Sabrina Carpenter to Lead ‘Alice in Wonderland’-Inspired Musical at Universal

In a significant career move, singer-songwriter Sabrina Carpenter has been selected by Universal Pictures for the lead role in an upcoming musical, marking her debut as the star of a major studio film. The untitled project offers a fresh interpretation of Lewis Carroll's classic 1865 novel "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," a foundational work of literary nonsense that has spawned countless adaptations across film, television, and stage. This role represents a calculated expansion of Carpenter's artistic portfolio into large-scale acting.

Overseeing the creative direction is Lorene Scafaria, the acclaimed writer-director behind the box-office success "Hustlers," who will both write the screenplay and direct. Carpenter is not only starring but will also produce alongside Marc Platt via his Universal-based Marc Platt Productions. The producing team is rounded out by Leslie Morgenstein and Elysa Koplovitz Dutton from Alloy Entertainment, a production company renowned for its influential young adult properties, including the hit television series "Gossip Girl" and "Pretty Little Liars."

The film announcement coincides with a peak moment in Carpenter's music career, arriving just one week after she received six Grammy nominations for her seventh studio album, "Man's Best Friend." She is nominated in the premier categories of Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year. This dual success in music and film highlights a strategic effort to build a versatile entertainment brand. As entertainment analyst Ben Carter of Silver Lake Media noted, "Carpenter is constructing a multi-platform presence that echoes the trajectory of artists like Lady Gaga, who seamlessly transitioned from pop icon to respected film actress in projects such as 'A Star Is Born.'"

Universal's production development team, led by Senior Vice President Ryan Jones and Director Jacqueline Garell, will supervise the project. Representing Marc Platt Productions as the production executive is Katie McNicol. While key details regarding the plot, supporting cast, and release timeline remain under wraps, the industry expects further updates to be shared in the coming months as the project moves forward.