Sneak peek: Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland

Illustration by Jillian Tamaki

Tim Burton is no stranger to surreal literary adaptations, ranging from his Sleepy Hollow update (1999) to his more recent, positively weirdo take on Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Though his Gashleycrumb Tinies-esque worlds are an acquired taste for many, I’m sure Burton’s dark aesthetic will make a great match for Lewis Carroll’s twisted fairytale Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. News that longtime Burton collaborator Johnny Depp and all-around nutter Crispin Glover have been slated to play the Mad Hatter and the Knave of Hearts, respectively, only serves to heighten my anticipation. Seriously, I’m not sure I can wait till March 2010 to see the finished 3-D product.

Luckily, thanks to USA Today, everybody can take a sneak peek at the demented tea party Burton’s been planning for us all. A special feature offers a first look at Alice in Wonderland, and there’s an amazing interactive tool in the feature that allows you to scroll, zoom and peer through three panels from what looks to be a magical, downright gorgeous film.

Elsewhere today, images have started circulating of several of the film’s key cast members (including Anne Hathaway as the White Queen). Judging from this terrifying shot of Helena Bonham Carter in full Red Queen regalia, this movie might not be suitable for kids, even if it does feature a lovely little White Rabbit voiced by Michael Sheen.

--Lee Ferguson