Tim Burton vs. the Chesire Cat

Tim Burton explained to the Los Angeles Times that a certain character stirred some strong feelings during the development of Alice in Wonderland -- and not exactly good feelings.

"The Cheshire Cat was a character I had a very specific image of and it's because I just have this thing about cats," Burton said. "The Cheshire Cat taps into what you might call my hatred of cats."'

Stephen Fry -- the acclaimed British author, broadcaster, actor, comedian, and all-around polymath -- lent his voice to the ever-grinning feline.



"Stephen Fry did a great job of getting that creepy quality. You know, this weird kind of floaty, too-focused, creepy -- he did it great. He has this thing of getting up close and just sitting there and staring at you, you know, like a cat. It just kind of sits there."

"I have this thing with cats. And with Cheshire Cat it's a love-hate relationship. You can, uh, hear it in my voice can't you?"

"Alice in Wonderland" US and UK Premieres Announced

From Johnny Depp News:

London (UK) Premiere Wednesday 24th or Thursday 25th February (TBC) Location: Odeon Leicester Square, London (TBC) Crowds Arrival: 12:00 noon Onwards Red Carpet Arrivals: 5:30pm Guests: Johnny Depp, Tim Burton, Mia Wasikowska, Helena Bonham Carter, Crispin Glover, Anne Hathaway, Stephen Fry, Christopher Lee, Michael Sheen, Alan Rickman, Matt Lucas, Timothy Spall, Barbara Windsor, Paul Whitehouse and many many More.

Los Angeles (USA) Premiere February (TBC) Location: Pacific's El Capitan, 6838 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood Crowds Arrival: 2:00pm Red Carpet Arrivals: 5:30pm to 6:30pm Guests: Johnny Depp, Tim Burton, Mia Wasikowska, Helena Bonham Carter and many many More.

"Alice" (and more) at Comic-Con

Some more bits of information on the recent Comic-Con events concerning Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland:

Screen Crave provided these little updates from Thursday's Disney 3D panel:

11:58: Tim Burton is about to come out for his first panel!

12:00: [Moderator Patton] Oswald asked [Burton] why he made Alice: his answer "because of the hardcore realistic setting" and then when asked about the clips he responded with "it looks like a freak show doesn’t it?"


Moderator Patton Oswalt and Tim Burton at the Disney 3D Panel

12:01: Tim jokes that they skinned Carrot Top for The Mad Hatter's wig. Depp enjoys having a part in the costumes (as always). As for the cat, it's creepy, which Tim says "confirms his hatred of cat" and says that Stephen Fry does the voice.

About to see clip! BRB!

12:05: Safest way to do PCP, watch his film Alice. It was a short clip. Only 30 seconds or so. Going to play it again...

12:07: Just got to see a clip twice that is "ONLY FOR COM-CON"… As they say in the clip; Alice – "This is impossible." Mad Hatter – "Only if you think it is." Absolutely beautiful images of [Tweedledee] and [Tweedledum]. The Mad Hatter is completely mad. The Cheshire cat is completely creepy.

12:10: Just got the first fan boy. Was so excited to ask a question and share his story he didn’t [let?] Burton talk.

12:11: "How did you work with actors to get them into character?" "Kept it as lively as possible and as fast as possible. green screen starts to freak you out after a while, you don't know who you are or where you are. You just try to keep moving and grooving."

12:12: His favorite films. Bits of all of them but Edward Scissorhands and Ed Wood are special.

12:14: "What was the most difficult thing to do in this movie?"

12:15: WAIT!!!! Johnny Depp is here...


Johnny Depp and Tim Burton

12:17: Johnny Depp came out, got a HUGE standing ovation, said “Tim Burton!” everyone cheered and he left.


DreadCentral.com also reported that Tim Burton confirmed his next film after Alice in Wonderland: a feature adaptation of the Dan Curtis television drama Dark Shadows. Johnny Depp will star as Barnabas Collins. (No word on the feature-length animated version of Frankenweenie, that we know of...)



Johnny Depp makes a surprise appearance at Comic-Con

Fry on "Wonderland," Burton

RexFeatures

Stephen Fry announced on his official Twitter page that he feels "honoured" to be a part of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. Fry will be playing the part of the Chesire Cat.

Fry spoke with Digital Spy and gave a few more details in a video interview.

"I have to say I didn't know the project was happening," he said. "My agent rang up and said, 'Can you see Tim Burton and lay down some Cheshire Cat action.' I said I'd be honoured to do so." He then explained that he was very excited to meet Burton, a filmmaker he greatly admires and calls "original and extraordinary." He said he was "blown away" by the first film of Burton's that he saw, Edward Scissorhands, which he calls one of his favorite films because of the visual design and performances.

On lending his voice to his animated role, Fry said: "You're alone in a little glass booth with Tim on the other side making suggestions as to how he wants the voice to be, you're not all gathered together as a cast.

"My friend Michael Sheen is playing the White Rabbit, I know him jolly well. We don't have a 'scene' together. We do have dialogue together but he'll probably do his in America, in London or wherever he is, and they'll get mixed together in the end."

More is discussed in the video interview.

Stephen Fry is the Chesire Cat

After much speculation online among fans, Stephen Fry has officially confirmed that he will be providing the voice of the Chesire Cat in Alice in Wonderland.

Fry directly said, "I'm about to play the Cheshire Cat for an animated version of Alice in Wonderland, which is probably pretty appropriate," in an interview with the BBC. (Watch the video interview here.)

A second phase of shooting is about to commence in Los Angeles, hence the "about to" comment from the multi-talent showman.