First The Muppets, Now Alice Too...

Well, we now know who might be the director of the Burtonless Alice sequel...

It looks like the suits in Burbank really like the dailies that they're seeing of the new Muppet sequel because they want to give the director a much bigger film.  James Bobin is in negotiations to helm the sequel to "Alice in Wonderland" according to the trades.

Unless Johnny Depp has a bad meeting with Bobin, it's likely he will return since his presence was a large part of the film.  While I wasn't that big a fan of the film, a billion dollars is a lot of money to turn away from and the studio wants to turn this into another franchise.

As of now the title to the film is "Into The Looking Glass", but that could be tentative.  Alice Into the Looking Glass sounds more in line with where they might want to go I would think.  Mia Wasikowska is expected to return for the title role.  Currently, Linda Woolverton is still writing the screenplay, but you can expect they'd like production to begin as quickly as possible.

Better hurry, mustn't be late...

The MoCap Hatter...

Follow him down...


Walt Disney Pictures' "Alice in Wonderland" is a huge hit having already taken in half a billion dollars worldwide, but if it was up to the Suits, the movie never would have been what wound up on screen...

When the macabre wunderkind film maker first had talks with Disney Suits there were serious discussions as to what medium he would do it in. The intention of Burton had been to make the film a hybrid of live-action and motion-capture, similar to what wound up on the screen. But the brass at Disney wanted it to be entirely motion-capture, like its other studio ImageMovers Digital. This was the creative and budgetary route the Suits felt was best.

Burton's early discussions with them were in objection to this, but it wasn't until he convinced them that a certain actor wouldn't be up for it. Johnny Depp, who loves to play bizarre and eclectic characters wouldn't go for wearing black suits with ping pong balls on them. It's not something Johnny likens to and would have dampened his enthusiasm for playing the part in Burton's sequel. And with Johnny considerable weight (power-wise I mean), the Disney heads backed down. Burton told them as much in a meeting that if Johnny had to wear those outfits and walk around a blank room he'd pretty much turn down the role. With Johnny Depp's huge star power and commitment to "On Strange Tides," what he wants is very much catered to at the Mouse House. Whether it's the tone/direction of a film or simply just a food order from his favorite restaurant at the Disneyland Resort sent up to his hotel suite (which happens to be in DCA, btw).

Johnny's come a long way from almost being fired off of Pirates...

A Place Like No Other Place...

Down the hole...





Whoa, this is trippy...

If you haven't seen it, the second trailer for Tim Burton's sequel to "Alice in Wonderland" film known as "Alice in Wonderland" has been released by Walt Disney Pictures. It looks amazing and will no doubt be a hit. Not to mention keep a lot of kids from having to try drugs to get this feeling. I can't wait to see it.

And you as well I bet...

Legacy Is Only The Beginning...

It appears that the Suits in Burbank are very happy, albeit somewhat nervous of the price tag of "Tron Legacy" with the latest screenings...

It appear that some are feeling what "The Matrix" was to the 1990's, this could be to the coming decade. When I spoke with one of my Bothans last night that's the impression they got. Although the budget for the film is quite high, it's not at the level of "Avatar." But from the footage seen, the executives are looking at planning out a trilogy of films (or Tetralogy if you count the original). Not that they hadn't hoped it would be something they could make sequels to. But there is already talk of another script and planning has quietly gotten underway. It's preliminary, embryonic stuff of course, but Disney is feeling that confident in what next Christmas could hold for Walt Disney Pictures.

That would be a complete turnaround from the year of disappointment that 2009 has been. Besides "Up" and the soon to be released "The Princess and the Frog," there hasn't really been much to celebrate. That could all change next year with the release of "Alice in Wonderland," "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time," "Toy Story 3," "Rapunzel," and "Tron Legacy," naturally. The Mouse is going to take a major stab at putting its imprint on being at the top of the box office in 2010.

But I have a feeling that Joseph Kosinski is going to be feeling like Gore Verbinski for the better part of the next decade...

A Mad World, Next Year...

Don't be late, don't be late...





They've released another new poster for Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" film...

What makes this one so special is who it is obviously. Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter will be what drives viewers to the box office on this film. No matter what anyone tells you, that girl with the blond hair who keeps drinking what she's not supposed to and going where she's not allowed is merely a sidekick.

Don't be so terribly late next spring...



A very important date...

iGo Down The Rabbit Hole...

This is going to be the first of many...

It was announced late last week that Disney Interactive was going to release a game version of Walt Disney Pictures "Alice in Wonderland" for the iPhone. I mentioned a while back that there were plans to tap this growing market with games. Can you imagine the swanky new mobile game of "Tron Legacy" that's being developed? In addition to the iPhone, the Alice game would be available for Wii, Windows and the Nintendo DS. No plans as of yet for a Mac version were announce. Not a smart move for the platform of your biggest stockholder.

Developing, literally...

Go Watch Alice...

Tim Burton's vision of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson's world has been released...

If you want to see, then take a sip of that famous potion and travel down the rabbit hole.

Truly amazing. A wild collection of images that you would expect to come from Burton, but are still mesmerised by. Unlike the "A Christmas Carol" trailer which leaves me unimpressed and feeling like I'm watching video game footage, this appears to be something to look forward to. Later this year when a full trailer comes out for this I'll be so very, very happy. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm late, I'm late for a very important date!

Drink me/click me.

Coming sooner than you imagine...

Hat Tip to IGN.

Alice Shows Her Face...

One of the viral marketing that the Mouse is doing for Tim Burton's new film is now up...

Through the wonders of Facebook you can become a fan of several characters from the new Walt Disney Pictures "Alice in Wonderland" film. If you join up and become a fan, then you'll become one of the few to first see a new teaser for the 2010 film.

Become a Loyal or Disloyal Subject:

The White Queen.

The Red Queen.

The Mad Hatter.

But you'd better hurry, the deadline is Thursday, July 23, by 7 pm (EST)...

Wonderful Concept...

Here's a proposed one-sheet for Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" film...



Can't wait to see more...

Hat Tip to IMP Awards.

Alice Is Alive And So Is Her Site...

Above you see the logo for the new "Alice in Wonderland" film...



The official website has also gone live so if you want to see the loopy design and annoying clock, go over and take a look at it. But don't drink anything they ask you to, it could wind you up in trouble.

Developing...

A Script Through The Looking Glass...

Those guys over at CC2K, aka: Cin City 2000 (the ones with the "TRON 2" script review) have gotten their hands on another Disney script. Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" adaption/sequel.

Click here if you want to read it, but if you don't want spoilers then don't go too far down the rabbit hole.

A trailer, please. A trailer...

The Wonder Of Wonderland...

USA Today has a great article about Tim Burton's new "Alice in Wonderland" film from Walt Disney Pictures next year...

Besides the interesting details about this sequel, (yes, sequel) there is also some great art (other than what I'm showing here) that you can move around and examine in all its Photoshop wonder.

I can't wait to see a trailer for this thing...

Alice, Through The Looking Glass...

Well, we now have our first pictures of Alice from Tim Burton's adaption of the classic novel/Disney film.

The guys over at INF Daily have gotten a scoop with some shots of Mia Wasikowska in the title role...

Go over and take a peek.

He's Mad All Right...

It's official...

Johnny Depp will play the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" live adaption of the Lewis Carroll classic.

I can't wait to see him in make-up. Actually, I'm looking forward to the trailer for this one...

A Mad World...

Ok, as much as I am a skeptic of the remake of Disney's "Alice in Wonderland"...

This would be awesome news.

Johnny Depp is rumored to be playing the Mad Hatter... Now that would be inspired casting I have to say! If it pans out he would join Mia Wasikowska who will play the role of Alice.

Developing...

Through The Looking Glass...

Fifty-seven years ago today, Walt Disney's "Alice in Wonderland" is released by RKO Radio Pictures in America...

It's Walt's thirteenth animated film and another Disney classic. Could Tim Burton, genius that he is, actually do any better?

Alice Anew...

It appears that director Tim Burton and Walt Disney Pictures have found the Alice they wanted for their new live-action/motion-cam film that the Mouse plans on shooting soon...

Aussie Mia Wasikowska is in final negotiations to play the title character from Lewis Carroll's classic novel.

Alice In Ed Woodland?

Tim Burton will be directing a live-action/motion capture version of "Alice in Wonderland" after he finishes "Sweeny Todd" according to today's Variety.

It's all part of a two picture deal that Oren Aviv, Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group's Head Suit put together. The script for the Alice remake/redo was written by Linda Woolverton("The Lion King," "Beauty and the Beast") with Richard Zanuck, Joe Roth and Suzanne and Jennifer Todd producing. Filming will begin at the beginning of the year and wrap in May.

Once "Alice" is in the can, Burton will direct and produce the full motion picture adaption of his 1984 short, "Frankenweenie". That picture will be done old style in stop-motion like Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas".

The Mouse is really cozying up to Burton it seams. Personally, I look forward to "Frankenweenie" more than a remake of "Alice"... although I did enjoy his "Sleepy Hollow" remake. I wonder how Johnny Depp would look as the Mad Hatter?