Sabrina Carpenter is officially making her biggest move yet from pop superstardom to the silver screen. The hit-making singer behind Espresso and this year’s viral world tour has signed on to star in and produce a new musical film inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland for Universal Pictures.
The project, which is currently untitled, will reimagine Lewis Carroll’s classic story for a modern audience. Carpenter is expected to portray a contemporary version of Alice while also taking on a producer role—giving her direct creative influence over how the story is told. The dual position marks a major milestone in her career as she steps beyond performing and into shaping cinematic narratives from the ground up.
The film will be written and directed by Lorene Scafaria, whose distinctive style blends emotional storytelling with sharp humor and bold character work. Her involvement points toward a version of Wonderland driven as much by emotional perspective and personal growth as by fantasy spectacle.
From Chart-Topper to Creative Power Player
Carpenter’s crossover into film isn’t entirely new—she’s appeared in several past acting projects—but this marks her first major studio production where she holds both leading and producing roles. That shift signals a more deliberate step into long-term creative leadership rather than one-off acting appearances.
By producing the film through her own banner, At Last Productions, Carpenter positions herself alongside a growing generation of artist-producers who want more control over storytelling. Instead of waiting for opportunities, she’s actively building them.
This transition mirrors the career trajectories of artists who have successfully blurred the line between music and film, using their popularity to create platforms that allow them to take creative risks, champion distinctive voices, and build more durable entertainment brands.
Reinventing Wonderland for a New Generation
This upcoming musical will not be a scene-by-scene adaptation of Carroll’s original novel. Instead, it draws inspiration from the source material to tell a fresh, modernized interpretation of the Wonderland journey.
The story is expected to lean into themes of identity, imagination, and self-discovery—ideas that resonate strongly with Carpenter’s fan base. Her music has long balanced playful humor with vulnerability, making her a natural fit for a character navigating surreal worlds while searching for personal meaning.
Rather than focusing solely on fantastical visuals, the adaptation may explore Wonderland as both a literal environment and a symbolic exploration of growing up, fame, or emotional transition—a tone that aligns with Carpenter’s evolving artistic persona.
The Musical Renaissance in Hollywood
The project forms part of a wider revival of big-screen musicals led by major studios. Audiences have recently shown strong interest in films that pair visual spectacle with star-powered soundtracks and emotionally driven storytelling.
Studios are leaning into performers who already command passionate fan bases through music, recognizing that crossover appeal fuels box-office success and online engagement alike. Carpenter’s massive streaming numbers and high-energy live performances give the studio a built-in audience eager to support her next creative phase.
At the same time, musicals benefit from a theatrical format that encourages event-style viewing—something increasingly valued in today’s competitive entertainment landscape.
What This Means for Sabrina Carpenter’s Career
For Carpenter, this Wonderland project caps off an extraordinary year of career momentum. Following major touring success, critical recognition, and rising industry visibility, stepping into film production cements her position as more than just a recording artist.
This move reflects a long-term strategy: expanding from performer to entertainment architect. Producing allows her to guide tone, casting choices, soundtrack integration, and narrative themes in ways that traditional acting roles do not.
While no release date has been set yet, filming is expected to begin in 2026, with casting details and music collaborators likely to roll out gradually as development continues.
A New Creative Era Begins
Sabrina Carpenter’s musical Wonderland adaptation represents more than a movie deal—it marks the start of a broader creative era. By combining pop stardom, film production, and leading-role performances under one umbrella, she’s steadily building a cross-media brand rooted in artistic independence.
As Hollywood leans into familiar stories told through new voices, Carpenter’s version of Wonderland feels perfectly timed: bold, imaginative, emotionally driven—and unmistakably hers.
