So it’s finally happening. The mouse house is going ahead with a sequel to Alice in Wonderland. Why, you ask? Well, a box office total of $1,024,299,904 is probably the main reason. There’s no way Disney was just going to let the film sit there and collect dust after it made that much. A sequel was inevitable and today we finally have confirmation.
Writer Linda Woolverton, who has penned The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and Maleficent, among others for the studio, will write the sequel and as of now, there are no story details aside from that fact that we know Alice will once again return to Wonderland. Shocking! It will also take inspiration from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel, Through the Looking-Glass.
The project is still in the early stages of development and none of the key cast members have been confirmed to be returning. The same goes for director Tim Burton. Although, you can imagine that Disney will at least make offers to everyone and given the success of the first film, they’ll likely return. Let’s just hope that the second outing is better than the first.
While it was a treat to look at, Alice in Wonderland was a pretty terrible film. Yes, production design, costumes, make-up, visuals etc., that was all well and good but the film itself was far from enjoyable and I could care less to see a sequel. But, then again, you can’t ignore a cash cow like this and Disney would be foolish to not try and capitalize on the financial success of the first film.
And honestly, the talent is there. If Depp, Wasikowska, Burton etc., all return, there is some potential for a very good film. Let’s just hope that they can correct the mistakes of the first one and give us something a whole lot better.