Mia Wasikowska, who will soon be seen as Alice in Tim Burton's upcoming version of "Alice in Wonderland," is almost set to star in "Restless," a drama Gus van Sant will direct from a script by Jason Lew.

"Restless" is a contemporary take on young love, focusing on a boy and a girl who share a preoccupation with mortality, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Bryce Dallas Howard is on board to produce the project.

Click to read more ...

Anne Hathaway and Helena Bonham Carter have signed on to star in Tim Burton’s new take on Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland,” according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The trade says Hathaway is set to play the White Queen, the kind monarch banished by the Queen of Hearts (Carter), who’s known for yelling “Off with their heads!”

Australian actress Mia Wasikowska is already on board to play Alice, while Johnny Depp stars as the Mad Hatter. Matt Lucas plays Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Also starring is Michael Sheen.

The project, which has started shooting and will be released in 3D in 2010, is described as a mix of live action and performance-capture technology.

Hathaway recently received plenty of critical acclaim for her performance in “Rachel Getting Married.” The actress will next be seen in “Passengers,” followed by Gary Winick’s “Bride Wars.”

Carter, who’s obviously a regular in Burton’s flick, last starred in “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” She will also briefly appear in McG’s “Terminator Salvation.”

Wow, what a great cast they’re getting together for this. My curiosity is rapidly growing.

There is one obvious question everyone should ask whenever Tim Burton gears up to direct a new project: is Johnny Depp going to be in it? As far as Burton’s new take on “Alice in Wonderland” is concerned, nobody really knows the answer to that question at this stage.

But according to an article Tuesday in the Herald Sun, Depp is apparently in talks to play the Mad Hatter in Burton’s adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s famous novel. Then again, the article just quotes a source and doesn’t really offer any other information.

Although I can’t imagine a Tim Burton flick without Johnny Depp, I’m very skeptical toward this rumor. We’ll just have to wait for the trades or the studios to either confirm or deny it. No matter how it will turn out though, I do like the idea of Depp playing the Mad Hatter.

Last week, we also reported Burton found his Alice in Mia Wasikowska, an Australian actress who may have seen on HBO’s “In Treatment.” You can read all about that right here.

Australian actress Mia Wasikowska is in talks to play the titular character in Tim Burton’s upcoming version of “Alice in Wonderland,” according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Wasikowska is known primarily for her appearances on the Australian TV show “All Saints” and HBO’s “In Treatment.” Her future big-screen projects include Edward Zwick’s war drama “Defiance” and Mira Nair’s Amelia Earhart biopic “Amelia.”

Now she’s set to play Alice in Burton’s new take on Lewis Carroll’s famous novel. The Walt Disney-produced project will head into principal photography later this year, with a release in Digital 3-D scheduled for 2010.

I really can’t comment on the selection of Wasikowska as Alice because I haven’t seen any of her shows yet, but with Burton on board as her director, I’m sure she can pull this one off without major difficulties. Looking at the aforementioned projects, I think she’s got a bright career ahead of her.