Tim Burton directing his version of Lewis Carroll’s classic novel Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland, is such a fitting and perfect match, it’s a wonder that it has not been done sooner.
Carroll's novel tells of a wonderland that Alice comes upon when she falls down a hole while chasing a white rabbit. She encounters a host of phantasmagorical characters and situations in this fantasy world, while trying to find her way back home.
Alice In Wonderland is Burton’s 25th film and given the whimsical, otherworldly, dark edged nature of the novel, it fits perfectly into Burton’s repertoire. The movie is a mix of live action acting and special effects. The opening scenes were filmed on the British coast, in Cornwall, while a majority of the wonderland is created by CGI blue screen special effects.
A Star-Studded Cast
Model Lily Cole and actresses Lindsay Lohan and Amanda Seyfried were all rumoured to have landed the part of Alice. But this proved to be false when it was announced that unknown Australian actress Mia Wasikowska was to play the coveted role.
The high-calibre cast includes British comedian and star of Little Britain, Matt Lucas who plays both Tweedledee and Tweedledum, Frost/Nixon star Michael Sheen is the White Rabbit and Stephen Fry lends his dulcet tones to the voice of the Cheshire Cat.
Hollywood glamour is provided by Anne Hathaway, who takes on the part of The White Queen.
Burton, Depp and Bonham-Carter
Of course, no Tim Burton picture would be complete without the presence of Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, who play the Mad Hatter and The Red Queen respectively.
Alice In Wonderland marks Burton’s 7th collaboration with Depp, the others being Sweeney Todd (2007), Corpse Bride (2005), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Sleepy Hollow (1999), Ed Wood (1994) and Edward Scissorhands (1990), which started their strong professional and personal relationship. The two men are great friends, with Depp being godfather to Burton’s son, Billy Ray.
Tim Burton first worked with Helena Bonham Carter on his re-make of the 1968 film, Planet of the Apes. They soon became a couple, and now have aforementioned son Billy Ray and a daughter, Nell. Alice In Wonderland marks Bonham Carter’s 6th collaboration with her partner. Along with Planet of the Apes (2001), their previous movies together were Big Fish (2003), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Corpse Bride (2005) and Sweeney Todd (2007).
Bonham Carter also stars in the Harry Potter franchise and she is not the only cast member of those films to appear in Alice In Wonderland. Her co-stars Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall and Frances de la Tour also have roles in Burton’s wondrous imagining.
Burton's Collaboration With Disney
There have been many versions of Lewis Carroll’s tale, in both cartoon and live action form, with the first being made in 1903. One of the most famous adaptations is Disney’s cartoon film version from 1951. Interestingly, Tim Burton worked as an animator for Disney at the start of his career. He worked on their classic film, The Fox and the Hound (1981). Burton has kept a good relationship with the company, as he is making Alice In Wonderland and his next picture, a stop-motion remake of his own 1984 film, Frankenweenie (2011) in conjunction with Disney.
Alice In Wonderland is scheduled to be released in March 2010. Prior to this there will be a screening of this highly anticipated film at the D23 Expo, a convention for Disney fans, in September 2009.
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