Brave co-director Brenda Chapman to helm Alice in Wonderland/Peter Pan prequel

Brenda Chapman, the Oscar-winning co-director of Disney•Pixar’s 2012 animated movie Brave, will helm a live-action Alice in Wonderland/Peter Pan prequel entitled Come Away, according to Deadline.

This will be Chapman’s first time directing a live-action movie, having previously directed animated movies Brave and DreamWorks’ The Prince of Egypt. She commented to Deadline:

“I had never really considered directing live-action – animation has always been my genre. But when I read Marissa [Kate Goodhill]’s fantastical script, I felt that little tingly feeling run up my spine. I thought, ‘Wow! I’ve changed my mind. I want to do this!’ Michelle [Manning], Leesa [Kahn] and Andrea [Keir] impressed me immediately with their unique approach to filmmaking, and I’m thrilled to be joining a team of dynamic and creative women.”

Come Away takes place before Alice has travelled to Wonderland and Peter has become Peter Pan, and will lay the foundations for those adventures. As brother and sister, Peter and Alice seek to rescue their parents from the despair that shakes the family after their older brother dies in a tragic accident. Ultimately, the two must decided between their home and imagination.