ABC has begun looking for Alice and other key characters for the planned spinoff of Once Upon a Time that is based on Lewis Carroll’s classic novel Alice in Wonderland.

Last we heard from Once Upon a Time showrunners Adam Horowitz and Ed Kitsis, the Wonderland-centric spin-off of Once Upon a Time was still in the planning stages, but according to E! Online, ABC has now begun casting key roles.

The main character, unsurprisingly, will be Alice. The casting announcement calls for a, “British twentysomething, [who] is young but has already had a hard life and carries some emotional scars. Though she tries to hide it, she has a generous heart.”

They’re also looking for Amahl, an attractive and soulful Middle Eastern character. “Though he’s optimistic, which gives him a Zen dreaminess, he has an inner fire.”

And finally there’s the Knave, a loner and a heartbreaker. “This man of action is loyal and possesses a strong moral center, despite his swagger.”

The pilot episode will begin shooting in April. If ABC approves of the project, it will be developed for a full season, likely starting in the fall.

While fans were relieved to learn that the Mad Hatter will not be re-cast, Sebastian Stan’s work schedule might not permit him to appear in this spin-off series (although we can always hope for cameos).