‘Once Upon A Time’ Spinoff Finds Alice

The Once Upon a Time spinoff at ABC — now called Once: Wonderland — has found its Alice in Australian actress Sophie Lowe, Deadline reported on Thursday.

The series will begin filming on April 7 in Vancouver, the website noted, immediately following the wrap of Once Upon a Time‘s second season.

The plot will center on Alice (Lowe), a generous girl with a hard life, who is caught between her main love interest Cyrus (Peter Gadiot) and the heartbreaking Knave of Hearts (Michael Socha).

The events will take place in pre-curse Wonderland, but it’s not quite clear how the reality-fairy tale mix the original Once does so well will factor in here — or if it will be a factor.

Zack Estrin and Once creators Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis will steer the Once: Wonderland ship, while Jane Espenson will lead the flagship series.

What is not known at this point is how Once: Wonderland will affect the Once Upon a Time spinoff idea that would have focused on Mad Hatter.

It’s possible ABC decided to scrap the idea when they realized the role would have to be recast since star Sebastian Stan could not commit to a full series.

Stan has stayed busy with a Broadway run, which will morph into a reprisal of his role as Bucky Barnes in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

While the network could decide to have three shows going at once, it could be ill-advised since Once Upon a Time has taken a steep dip in the ratings this season.

According to TV By The Numbers, the 3.0 rating that Nielsen reported with the season two premiere has slipped to a low of 2.2.

(Who knows where the viewers have gone — perhaps March Madness?)

Regardless, Once Upon a Time and Once: Wonderland aren’t the only tricks ABC has up their sleeves. The network recently inked deals with Christian Slater and Steve Zahn for Influence and with Jane Fonda for Now What?, a mother-daughter sitcom.

What do you think of the Once Upon a Time spinoff, Once: Wonderland — too much or can’t-get-enough?