Wicked director Jon M. Chu has had a monumental 2024. Not only has he successfully adapted one of the most beloved musicals of all time into one of the best feature films of the year, but he also welcomed his fifth child into his family. The fact that both life-changing events occurred at approximately the same time just serves as a reflection of the magic that surrounds Chu right now.
It’s no surprise then that Chu is very much in demand and his time is extremely limited. Despite the immense demands on his time and attention right now, Chu was gracious enough to take a few moments to chat with POC Culture about his latest film. Of course, the conversation had to happen while he was being whisked away in a car to another of many commitments. Yet through it all, Chu seems calm, unflustered and grateful. Despite what must be a whirlwind of chaos in his life, Chu seems to be embracing it all and doing so with aplomb.
“It’s taken a while to really sink in. When you have a new baby, I mean you’re changing diapers, you’re making sure your wife is okay, and managing, I have four other kids, so that takes a lot of time, it’s actually really helpful, but I have to say that my heart has never been more full,” Chu said about the current state of his life. “Getting calls from people that I’ve known in the past, some people I’ve never known, people I respect so highly, other filmmakers have called, and it just means a lot to feel like a part of a community.”
Chu, who directed the groundbreaking 2018 film Crazy Rich Asians, understands the power and impact that film can have on audiences and society generally. Especially for Wicked, Chu was able to share some of his press tour adventures with his two oldest children, which undoubtedly made the experience all the richer. Chu talked about how his children have changed his approach to filmmaking.
“Every ounce of it. I think I changed when I had my first daughter during Crazy Rich Asians; two weeks after we finished shooting. It changes it from being selfish, because, you know, being an artist is very selfish. My vision! My thing! This is is what I want! My dreams! When you have kids, it switches, for me it did, to what kind of stories do I want them to grow up with? What kind of world do I want them to see the world as and yet also prepare them for the battles that they’re going to have to go through?” Chu said. “So for me, for Wicked specifically, I mean Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande sort of represent strength and bravery, and also the fear of the unknown, and how to get through the tough things, to me is stuff that I want to tell my kids. But you can’t preach to your kids, so you put it in a movie and make it delicious and fun and those girls are just so…I think it’s so contagious when you see them perform those things. And so that’s what it is in every ounce of this movie. And I know even with The Wizard of Oz, how much it has been a part of our culture and our upbringing of the American dream, that to use that to sort of kick the tires on what we’re being told a hero looks like or what a villain looks like is, I feel, very important to our next chapter.”
Listen to our full conversation, including Chu’s thoughts on that very special cameo in Wicked, below. Catch Wicked while you still can in the biggest and best theater possible!
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.
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, 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.
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.
Ron is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of POC Culture. Â He is a big believer in the power and impact of pop culture and the importance of representation in media.
