Something big just happened at Universal Pictures. The kind of deal that makes agents jealous and turns pop stars into legitimate movie stars overnight. A 26-year-old who spent the last year dominating charts and earning six Grammy nominations just signed on to lead her first major studio feature. And the role she’s playing? Iconic doesn’t even begin to cover it.
This isn’t another Netflix teen rom-com. This isn’t a supporting part in someone else’s blockbuster. This is Sabrina Carpenter stepping into shoes that everyone from Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter to Disney’s animated classic has tried on. She’s going down the rabbit hole, and she’s bringing her own music, her own vision, and her own production company along for the ride.
The project Universal just greenlit represents something brewing behind the scenes since 2024, when Sabrina walked into an executive’s office with an idea nobody expected from a pop star known more for Espresso than acting chops. What started as a passion project has evolved into full-blown musical reimagining of one of literature’s most adapted stories. Lorene Scafaria, the brilliant mind behind Hustlers, signed on to write and direct. Marc Platt, the producer behind Wicked and La La Land, joined as producer.
But here’s the twist: this isn’t Sabrina’s first attempt at bringing Alice to life. Five years ago, Netflix bought a completely different Alice in Wonderland musical concept from her production company. That deal was announced with fanfare in 2020. Then… silence. The project never happened. Whatever killed that dream at Netflix apparently only made Sabrina more determined to make it work elsewhere.
The announcement dropped November 11, 2025, just one week after Sabrina earned those six Grammy nods including Album of the Year. The timing? Either perfectly coincidental or brilliantly strategic. Either way, the girl who sang about drinking espressos is about to discover what happens when you chase white rabbits instead.
The Pop Star Who Refused to Stay in Her Lane
Sabrina Carpenter’s journey from Disney Channel actress to global pop phenomenon already defied conventional wisdom about how entertainment careers should progress. Most child actors who try pivoting to music fail spectacularly. Most pop stars who attempt serious acting get laughed out of audition rooms. Sabrina somehow threaded the needle, building legitimate music credibility while maintaining acting presence through Netflix films like Tall Girl and The Hate U Give.
But 2024 changed everything. Her album Short n’ Sweet didn’t just perform well, it dominated. The single Espresso became the song of summer 2024, the kind of inescapable earworm that plays in every store, every party, every TikTok video. Suddenly Sabrina wasn’t just another pop star, she was THE pop star everyone wanted to work with. Those six Grammy nominations for her seventh studio album Man’s Best Friend including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year confirmed what fans already knew: Sabrina Carpenter had arrived at music’s highest table.
Most artists in that position would double down on music. Tour extensively. Release deluxe albums. Capitalize on momentum by doing exactly what’s working. Instead, Sabrina walked into Universal Pictures with a completely different pitch: let me star in and produce a musical reimagining of Alice in Wonderland. Let me bring my creative vision to one of literature’s most iconic characters. Let me prove I’m more than just catchy hooks and viral moments.
The audacity of that move can’t be overstated. Alice in Wonderland isn’t some random public domain property studios take chances on. It’s been adapted dozens of times, from Disney’s 1951 animated classic to Tim Burton’s 2010 live-action version that grossed over $1 billion worldwide. Every adaptation gets compared to what came before. The expectations are crushing. One misstep and critics will say she should’ve stuck to music.
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The Director Who Makes Stars Into Legends
Lorene Scafaria joining as writer and director elevated this project from interesting to essential viewing. The filmmaker behind Hustlers, the 2019 stripper crime drama that earned over $100 million domestically and launched Jennifer Lopez’s Oscar campaign, knows how to craft female-driven narratives that balance entertainment with substance. Her other directorial credits include The Meddler and Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, both character studies that prioritize emotional truth over spectacle.
Scafaria’s television work includes directing episodes of Succession, the HBO prestige drama that demands understanding of complex character motivations and multilayered storytelling. That experience translating literary material and navigating ensemble casts positions her perfectly for tackling Lewis Carroll’s nonsensical yet thematically rich source material.
The collaboration between Sabrina and Scafaria represents creative partnership where both artists bring complementary strengths. Sabrina understands contemporary music and youth culture in ways few filmmakers can access authentically. Scafaria brings structural storytelling expertise and proven ability to direct performances that earn awards recognition. Together, they’re positioned to create something that honors Carroll’s Victorian original while feeling relevant to audiences raised on TikTok and streaming culture.
Sources close to the deal revealed that Scafaria came aboard after Sabrina’s initial 2024 pitch to Universal evolved from concept to developed project. That suggests Sabrina’s vision was compelling enough to attract A-list talent, which itself indicates the project’s legitimacy beyond just stunt casting of a pop star.
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The Producer Who Makes Movie Magic
Marc Platt producing through his Universal-based Marc Platt Productions adds another layer of prestige and expertise. Platt’s producing credits include Wicked (currently dominating box office), La La Land (which won six Oscars including Best Director), Mary Poppins Returns, Aladdin, and Cruella. The man knows how to produce musical fantasy films that balance spectacle with heart, that earn both commercial success and critical acclaim.
His involvement signals Universal’s serious investment in this project beyond just capitalizing on Sabrina’s current pop culture moment. Platt doesn’t attach his name to vanity projects or cash grabs. He builds franchises and creates films that endure beyond opening weekend. Having him produce Sabrina’s Alice in Wonderland adaptation suggests the studio sees potential for something special rather than just quick profit from her fanbase.
Leslie Morgenstein and Elysa Koplovitz Dutton from Alloy Entertainment also produce, bringing their expertise developing young adult properties. Alloy’s credits include Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars, and The Vampire Diaries, proving their understanding of how to craft content that resonates with younger demographics while maintaining quality that attracts broader audiences.
That producing team, combined with Scafaria’s direction and Sabrina’s starring and producing roles, creates a collaborative environment where everyone brings specific expertise. It’s not one person’s vanity project but true collaboration where each contributor elevates the others’ work.
The Netflix Deal That Never Happened
Here’s the fascinating backstory nobody’s talking about enough: this isn’t Sabrina’s first attempt at bringing Alice to life musically. In 2020, Netflix acquired a feature pitch for an Alice in Wonderland musical from Sabrina’s production company At Last Productions. The deal was announced publicly, trades covered it, fans got excited. Then… nothing. The project never progressed beyond development.
What killed that Netflix version remains unclear. Deals fall apart constantly in Hollywood for countless reasons: creative differences, budget concerns, scheduling conflicts, changing executive priorities. But the timing suggests the project might’ve been ahead of its moment. In 2020, Sabrina hadn’t yet achieved her current pop culture dominance. Espresso and Short n’ Sweet were years away. Her star power, while significant, couldn’t yet justify major studio musical budgets.
Five years later, everything changed. Sabrina’s not just famous, she’s Grammy-nominated Album of the Year famous. Her concert tours sell out instantly. Her music videos rack up hundreds of millions of views. When she walks into studios now, executives see bankable star rather than promising talent who might break through eventually.
That failed Netflix deal actually worked in Sabrina’s favor by giving her time to grow into the artist capable of carrying a major studio musical. The Universal version benefits from her increased experience, matured artistic vision, and genuine box office appeal developed through years of building a devoted fanbase. Sometimes timing matters more than talent, and now Sabrina has both.
What This Means for Alice in Wonderland Adaptations
Lewis Carroll’s 1865 novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland has been adapted so many times that creating fresh takes requires genuine innovation. Disney’s 1951 animated version became definitive for generations. Tim Burton’s 2010 live-action reimagining starring Mia Wasikowska and Johnny Depp took a darker approach while earning over $1 billion globally. Its 2016 sequel Alice Through the Looking Glass underperformed but demonstrated continued interest in the property.
The Victorian era story about a girl falling down a rabbit hole into a fantastical world populated by talking animals, tyrannical queens, and nonsensical logic has appealed to filmmakers because it combines children’s fantasy with adult themes about identity, madness, and societal constraints. Every era reimagines Alice through its own cultural lens, making the story perpetually relevant while remaining rooted in Carroll’s original vision.
What distinguishes Sabrina’s version remains unknown since plot details are still under wraps. But positioning it as an original musical rather than a straight adaptation suggests significant creative liberty. Scafaria’s screenplay will likely modernize themes while maintaining the surreal dreamlike quality that makes Wonderland timeless. Sabrina’s music will provide emotional throughline connecting disparate fantastical elements.
The question becomes: can a contemporary pop musical capture the same magic as Disney’s animated songs or Burton’s gothic grandeur? Early indications suggest yes, primarily because Sabrina and Scafaria aren’t trying to replicate previous versions but create something distinctly their own.
Your Predictions for Sabrina’s Alice
Will Sabrina Carpenter’s Alice in Wonderland musical become the next great movie musical or just another failed adaptation? Can she carry a major studio feature after years focused on music? What songs from her discography would fit perfectly in Wonderland? Drop your wildest predictions in the comments because this project has potential to either launch Sabrina into movie stardom or become cautionary tale about pop stars overextending.
Share this breakdown with anyone still doubting Sabrina Carpenter’s range as a performer. Follow for updates as production progresses because this is the kind of risky, ambitious project that either becomes legendary or legendary failure, and either way the journey will be fascinating to watch. Sabrina Carpenter is chasing the white rabbit, and we’re all invited to follow her down the hole.
