ROTTEN TOMATOES: S.M. Gellar and "Chainsaw" Director to Do New-Fangled "Alice"

S.M. Gellar and "Chainsaw" Director to Do New-Fangled "Alice"

by Scott Weinberg | June 21, 2005

Based on the extremely well-received video game known as "American McGee's Alice" comes an all-new silver screen adaptation. Sophomore director Marcus Nispel ("The Texas Chainsaw Massacre") will be directing "Alice," and his leading lady will be "Buffy" and "Grudge" gal Sarah Michelle Gellar.

THR describes the game's plot like so: "Alice has grown up to become a disturbed young woman. After her parents are killed in a fire, Alice returns to Wonderland, a dark and threatening place of looking glasses, mysterious potions, nonsensical tea parties and talking animals, confronting her fears and the wicked Queen of Hearts."

Screenwriters Erich & Jon Hoeber will be adapting the Electronic Arts video game into screenplay form. Not very long ago, screenwriter John August and director Wes Craven were attached to the project, but that's back when Dimension was involved in the property. But it's all Uni's game now, and Nispel & Gellar are the direction they're going in.

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(1-20 of 45 posts) | Reply

jeremyd4 writes:
on Jun 21 2005 03:05 AM

I really wanted this movie to happen... but I'm thinking Gellar's maybe too bubbly and happy for the Alice role - we need a more psychotic, depressing "younger" actress kinda similar to the cartoon character Daria, or the Adam's Family's Wendy (is that the daughter? can't remember).

(Reply to this)

getluv writes:
on Jun 21 2005 03:16 AM

jeremyd4, SMG isnt fat, so the world bubbly is stupid.

I Love SMG. She type cast into the horror genre its not funny. Looking forward to this.

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Dystopia Land writes:
on Jun 21 2005 05:15 AM

I was kind of hoping for Christina Ricci for this part... oh well.

I've been waiting for an AMA movie to be released since I first got hold of the game way, way, waaay back. I absolutely adore it and can't wait.

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Dystopia Land writes:
on Jun 21 2005 05:19 AM

In reply to this comment (#823424)
What does 'bubbly' have to do with 'fat?' Bubbly means happy, giggly, light and extroverted.

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getluv writes:
on Jun 21 2005 06:34 AM

Bubbly must be american slang then, i thought it meant fat.

Having said that, she usually plays dark, depressing characters.

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Vefalu writes:
on Jun 21 2005 06:53 AM

[b]Another run of the mill project?[/b]
Damn... American McGee's Alice is supposed to be sexy, but in a different sort of way than Sarah Michelle Gellar. Eh, she might be able to pull it off. The movie will probably still suck, though. And I'm not saying that just because Mr. Nispel is at the helm, but because I've yet to see a game to film adaptation that's anywhere near the caliber of the games themselves.

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Ophiuchus writes:
on Jun 21 2005 07:47 AM

Well, Gellar's had lots of experience killing monsters, so maybe she'll be right for the part. But if she doesn't have a prim British accent in the film, I'm going to be spitting chips.

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taran72 writes:
on Jun 21 2005 11:40 AM

[b]what we really mean about SMG in the cast...[/b]
I think Geller is too mainstream, and because of that the movie will not get the twisted and dark treatment that it deserves. Oh, and the director is a HACK.

It will probably evolve into a PG-13 "horror" flick that attracts teens and repels everyone else, especially fans of the videogame. Another IP down the drain.

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NOE writes:
on Jun 21 2005 11:55 AM

Angela Bettis of the brilliant indie horror film "May" would be a solid choice i think.

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InsultCake writes:
on Jun 21 2005 12:42 PM

I just hope they don't add "And Alice must join with the only sane residents of Wonderland and rebel against the fanatical queen's rule" Introducing squads or teams in video game movies seems very common. And the Adam Family's Daughter was Wednesday.

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lovelykeira writes:
on Jun 21 2005 01:09 PM

Well Nispel made the remake of TCM better than the original, so he should do an alright job. Hopefully they have a good screenplay to work from and they replace Geller with lets say Leonor Varela.

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ITSallABOUTfrodo writes:
on Jun 21 2005 02:56 PM

[b]gellar is a fruit[/b]
i am deeply irked to see that Gellar got this role...she is a tart. i am keeping my fingers crossed for a ricci reconsideration.

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p0pnfresh2002 writes:
on Jun 21 2005 05:01 PM

OK well i've never played the game, but if Alice needs to be sexy and strong, I think that SMG is perfect, but if it is just sexy then Ricci is better.

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mr_movie_maniac writes:
on Jun 21 2005 07:26 PM

Tell me, what blonde actress out there could suite this role (Jessica Simpson?) The options are quite limited. Personally, I'm not a big fan of Gellar. She's definitly B Grade Material in my book, which is a big disappointment for this potentially good movie.

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confuzzledmog writes:
on Jun 21 2005 07:53 PM

Yeah, Angela Bettis would be perfect!!

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VML writes:
on Jun 21 2005 09:30 PM

I don't know if any of you people are happy about it but I'm am SOOOO looking forward to it! It looks like its gonna be fantastic! :)

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jeremyd4 writes:
on Jun 22 2005 01:12 AM

Scarlett Johansson?
Winona Ryder (Beetlejuice)?

Or maybe they could find someone new who'd be similar to a blonde Angelina Jolie (as in 'Girl Interrupted') or Jennifer Connoly (as in 'Labyrinth') who are obviously too old now, but so is Gellar. Anyway, something similar would be good. Don't get me wrong I think "Buffy" is great, but she couldn't pull off a derranged, knife-wielding "Alice".

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xxstefanx writes:
on Jun 22 2005 02:37 AM

In reply to this comment (#823430)
[b]PG 13 teen horror flick[/b]
Gellar does not look so different from the Alice Girl of the video game. Of course she has to dye her hair dark brown/black first...but then. Have a close look at the cover, first.

The problem might come from an other direction: I exactly agree with you, that this actress choice UNFORTUNATELY indicates a PG-13 teen horror flick instead of a brillant unconventional independent dark psychotic fairytale that really sticks to the core game!

Sad, but most likely another COMPROMISE movie (for matching PG13 rating and mass taste!) to skip!

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EvilCalvin writes:
on Jun 22 2005 05:14 AM

[b]Yuck[/b]
Sarah Michelle Geller is an OK choice for this, better than Ricci would be just due to the fact that she seems like such a stereotypical fit due to previous typecasting, etc, that it would be boring, plus I just don't think the way Ricci acts would be right for this movie. Unfortunately for Ricci, now it is like once she is in a movie, it automatically brings it down to B status...

What about someone like Keira Knightley...

Or Alison Lohman?

What about the girl from the Harry Potter movies...? lol

Or, or.... I'm sure there is someone better out there I just can't think of right now... :\

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kariyukai writes:
on Jun 22 2005 10:16 AM

[b]Sour Girl[/b]
Hey I don't think she will be that bad. She isn't totally mainstream, it could have been Jessica or Britney! *I think I just threw up in my mouth a little* She pulled off the goth thing in Stone Temple Pilots "Sour Girl" video.

I'm looking forward to this movie as well, expectations aren't incredibly high, but I'll keep track of it.

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