'The Muppets' Director James Bobin In Talks To Direct 'Alice In Wonderland' Sequel

Lewis Carroll wrote more than one adventure in Wonderland, so the notion of a sequel to Alice in Wonderland is hardly new. But the idea of a film carrying on the approach of Tim Burton's superficial, action-oriented film from 2010 does sound a bit ridiculous. Nevertheless, Burton's film made over a billion dollars, propelled in part by a post-Avatar interest in 3D. So a sequel was probably inevitable.

At least it won't be called Alice in Wonderland 2; right now the working title is Into the Looking Glass. (Presumably to be presented as a subtitle, so we'll likely be calling the film Alice in Wonderland: Into the Looking Glass.)

Now the film has a likely director in James Bobin. The veteran of Da Ali G Show and Flight of the Conchords directed The Muppets for Disney, and is finishing up The Muppets...Again! for the company. Seems like a big thumbs-up from Disney, which has decided that Bobin is a director who can create what the Mouse House wants.

Variety reports that Linda Woolverton is still writing the sequel. (She also scripted Burton's film.) Joe Roth, Suzanne Todd and Jennifer Todd will be back to produce, but at this point we don't have any info on casting. Presumably Mia Wasikowska would be back as Alice, and some of the other supporting cast from Burton's film could reprise their roles. Johnny Depp was a huge part of the Burton film, and you'd expect him to return, too. The Wrap says he will, though "that has not been explicitly announced."

Bobin doesn't have a deal yet, and The Wrap says he has to fully pass muster with Depp, and then get the thumbs-up from the producers.