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EXCLUSIVE: From Las Vegas’ underbelly to Wonderland. NBC is finalizing a deal for Wonderland, a drama set in the world of Lewis Carroll’s Alice In Wonderland that will be executive produced by CSI creator Anthony Zuiker. The project, which will be written by feature scribe Whit Anderson, stems from Zuiker’s overall deal with ABC Studios, which has him partnering with studio-based Brillstein Entertainment Partners on development. Wonderland is set years after the events in the book and centers on Alice and a new character, Clara. Seven years ago, Clara’s life took an unexplained turn for the worse, and a mysterious stranger tells her there may be an explanation after all… an explanation that lies in the fantastical world of Wonderland. To revive her dreams and get her life back on track, Clara must wage war against Wonderland’s reigning Queen, the woman we once knew as Alice. “Whit Anderson is a true visionary,” Zuiker said. “Her reimagining of Alice In Wonderland blew us away and we are very excited to bring this to television.”
Wonderland will be produced by ABC Studios, Brillstein and Zuiker’s Dare To Pass banner. Zuiker and Anderson, both repped by CAA, will executive produce with Brillstein’s president of TV JoAnn Alfano and Zuiker’s long-time manager, Brillstein’s Margaret Riley. Dare To Pass president Matt Weinberg also is expected to produce.
The Alice In Wonderland concept is popular this season. The CW has in development Wunderland, a contemporary reimagining of Alice In Wonderland from McG and Chad Hodge. And Lionsgate TV is prepping a pitch after acquiring this summer Zenescope’s Wonderland graphic novels, a modern retelling of Carroll’s novel from the point of view of Alice’s daughter. ABC, of course, has elements from Alice In Wonderland featured in its fairytale drama Once Upon A Time, which is likely the reason the ABC Studios-produced Wonderland sold to an outside network.
This is Anderson’s second stab at rebooting a popular fantasy/supernatural franchise. In 2010, she was tapped to write a new Buffy The Vampire Slayer movie. For Zuiker and Dare To Pass, this would be the second sale this season, along with soap Taboo at ABC with writer Sara Goodman. Zuiker’s digital film, Cybergeddon, launched recently on Yahoo.
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Isn’t Whit Anderson also the same “visionary” who “blew away” producers with her take on a new Buffy the Vampire movie. And then she delivered something that promptly went into the trash.
But you know, there’s all those other stellar writing credits she has… Oh wait.
surprised this didn’t end up at ABC considering it is produced by ABC studios, even if One Upon a Time has elements of Alice in Wonderland. That didn’t stop them last season with developing Beauty and the Beast.
but in other words, this sounds interesting. hopefully it’s executed properly.
How is Whit Anderson getting these jobs? First Buffy and now this? I keep hearing that she’s good and talented, but I can’t find jack that she’s done. I’ve looked all over the nets and I can’t find a TV episode, a short film, a script, an essay, fan fiction or anything that she’s written professionally or non-professionally. I hadn’t even heard of her until she was hired to write Buffy.
Does anyone know where she came from and what got her on anyone’s radar? Can someone point me to something she’s written?
She worked with Gary Ross years ago. Her spec sample HIT ME got a lot of attention, but from working with her I can tell you that it’s mostly hype. She’s talented, but kind of unreliable when it comes to delivery. Nonetheless, this sounds like a cool project and wish her well.
A few months back I had a meeting at Showtime right after her. The execs seemed pretty pleased. Was wondering why I hadn’t heard of her since, but this would explain it. Good for Ms.(Mrs?) Anderson!
i’m loving the fact that there are ANY true fantasy projects on mainstream networks – hardest 10-15 years of my life has been the “reality ” shows that took over- glad to see imagination is somewhat alive even though still the same as copying the newest flavor- now if hbo would do ” the sandman ” series……talk about great tv……
“feature film scribe Whit Anderson”??? Seriously? She hasn’t written any features – at least none that have been made.
She has three acting credits on IMDb – two of which are shorts. That’s it.
Her only claim to fame (other than that headshot) is that ill-conceived Whedon-less Buffy reboot catastrophe that thankfully imploded.
Have you read her work? You’d be lucky to. Perhaps you ought to consider that this woman consistently earns unsolicited praise from many arbiters in her field. Green-lights have nothing to do with good writing, my friend, and everything to do with potential profits and cashing out obligations. But if Joss Whedon could comfortably entrust her with one of his crown jewels, and now Anthony Zuiker’s committed to her, critics like yourself will be eating your words sooner than later.
I agree that people shouldn’t be so quick to judge, but just for the record: Whedon didn’t entrust her with Buffy. He had nothing to do with that project. In fact, he was explicitly unenthusiastic about the possibility of them rebooting Buffy.
Whedon was violently opposed to the Buffy reboot he hated the idea.
Clara and Alice or we might say The Nutcracker meets Wonderland.
nbc’s answer to Once Upon A Time, i guess? i bet it doesn’t make it to air.