Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland
Alice in Wonderland has been a fan favorite since 1865. But Tim Burton’s version of the classic book is a visual masterpiece. Did you know that there are some hidden gems and fascinating facts about this beloved film that you may not be aware of?
Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland was released in 2010 and quickly became a box office hit, grossing over a billion dollars worldwide. The film combines Burton’s signature dark and twisted style with the whimsical world of Wonderland.
While many are familiar with the classic story of Alice in Wonderland, there are several intriguing aspects of Tim Burton’s adaptation that often go unnoticed. Here are six things you never knew about Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland.
Green Screens All-Around
Burton is known to use a variety of special effects in his films to create his dark fantasy worlds on the silver screen. However, Alice in Wonderland was the first film that the director made, where 90% of it was shot using green screens.
Helena Bonham Carter, who plays the villain in the movie, stated that one had to imagine with great precision filming in front of green screens. She went on to say that if you don’t believe in what you’re doing, the audience won’t believe it’s real either.
The Red Queen’s Inspiration
In the original Alice in Wonderland, there is the Red Queen, who has inspired many artists, game developers, and performers. But to make Tim Burton’s queen stand out from the rest, there needed to be subtle differences in her behavior and features.
Helena Bonham Carter, who plays the evil queen, Iracebeth of Crims, is a combination of two people in the story: The Red Queen and the Queen of Hearts. The famous actress also used her daughter for inspiration to play the character. She stated that the queen is just like a toddler because she has a big head and she’s a tyrant.
Alan Rickman’s Absolem
In the film, Alan Rickman voices a hookah-puffing caterpillar named Absolem. The designers struggled to get the features of the caterpillar’s face correct at first. They thought about superimposing Alan’s face onto the character but settled on giving the caterpillar similar features to the actor.
Alan Rickman also had an easy job recording the voice for Absolem. The late actor completed his lines in one day for his Alice in Wonderland character, as did many of his fellow co-stars.
Nigella Lawson as the White Queen?
Did you know that Tim Burton originally wanted Nigella Lawson to play the stunning White Queen? He described the famous cooking show host as someone who is incredibly beautiful. Instead, Anne Hatheway was chosen to play the character.
Anne also took inspiration from Nigella Lawson when she played a scene in a kitchen. She mimicked Lawson’s movements and the ways she uses her cooking utensils on her show. Hatheway mentioned that Nigella is sensual when cooking food, and she wanted to encapsulate that in her performance.
Michael Sheen Swaps Roles
Originally, Michael Sheen was supposed to be the voice of the Cheshire Cat, but he had conflicting schedules for recording his parts. So, instead, the actor did the voice for the White Rabbit. Stephen Fry then stepped up to the plate to voice the quirky, smiling cat that everyone loves.
Michael Sheen is famous for his role as Lucian in the Underworld movies, as well as his performance as Aziraphale in Good Omens. Fans agree that he sounds different, voicing the White Rabbit in the film.
Actors Considered for the Role of Alice
There were many actresses whom Tim Burton wanted for the role of Alice. Amanda Seyfried was said to be at the top of Burton’s list. But the final decision was made, and the job was given to the talented Mia Wasikowska.
The famous actress did five auditions for the role of Alice before landing the gig. Mia also wore a series of stunning outfits that were designed by Colleen Atwood. The actress stated that she wore many corsets in the film that were quite painful but nothing compared to the ones she wore in the film adaptation of Jane Eyre.
Final Thoughts
Tim Burton has made a series of brilliant films such as Big Fish, Edward Scissorhands, and Beetlejuice. His dark fantasy aesthetic was perfect for Alice in Wonderland. Burton changed a lot about Alice in the films. He wanted the character to be withdrawn and unsure of herself at first and then find her strength at the end of the film.
Overall, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland is a fun and exciting film that’s packed with action and adventure. We hope these fun facts shed some new light on the film.
