‘Alice in Wonderland 2′ Casts Mark Rylance as the Mad Hatter’s Father
The Mad Hatter is going to be dealing with some daddy issues in 'Alice in Wonderland 2,' which is apparently serving up twice the Hatter craziness. Disney's upcoming sequel is casting theater actor Mark Rylance in the role of the Mad Hatter's father, a role created specifically for the new film.
According to The Wrap, Rylance is in negotiations to play the role of Zanik Hightopp, the father of Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter character in 'Alice in Wonderland 2.' The actor's background is in theater, and he most recently appeared in productions of William Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' and 'Richard III.' He also popped up in the films 'The Other Boleyn Girl' and 'Anonymous.'
The role of Zanik Hightopp is not one that comes from the world author Lewis Carroll created in the original stories that inspired 'Alice in Wonderland,' but is one that appears to have been created for specifically for the upcoming sequel, which is set to be directed by James Bobin, director of both 'The Muppets' and the recent sequel, 'Muppets Most Wanted.'
Mia Wasikowska and Helena Bonham Carter will be reprising their roles as Alice and the Red Queen in the film alongside Depp, and Sasha Baron Cohen, who previously worked with Bobin on 'Da Ali G Show,' will play a villain named Time. The film is set to hit theaters in 2016.