper Cook and the Pig Baby.

[PeterPanfan]

I keep getting more and more excited for this. It seems to be like the 2003 Peter Pan, style-wise. Do you think Depp will have the rabbit hole scene the same as the animated version? Like, with the sister reading and Alice daydreaming before the fall?

[lord-of-sith]

So I see the picture of HBC in those set photos, but is there any confirmation of her being in the cast?

[Atlantica]

Ok, I have just really got on board with the whole idea that this movie is actually being made ... I swear it was just talked about as being 'in development' not too long ago !

Well, I love Tim Burton; his films almost never fail to be wonderful, fanciful, beautiful, touching, crazy ... seemingly all at the same time ! When I heard he was going to create a new version of 'Alice' I thought the book would be right up his street; a perfect fit. BUT there is something nagging at me about Tim doing 'Alice'; he can be terribly dark in his films, and I would not want 'Alice' to end up being totally strange, thus sealing its fate as being an 'odd and somewhat crazy' book. I just adore Lewis Carroll's original books, I want to see them be given the justice they deserve. I am also lucky to own an original print version of the book, from 1865, which is one of my dearest possesions.

I hope Tim allows Alice to retain her naive, charming, and sweet character, and not become something to separate from the book, like an action heroine or something. I honestly think, in terms of female characters in novels, Alice herself is right up there with Elizabeth Bennet! I would love to see that remain in tact on screen.

I know I have been rambling on, but do you see what I mean ? You seem to know so much on the subject of the movie Disneykid, I would love you to reasure me !

[Disneykid]

I definitely understand where you're coming from, atlanticaunderthesea. It's hard to tell at this point how dark and/or twisted Burton will take the story. I have a feeling, though, he'll simply make it whimsical with a slightly twisted tone ala Charlie and the Chocolate Factory rather than going all-out bizarre like Beetlejuice or dark like Sweeney Todd. It also depends on the screenplay Linda Woolverton turned in. Considering she wrote the screenplay for Beauty and the Beast (and was involved in one of The Lion King's drafts), I think she remained true to the tone of the novel while still expanding on certain themes.

As for Alice herself, Burton said he wanted an actress old enough to carry the film and give it some weight while still retaining a childlike innocence about her. So I'm assuming the added material Woolverton brought to the table fleshes Alice's character out more and gives her more to deal with than a seven year-old can handle, but at the same time they haven't taken it so far that Alice will be angsty or jaded.

It really makes me curious as to how they're adapting this since Burton has also said that he didn't like how disconnected and episodic other Alice films have been. Whatever happens in the opening London scenes must somehow carry on throughout the story, linking the different events together. So I'm not expecting a literal translation of the book (besides, we've had enough of those). I'm expecting something that's true to the essence of the book(s) while molding enough to work as a piece of cinema. All I really care about is that the added material doesn't become too preachy, but Burton hasn't fallen into that, yet, so I'm not worried.

[Sky Syndrome]

Part of Burton's style was inspired by Czech surrealistic artist Jan Svankmajer, who directed a creepy live-action/stop motion adaption of Alice in Wonderland called Alice (Neco z Alenky) that came out in 1988. If you watch the first six minutes of the movie (there's a dub version), you can see right away Burton was influenced by this guy.

Here's a clip of the first six minutes of the movie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5wHMgTPF-s

The dead stuffed rabbit would have scared me to tears as a little kid!

[Disneykid]

Michael Sheen has been cast in the film, but the role hasn't been revealed, yet:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111799 ... Id=13&cs=1

I'm getting a bit of a March Hare vibe from him, but if they're announcing him without saying what the part is, it's probably something more coveted like the Cheshire Cat or the White Rabbit. Time will tell...

[Disneykid]

Christopher Lee is now confirmed to be in the film according to the webmaster of his official website, though Disney's not allowing them to say what part it is, yet:

http://www.christopherleeweb.com/forums ... #post40678

I think the caterpillar seems like the best fit for him. Other people have suggested either the Gryphon or the White Knight (assuming there'll be more Looking Glass elements in this than just the Tweedles). Those sound like good choices, as well, but I'd still prefer to hear him as the Caterpillar. It's far too easy for me to imagine his voice saying phrases like, "Who are you?" and "Explain yourself."

Also, it's no surprise that Helena Bonham Carter will be in the film, too. She hasn't been officially confirmed, yet, but she was attached to another project called Wild Target, and the director said she won't be in that film, afterall, because the shooting schedule conflicts with Alice in Wonderland.

So to recap, here's the cast so far:

Alice Liddell - Mia Wasikowska
Mad Hatter - Johnny Depp
Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum - Matt Lucas
Queen of Hearts? - Helena Bonham Carter
??? - Christopher Lee
??? - Michael Sheen
Fiona Chatway (new character) - Eleanor Tomlinson