The sequel to “Alice in Wonderland” by Tim Burton is already in the works.
Screen Rant reported that in the film, “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” Time (Sacha Baron Cohen) will be the main villain, described by Disney as a strange creature which is part human and part clock. Alice will also encounter Zanik Hightopp (Rhys Ifans), the father of the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp). Zanik was not shown in the first footage, but is expected to make an appearance in the future.
Many of the main characters from the original 2010 film by Tim Burton will be making a return, including Mia Wasikowska, who will star as Alice Kingsleigh. In the sequel, Alice will be called back to Wonderland/Underland and have another adventure through time, with the main objective of saving the Mad Hatter from a potentially terrible outcome. In the first trailer, Alice comes across various familiar characters like the White Queen (Anne Hathaway) and the Red Queen (Helena Bonham).
Writer Linda Woolverton will be back to write “Alice Through the Looking Glass”. In terms of visual effects, the second movie appeared to have included many of the same aesthetic factors that were introduced in the previous film. More focus seemed to have been put on practical sets, instead of the macabre feel of the original, Screen Rant noted.
Alice will most likely challenge Time and try to get back the Mad Hatter, who appeared without a hat in one of the scenes, iO9 wrote.
“Alice in Wonderland” grossed over $1 billion at the worldwide box office and received mixed reviews. Disney will still feature the film, but the directing duties was passed by Burton to James Bobin (The Muppets, Muppets Most Wanted). Burton will still be involved as film producer. The new director is expected to render a fresh take on the franchise, probably deviating from the darker touch of Burton to a more light-hearted tone. The presence of popular characters from the franchise, as well as notable actors like Depp, Bonham and Hathaway are also expected to boost the second film’s fandom.
“Alice Through the Looking Glass” is set to launch in the United States on May 27, 2016. More updates and details are expected in the coming weeks.
The two films are based on the 1865 novel, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” by English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, who used the pseudonym Lewis Carroll.