Sabrina Carpenter is officially heading back to the big screen — and this time, she’s taking center stage. The global pop star has signed on to lead an Alice in Wonderland–inspired musical for Universal Pictures, marking her first major studio feature role and her biggest acting project yet.
The film, currently untitled, draws loose inspiration from Lewis Carroll’s iconic novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, but will reimagine the classic tale through a modern, musical lens. Lorene Scafaria — known for steering sharp, stylish character-driven hits — will write and direct.
Carpenter won’t just star; she’ll also produce the film alongside Marc Platt for Marc Platt Productions, with Alloy Entertainment’s Leslie Morgenstein and Elysa Koplovitz Dutton also attached as producers.
A New Era for Carpenter’s Multihyphenate Career
The announcement arrives at a defining moment for Carpenter, fresh off earning six Grammy nominations for her album Man’s Best Friend — including album, record, and song of the year. While she’s no stranger to acting, appearing in titles like Tall Girl and The Hate U Give, her skyrocketing music success had shifted her focus away from film in recent years.
This marks her first feature since the global explosion of her 2024 album Short n’ Sweet, which became a pop-culture phenomenon.
Sources familiar with the project reveal that Carpenter approached Universal with the original idea back in 2024, long before her latest surge in popularity. As the concept evolved, Scafaria joined as writer and director, further shaping its direction.
The Vision Behind the Musical
Lorene Scafaria brings an impressive track record to the creative team. Loved for her sharp writing and dynamic storytelling, she previously directed the blockbuster Hustlers and helmed episodes of series such as Succession. She’s also set to direct the upcoming A24 thriller Jonty.
Her blend of character depth, humor, and emotional intelligence makes her a particularly compelling choice to reinvent Carroll’s surreal world for a modern audience.
A Long-Awaited Wonderland Turn
Interestingly, this isn’t Carpenter’s first attempt at an Alice in Wonderland musical. Her production banner previously set up a similar concept elsewhere in 2020, but that project stalled before entering development. With her global profile now at an all-time high, Universal’s version marks her big, official leap into a starring film musical.
Universal’s production executives Ryan Jones (SVP) and Jacqueline Garell (Director of Development) will oversee the project, with Katie McNicol supervising for Marc Platt Productions.
No casting announcements or timeline details have been revealed yet, but the project is already gaining significant industry buzz.
What’s Next for Sabrina Carpenter?
With music milestones stacking up and Hollywood now knocking louder than ever, Carpenter’s career is entering a new phase — one where she’s no longer just the voice behind chart-topping hits, but a powerhouse creator shaping her own screen legacy.
Her journey down the rabbit hole has officially begun — and the industry is watching closely.
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