All We Know About Jon M. Chu’s ‘Wicked’ Up to Now

Universal Pictures’ adaptation of “Wicked” is one of the most eagerly awaited films, set to grace holiday seasons in 2024 and 2025.

Directed by Jon M. Chu, the musical will feature Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba. The movie aims to charm audiences with several well-known actors taking on iconic roles in the land of Oz. “Wicked Part One” has seen a few release date changes but is now slated for November 2024, while “Part Two” will follow in November 2025.

Initially, “Wicked Part One” was poised to clash with Disney’s “Moana 2” on November 27, 2024, before shifting to a Christmas 2024 release. It then moved again to November 22, 2024, just before Thanksgiving. Now, it will face competition from Paramount’s “Gladiator II,” featuring stars like Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, and Pedro Pascal.

The film’s timeline has shifted multiple times, initially announced in 2016 with a release date set for 2019. It was then postponed to 2021 before finally settling on its current dates.

“Wicked Part Two” is scheduled to be released on November 26, 2025, continuing the much-anticipated saga.

Alongside Grande and Erivo, the cast includes luminaries like Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, and Ethan Slater.

Jonathan Bailey, known for his roles in “Bridgerton” and “Fellow Travelers,” will play Prince Fiyero, a character described as “self-absorbed” and “deeply shallow.” Ethan Slater will portray Boq, a man devoted to Glinda’s every command.

Michelle Yeoh takes on the role of Madame Morrible, the headmistress at Shiz University and a colleague of Goldblum’s Wizard of Oz. Peter Dinklage joins the cast as Dr. Dillamond.

New additions include Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, and Bronwyn James, who were cast in December 2022. Bode portrays Nessarose, Elphaba’s sister who uses a wheelchair. Yang and James play Pfannee and ShenShen, classmates of Glinda and Elphaba at Shiz.

Keala Settle, Aaron Teoh, and Colin Michael Carmichael also join the ensemble. Settle will play Miss Coddle, Teoh takes on Avaric, and Carmichael will portray Nikidik.

Director Jon M. Chu took over the project after Stephen Daldry exited in October 2020. Chu was confirmed as director in February 2021. Winnie Holzman adapted Gregory Maguire’s bestselling novel into the screenplay, working alongside songwriter Stephen Schwartz. The production team includes Marc Platt and David Stone.

The story of “Wicked” serves as a prequel to L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” the 1900 book that inspired the illustrious 1939 MGM film. “Wicked” unveils how Elphaba became the Wicked Witch of the West and charts Glinda’s journey to becoming the Good Witch who later welcomes Dorothy to Oz.

Universal has released two trailers for “Wicked Part One,” offering fans a first look in February and a fuller clip featuring Jonathan Bailey’s Prince Fiyero in May.

Watch the trailers below:

Source: Deadline