The Broadway musical Wicked is one of the most beloved musical productions of all time. First released in 2003, the music and story have firmly remained a large part of pop culture, and the production continues to be popular today (I’m prepared to get tickets when it returns to Los Angeles later this year).
Director Jon M. Chu, who had his first really big break directing Justin Bieber’s documentary-concert film Never Say Never and most recently directed the film adaptation of Lin Manuel Miranda’s musical In The Heights, just might be the only person who can take on the herculean task of adapting Wicked into a feature film.
The original release date for this film was December 20, 2019. Of course, a lot happened in the world to make that date impossible. The film is finally set to release later this year, and is easily one of the most anticipated films of 2024.
Today, Universal Pictures released a special featurette in advance of the upcoming trailer, which is coming this Wednesday. Typically, featurettes are fun behind-the-scenes peaks into a film, but are rarely memorable. This Wicked featurette, titled “A Passion Project,” is different.
In it, we see the passion and love that Chu and stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have for this project. It’s clear that this isn’t just another film for any of them.
“Well, when anyone ever asks me, ‘What’s the one movie you want to do?’ If there was one, I’d always say, ‘It’d be Wicked,'” Chu says at the start of the featurette. Erivo and Grande share their experiences with the Broadway musical, with Erivo having watched it on her 25th birthday, and Grande recounting how she saw the original production when she was 10-years-old. Also included are old home videos and interview clips of Grande, including one where she says that she would like to play the role of Glinda.
The featurette is surprisingly emotional and genuine, and one can’t help but feel that this is a really special project for everyone involved. Ultimately, it does what it set out to do – get people excited about the film.
The new trailer for Wicked is expected to release this Wednesday, and the film will premiere this Thanksgiving.
About Wicked:
After two decades as one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, Wicked makes its long-awaited journey to the big screen as a spectacular, generation-defining cinematic event this holiday season.
Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart.
The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
The film also stars Oscar® winner Michelle Yeoh as Shiz University’s regal headmistress Madame Morrible; Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton, Fellow Travelers) as Fiyero, a roguish and carefree prince; Tony nominee Ethan Slater (Broadway’s Spongebob Squarepants, Fosse/Verdon) as Boq, an altruistic Munchkin student; Marissa Bode in her feature-film debut as Nessarose, Elphaba’s favored sister; and pop culture icon Jeff Goldblum as the legendary Wizard of Oz.
The cast of characters includes Pfannee and ShenShen, two conniving compatriots of Glinda played by Emmy nominee Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live) and Bronwyn James (Harlots); a new character created for the film, Miss Coddle, played by Tony nominee Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman) and four-time Emmy winner Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) as the voice of Dr. Dillamond.
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights), Wicked is the first chapter of a two-part immersive, cultural celebration. Wicked Part Two is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 26, 2025.
Wicked is produced by Marc Platt (La La Land, The Little Mermaid), whose films, television shows and stage productions have earned a combined 46 Oscar® nominations, 58 Emmy nominations and 36 Tony nominations, and by multiple Tony winner David Stone (Kimberly Akimbo, Next to Normal), with whom Platt produced the blockbuster Wicked stage musical. The executive producers are David Nicksay, Stephen Schwartz and Jared LeBoff.
Based on the bestselling novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked is adapted for the screen by the stage production’s book writer Winnie Holzman and by legendary Grammy and Oscar® winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz. The Broadway stage musical is produced by Universal Stage Productions, Marc Platt, the Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.
Genre: Musical Event
Cast: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Keala Settle and Peter Dinklage
Director: Jon M. Chu
Written by: Winnie Holzman
Based on the musical Wicked, music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Winnie Holzman, from the novel by Gregory Maguire
Producers: Marc Platt, David Stone
Executive Producers: David Nicksay, Stephen Schwartz, Jared LeBoff
Ron is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of POC Culture. He is a big believer in the power and impact of pop culture and the importance of representation in media.
