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Bowen Yang’s initial screen test for “Saturday Night Live” did not go well following an interaction with creator Lorne Michaels, according to the comedian.

During a recent interview on “Hot Ones,” Yang recalled his screen test in 2017 for the late-night sketch comedy series.

“The final step in that process is you have a one-on-one meeting with Lorne. It was him and another producer, Erik Kenward,” he said. “The first thing out of my mouth was, ‘I’m Canadian, too. I grew up in Montreal. I grew up in Quebec’ — and immediately it was done, it was a vibe killer. I didn’t get the job because I had pandered to his Canadianness, and it was a disaster.”

Yang was eventually hired in 2018 as a staff writer for “SNL” and, one year later, he was promoted to an on-air featured player. In 2021, he made history as the first “SNL” featured...

Though the movie came in slightly under initial $120M domestic estimates, Universal's Wicked still looks set for a very impressive opening weekend at the worldwide box office.

Jon M. Chu's adaptation of the hit Broadway musical took in $117 million from U.S. theaters and $48 million overseas for a global debut of $165 million.

This gives the critically-acclaimed feature the biggest opening weekend for a film based on a Broadway show (ahead of Les Miserables' $103M); the 6th biggest opening weekend of 2024 worldwide; and the 4th biggest global opening weekend ever for a musical (ahead of The Little Mermaid's $163.6M).

Ridley Scott's Gladiator II also opened on Friday (Glicked? Wickiator?), but hasn't performed quite as well with an expected $60 million domestic bow. The sword-and-sandals sequel has been playing overseas since last week, however, and has now passed $131 million across 63 international markets for an estimated $200M+ global haul.

Wicked tells...

Ethan Slater is trying to get used to the attention he’s receiving for both his professional and private lives.

He’s making his big-screen acting debut as the lovesick Boq in Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked” opposite Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Baily, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum and Marissa Bode. Last year, Slater and Grande faced scrutiny as rumors about their relationship spread online, coinciding with reports of their respective divorces from previous partners.

“My therapist, for sure,” Slater says when I ask who he’s leaning on to cope with the intense spotlight. “He’s been really helpful.”

Until now, the 32-year-old Washington D.C. native was best known and loved by Broadway fans for his Tony-nominated work in “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical.”

“Ultimately, the thing that’s so important in so many facets of life, whether it’s fame or career or whatever, is just to...

As Wicked takes the box office by storm, Ariana Grande and Kristin Chenoweth are reminding audiences who was the original “friend of Dorothy.”

While discussing her portrayal of Glinda in the Jon M. Chu-helmed feature adaptation of the Broadway musical, Grande responded to fans who think the Good Witch is queer-coded, as well as those who “ship” her and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo).

“Whether it’s romantic or platonic, Glinda might be a little in the closet,” Grande told Gay Times. “You never know. Give it a little time. I mean, it is just a true love, and I think that transcends sexuality. It’s just kind of a deep safety within each other. And that’s why they probably ship it.”

Chenoweth, who originated the role in the 2003 Tony-winning stage musical, shared her successor’s view on Glinda. “I thought so too way back when….” she commented on an...

Jon M. Chu counted himself a fan of “Wicked” long before he was hired to direct the big-budget movie adaptation of the popular Broadway musical.

So it was a question of where, not if, he should pay homage to Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who originated the stage roles of Elphaba and Glinda, in the two-part film, the first of which landed in theaters on Nov. 22. After much deliberation among Oz’s powers that be, it was decided they would appear in the movie as the stars of Wizomania, an expanded show within the show that plays out when Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) visit the Emerald City during the song “One Short Day.”

“I told them, ‘I want you to experience for the first time what you gave us.’ I saw Idina and Kristin as they were workshopping the show at the Curran Theatre [in 2003]. I’ll never...

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo opened up about Glinda and Elphaba’s sexualities in Wicked and their characters’ relationship.

In an interview with U.K. publication Gay Times, the actresses were asked for their thoughts about fans romantically rooting for their characters.

“I think Elphie, she goes wherever the wind goes,” Erivo said. “I think she loves Glinda. I think she loves love. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with celebrating the deep connection that both of them have. They do have a real relationship. It is true love, which is probably why people are shipping it, you know? Because what they build with each other is an unbreakable bond and love.”

Grande echoed her co-star’s sentiment, adding that they have “trust and truth.”

She continued, “Just such a safe space for one another, which is what all relationships should be, whether it’s romantic or platonic.

“Wicked” posed the greatest world-building challenge of production designer Nathan Crowley’s prodigious career, surpassing “Interstellar” in grandeur and complexity. The return to Oz required a sense of the familiar and the unknown for its origin story about Elphaba/The Wicked Witch (Cynthia Erivo) and Galinda/Glinda (Ariana Grande). Yet it also needed a touch of Americana in keeping with director Jon M. Chu’s vision of the American Dream.

“It’s an American fairy tale, and you have to find a way in and do something original,” Crowley told IndieWire. “And that is where the problem starts because there’s many trodden paths here.” He’s referring, of course, to “The Wizard of Oz” 1939 movie classic, Gregory Maguire’s 1995 “Wicked” novel, and the 2003 “Wicked” musical stage adaptation by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman. “So it becomes a challenge to design Oz and you just have to pick away at something,...

Nic Stacey’s latest documentary, “Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy,” arrives on the scene like a digital-age whistleblower, exposing the glossy veneer of modern consumer society. Stacey, best known for his work on “The World According to Jeff Goldblum,” targets global corporate behemoths such as Amazon, Adidas, and Apple, exposing the sophisticated machinery that drives our never-ending consumption cycle.

Perfectly timed before the Black Friday shopping frenzy, the documentary is more than just a criticism; it’s a thorough deconstruction of how digital corporations and apparel designers mislead consumers into buying more and more. The film’s daring approach, which combines insider testimony, archive material, and a purposefully unpleasant AI narrator named Sasha, urges audiences to look beyond the buy button and comprehend the true cost of our shopping habits.

The documentary comes at an important time when consumer awareness of environmental impact and corporate ethics is at an all-time high.

Wicked Box Office (Korea): 3rd Day Update ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Wicked is entertaining fans across the globe and is still in a favorable position on its third day after release in Korea. The film is leading the race against Gladiator II at the Korean box office. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Arivo have done a brilliant job in the musical fantasy. It has earned more than Barbie and Wonka as well. Scroll below for the deets.

Besides Ariana as Glinda the Good and Cynthia as Wicked Witch of the West, the movie also features Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum in crucial roles. It is expected to top the domestic top-five list, pushing Red One and Venom: The Last Dance further down. It is currently the talk of the town also because of the clash with Gladiator II, and so far,...

Jeff Goldblum has certainly been regarded as a legend in the world of Hollywood. Having starred in several iconic films over the years, ranging from his presence in the Jurrasic Park franchise to the recently released Wicked film, there is no denying that he has become an important part of popular culture.

Jeff Goldblum in Kaos (2024) | Credit: Netflix

So much so that he has had a career that has spanned five decades. One can imagine that this led to a lot of lessons, be it learning them or teaching them. Recently, the actor gave an interview where he talked about a very big lesson he learned when he was working on his very first film.

The No Showering Kind of Job

Method acting is one of the most famous and well-known forms of acting in the film industry. It has gained quite a reputation through the years, becoming well-known for its ruthlessness and demanding nature.

Superhero movies and action thrillers are famous for being box office magnates, drawing audiences to the theatres in multitude. Although Barbie was an unexpected (and worthy) hit, films like The Avengers and Top Gun 2 have long dominated the business.

Wicked | Credit: Universal Pictures

However, their dominance might be challenged, and that too by a musical despite the underwhelming performance of Joker 2. Against all odds, Ariana Grande-starrer Wicked seems to be emerging as the next big thing at the box office.

Wicked En-Route to Challenge Films like The Avengers and Top Gun 2 Top Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick | Credits: Paramount Pictures

Now who would have thought that a musical, that too a Broadway adaptation, would one day pose a serious threat to blockbusters like Marvel’s Avengers or Tom Cruise‘s Top Gun: Maverick? Often considered a niche genre, further made infamous by Joker 2‘s terrible box office performance,...

Spoiler Alert: This post spoils some surprise appearances in Wicked: Part One.

Jon M. Chu’s Wicked has a star-studded cast led by Ariana Grande as Galinda the Good Witch and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba the Wicked Witch of the West.

Several other familiar faces accompany the witches at Shiz University and beyond. Many of them sing at points in the film, including Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh.

Scroll through the below photos o read more about the cast of Jon M. Chu’s Wicked: Part One.

Related: All The ‘Wicked’ Press Tour Looks So Far: From Ariana Grande’s Glinda Pink To Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba Green...

“Wicked,” part one of the long-awaited screen adaptation of one of Broadway’s longest-running musicals, has a bevy of seasoned experts in the musical genre both in front of and behind the camera. The film is directed by Jon M. Chu, who previously received critical acclaim for his movie version of Lin Manuel-Miranda’s “In the Heights.” Leading the cast as Elphaba is Cynthia Erivo, a Tony winner for “The Color Purple,” while her love interest Fiyero is played by Jonathan Bailey, an Olivier Award winner for a role in a London revival of “Company.” And beyond being one of the biggest pop stars of the last decade, Ariana Grande is a theater kid at heart who got her start in showbusiness in the ensemble of tween musical “13.”

But in two key roles are actors who are probably the most familiar faces for cinephiles and moviegoers — but not ones known for breaking out in tune.

Update 1: Heading into Friday, “Wicked” had already made $19.2 million in previews: $2.5 million from Monday showings, $5.7 million from Wednesday advances, and $11 million for Thursday screenings. Comparatively, “Gladiator II” made $6.5 million in Thursday previews. This is shaping up to be one of the biggest box office weekends of the 2024 calendar year.

What will be the winners and the losers this week at the U.S. box office? Universal Pictures’ “Wicked” and Paramount Pictures’ “Gladiator II” (affectionately known online by the combined name of “Glicked”) both open in theaters on Friday, as does Angel Studios’ “Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin.” They’ll be facing off against the current top five money-makers: “Red One,” “Venom: The Last Dance,” “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” “Heretic,” and “The Wild Robot.”

Gold Derby predicts that “Wicked” will win the Nov. 22 – Nov. 24 weekend with more than $125 million domestically. “Gladiator II” is the runner-up choice of our odds-makers. Do...

[The following story includes major spoilers for Wicked.]

One short day. That’s, coincidentally, how much time the Wicked filmmakers had to shoot those cameos for the “One Short Day” scene in the film based on the iconic Broadway musical of the same name.

In the film, when Glinda (Ariana Grande) and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) head to the Emerald City to meet the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum), they watch a stage show on the history of Oz. At that point, original Broadway castmembers Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, who played Glinda and Elphaba, respectively, in the musical appear to take audience members through the vibrant story of the city.

“There was no world where we wouldn’t invite them to come be a part of this,” director Jon M. Chu tells The Hollywood Reporter. “The question for us was, how, and how much are they willing to do in it, and how much can the story itself handle it?...

Thank goodness! For musical theater kids everywhere who have been eagerly waiting for Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s vocal takes on their iconic “Wicked” roles, look no further because “Wicked: The Soundtrack” has arrived.

The soundtrack includes all 11 songs from Jon M. Chu’s film adaptation of Act 1 of the long-running Broadway musical, including a bonus track “Ozdust Duet.” For over two decades, fans have listened to Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel belt out the show tunes on the original Broadway cast recording, and now they will have the chance to hear the songs anew.

Erivo’s iconic Elphaba battle cry in “Defying Gravity,” Jonathan Bailey’s exciting opt-up in “Dancing Through Life” and Grande’s comedic choices in “Popular” bring new energy to the Broadway staples — but you may miss a couple of your favorite hits in the first film.

The iconic friendship duet between Glinda (Grande) and Elphaba (Erivo), “For Good,...

The highly anticipated “Wicked” film adaptation is here. After a tear-filled press tour, Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba and Ariana Grande’s Glinda will finally take audiences by storm.

The two leading ladies have become true sisters in the rollout of the film, even revealing several matching tattoos together. While the duo seem picture perfect for the musical adaptation, a list of stars admitted to being in the running for the powerhouses, including Dove Cameron, Renee Rapp and Amanda Seyfried for Glinda.

Jon M. Chu’s adaptation is chalked full of musical theatre trained actors, here’s your guide to the “Wicked” cast.

For a full breakdown of the cast of “Wicked,” keep reading.

Cynthia Erivo in “Wicked” (Credit: Universal Pictures) Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba

Erivo leads the larger-than-life film adaptation as Elphaba. The witch (who was born green) attends Shiz University and is randomly paired with popular girl Galinda (Ariana...

Universal’s Broadway adaptation Wicked has earned an estimated $19.2m from advance screenings and previews at the North American box office.

The first part in John M.Chu’s adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande earned $2.5m from Amazon Prime screenings in 750 US theatres on Monday, $5.7m from 2,000 theatres in the US and Canada on Wednesday, and $11m from standard previews in 3,300 sites on Thursday.

Wicked has earned rave reviews and is forecast to gross in the region of $120m in North America this weekend, when it goes up against Paramount’s big opener, Gladiator II.

Sections of the...

Plot: The origin story of the so-called Wicked Witch of the West. While the citizens of Oz are celebrating her death, Glinda the Good (Ariana Grande) remembers how the two started out as friends while they were roommates at Shiz University and learning their magical craft.

Review: First – I must make a confession: I’ve never seen Wicked on stage. Heck, not being a particular enthusiast of Broadway musicals, I would be hard-pressed to name one song from the popular soundtrack, or even really explain anything beyond the fact that it’s supposed to be a deconstruction of The Wizard of Oz. Yet, the play is a full-on phenomenon, with the movie (the first of two) set to become a blockbuster when it comes out later this week. While some may raise eyebrows at the fact and say that JoBlo should have had a fan watch the movie instead, I...

Spoilers for "Wicked" follow.

Jon M. Chu's new musical fantasy "Wicked," which is officially called "Wicked: Part I," according to the title card, is based on the hit 2003 Broadway show that was, in turn, based in the 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire. The novel, in itself, was a reimagination of L. Frank Baum's 1900 kid-lit classic "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," but Maguire took his book's primary inspiration from Victor Fleming's 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz," arguably the most famous movie of all time. In making an 85-year cycle from the screen, to the page, to the stage, and then back to the screen, "Wicked" retains a lot of the iconography and basic aesthetics of Fleming's film and repackages them for a modern sensibility. 

Some of what audiences will see in "Wicked" will feel natural, as the look and feel of Oz has bled into the mass subconsciousness,...

Musical Wicked is hoping to bewitch audiences this weekend, coming out in 698 sites for Universal.

The first of a two-part adaptation of the stage musical stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum, with Jon M Chu directing.

Elphaba (Erivo), a misunderstood young woman because of her green skin, and Glinda (Grande), a more conventional and popular girl, become friends at Shiz University in the Land of Oz. Their friendship is taken in a new direction after they cross paths with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Wicked is the third in a trio of blockbuster November...

When is the Wicked Sing-Along Version Coming Out in Theaters? - Main Image

The highly-anticipated film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical Wicked is taking the world by storm as long-time fans have been looking forward to seeing it come to the big screen.

While it only covered Act One, the film will feature some of the popular songs from the musical and you might be wondering whether you could watch a version where the musical numbers have subtitled lyrics. Fortunately, it will happen sooner than you might think.

When is the Release Date of the Wicked Sing-Along Version?

It was recently announced that the sing-along version of Wicked will be released in theaters on December 25, a month after the film's premiere.

The interaction version will be available in roughly 1,000 North American theaters. The exact locations and showtimes will be unveiled at a later date.

It is unknown yet whether...

This article contains spoilers for "Wicked."

L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" stands as one of the most adapted novels ever published. As early as 1908 — practically the dawn of cinema — "Oz" was being translated to the screen, and the titular character of the Wizard of Oz has appeared in each of those adaptations. As such, the Wizard is a character who's been interpreted in a variety of ways, given that he's been portrayed by actors ranging from Richard Pryor, Jeffrey Tambor, Christopher Lloyd, Vincent D'Onofrio, and James Franco. When it comes to the portrayal of the Wizard in the new film version of "Wicked," two actors in particular leap to mind: Frank Morgan, who played the Wizard in 1939's "The Wizard of Oz," and Joel Grey, who played him in the original stage production of "Wicked."

When Jeff Goldblum was announced to be taking over the...

The Wicked musical has been an iconic part of Hollywood and popular culture for many years now. Lives have been changed, and people have been inspired by its positivity, becoming beloved in every definition of the word. Considering how iconic the musical was on stage, it is not surprising that it has also been turned into a musical itself.

Cynthia Erivo in Wicked | Credit: Universal Pictures

Having Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo at the very center of it all, every single news story and update about the musical film has had fans more and more interested in it. With its release just around the corner, its official playlist of songs has just been released, and they could not be more amazing.

A Wicked Collection

The acclaim that the Wicked film has been getting before its release is something to be studied. All the early reviews and initial impressions of the film have been magnificent.

Hold on, here’s the big mega-budgeted and marketed blockbuster that could make the multiplex spin like a farmhouse in a twister. Yes, it has its roots in a much beloved iconic movie, but this version harkens back to another trend dating back to Hollywood’s Golden Age. I’m speaking of the “event” films that were taken from Broadway “smash” shows. Of course, the studios mounted so many original musicals, like the 1939 classic I mentioned earlier, though the stage ‘transplants” really became the “prestege” flicks through the 1950s and 60s with the Rodgers and Hammerstein adaptations, and the “roadshow presentations” that often garned Oscar gold, like The Sound Of Music and My Fair Lady. Plus the “behind the scenes” wheeling and dealing filled the gossip columns as fans wondered if the original stage casts would be on film, or would they be replaced by “name” movie stars. The success...

Carrying on the tradition of musicals being adapted to film, the latest such offering – the long-awaited first part of the adaptation of the Broadway hit Wicked – proves to be a (pardon the pun) wickedly entertaining film that does its source material justice and then some.

Telling the backstory of the witches of Oz, Wicked, follows Elphaba (Cynthis Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) as the pair meet as students at the magic school Shiz University and forge an awkward friendship that blossoms into something far more profound. Following a heralded meeting with the Wizard of Oz, the paths of the two women diverge drastically as they both assume their destined roles in the history of Oz.

Perhaps the most powerful aspect of the film is how striking and entertaining the dynamic between the two main actresses proves to be. Not only do Erivo and Grande hold their own as each character...

Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Ben Thompson for Wbgr-fm on November 21st, reviewing the highly anticipated film adaptation of the famous Broadway stage play “Wicked,” in theaters on November 22nd.

The story involves two students who meet at Shiz University (for shizzle) … Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), the green-skinned and future Wicked Witch of the West, as well as bubbly Galinda (Ariana Grande), destined to become Glinda the Good Witch. The two begin as rivals, as Elfie has problems with the bigotry other students have for her green skin, and they both have eyes on fellow student Prince Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey). When Elfie also shows promise in casting spells, she is taken under wing by Headmistress Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), and eventually Elphaba and Galinda join forces and become besties. When Elfie gets an invite to see the Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum), the...

As “Wicked” gets ready to take theaters by storm this weekend, many online are pointing to the Hollywood adaptation of the hit broadway musical as having an added political significance just 18 days after Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris in the Presidential election. While he was a guest on an upcoming episode of IndieWire’s Filmmaker Toolkit podcast, “Wicked” director Jon M. Chu acknowledged the politics of the story of the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum) and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West (Cynthia Erivo), joking, “A charismatic leader who gaslights a community that this woman is wicked just because she’s standing up for a marginalized group of people in the society, how could that be [political]?”

Chu embraces that his movie will take on a new layer of meaning for many audience members after the re-election of Trump, but noted that impact is in part because politics has been...

Around the same time Universal Pictures decided not to heavily market Wicked as a musical (which has become the norm in recent years), "Part One" was also dropped from the movie's subtitle.

There's already been a great deal of speculation online about what that means, with some going so far as to wonder whether "Part Two" might reimagine the events of The Wizard of Oz. Regardless, a sequel will follow next November and the expectation is that Wicked will end on a cliffhanger of some sort.

Does that mean we should expect a post-credits scene teeing up what's to come?

We can now confirm that no, Wicked does not feature a mid or post-credits scene. When the credits roll, that's it, though it's always worth sticking around to see the names of everyone who worked hard on bringing this movie to the big screen.

Talking to io9, filmmaker Jon M. Chu...

The new adaptation of the global musical sensation may take a while to hit on-demand streaming.

How did the Wicked Witch of the West turn into the person she became? Her tragic tale is told in full in “Wicked,” the movie adaptation of the wildly popular stage musical that is ready to bow in theaters. “Wicked: Part 1” officially premieres on Thursday, Nov. 21, and we’ll give our best prediction as to when you’ll be able to stream it at home — and which service will have it!

Key Details: Critics and audiences alike are going wild for “Wicked.” As a Universal-distributed film, “Wicked” will stream on Peacock first. It may be more than 200 days before “Wicked” premieres on the streamer. Sign Up $7.99+ / month peacocktv.com Watch the trailer for ‘Wicked: Part 1’:

“Wicked” tells the story of Elphaba, a girl born in the land of Oz whose green skin makes her a target for ostracization.

Universal Pictures surprised us back in January when they announced that not only was a new entry in the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World franchise in the works, but the screenplay was already finished and the project was aiming for a 2025 theatrical release. July 2, 2025, to be exact. This new movie is called Jurassic World Rebirth, and it was assembled in a mad scramble so it can stay on track to reach theatres next July. Details have been kept under wraps so far, but Universal just revealed some plot and character information the other day, so now it’s time for us to put together a list of Everything We Know About Jurassic World Rebirth:

Plot

One of the most interesting things about this new Jurassic movie is the fact that it boasts a script written by original Jurassic Park screenwriter David Koepp, returning to the franchise for the first time...

We had an absolute blast chatting with Jeff Goldblum and Jonathan Bailey about Wicked: Part I! These two are pure magic in this epic adaptation of the beloved musical. Goldblum, stepping into the role of the enigmatic Wizard of Oz, was as effortlessly cool and witty as you’d expect, while Bailey, our dashing new Fiyero, lit up the room with his enthusiasm for joining such an iconic franchise.

Related: Our 5 star review of Wicked Part 1

Though they don’t share the screen in this first instalment, Goldblum teased some exciting moments together in Part II, hitting cinemas next year. A self-proclaimed Wicked superfan, Bailey couldn’t hide his joy at being part of his dream project, and honestly, who can blame him? Both stars were bursting with love for the cast, crew, and the incredible energy everyone’s poured into this story.

Needless to say, we’re officially counting...

Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey buddy up while attending a photocall for their new movie Wicked: Part One on Wednesday (November 20) in London, England.

The actors bring Elphaba and Fiyero to life alongside Ariana Grande‘s Glinda in the big-screen adaptation of the beloved musical, which arrives in theaters on November 22.

They showed off their impeccable chemistry while posing for photos at the Greenwich Observatory.

Keep reading to find out more…

For the occasion, Cynthia returned to her trend of wearing green to honor the emerald skin of her character. She wore a vividly colored suit over a black top with dramatic sleeves.

Jonathan opted for a pair of oversized pants, which he paired with a fur-lined jacket.

They were joined at the event by costar Jeff Goldblum and director Jon M. Chu. We’ve got photos of them both in the gallery.

Did you know that Jon almost didn...

Reviews for “Wicked” keep pouring in, with more and more critics heaping praises on Ariana Grande as Galinda Upland, aka Glinda the Good Witch.

This is the biggest film role yet for the international pop star, who goes by her birth name, Ariana Grande-Butera, in the end credits. Over the past few weeks, she has steadily risen in Gold Derby’s Oscar odds for Best Supporting Actress, now coming in at fourth place to win the golden statuette. The enthusiastic backing of many top film critics certainly doesn’t hurt.

Phil de Semlyen (Time Out) calls out Grande’s “scene-stealing” abilities. William Bibbiani (The Wrap) refers to her “superb physical comedy.” Richard Lawson (Vanity Fair) says she’s found her “movie-star groove.” Christian Holub (Entertainment Weekly) claims she “struts around Shiz like she owns the place.” That’s just a small handful.

See ‘Wicked’ Box Office Prediction: Can It Take...

The hustle and bustle of London’s busy St. Pancras International Station received a welcome reprise on Wednesday afternoon, when actor Jeff Goldblum delivered an impromptu performance on the Sir Elton John piano positioned on the lower ground floor of the station.

The appearance coincided with the unveiling of a Wicked-themed Christmas tree in the same location, a partnership with Universal Pictures ahead of the film’s theatrical release. Goldblum, who plays the Wizard of Oz in Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of the popular Broadway musical, took a...

“Are people born wicked? Or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?” The conundrum of theodicy has long plagued humanity, just as it’s plagued the Ozians of Munchkinland. Like the source novel and Broadway musical, Jon M. Chu’s film adaptation of part one of Wicked (penned by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox) doesn’t dig into the existential nitty-gritty of the question. But it makes its position on the matter as blunt as the theatrics are dazzling: no, people are not born wicked. It’s thrust upon them by circumstance or, more specifically, the powers that be.

As all fans of the musical already know: we begin at the end… of The Wizard of Oz. The Wicked Witch of the West has been defeated and the munchkins are rejoicing like they’ll never rejoice again. They’re throwing the biggest party ever seen this side of Emerald City.

To be frank, when the interview confirmations came through we were a bit disappointed we didn’t get to speak to “Wicked” stars Cynthia Erivo or Ariana Grande. And we’re still scratching our heads as to why Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh were unavailable when we could literally snag them for any other project. But as the box office is forecasting, Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of the long-running Broadway musical looks like it will be a massive, massive hit.

Continue reading Ethan Slater & Marissa Bode Reflect On Their Wonderful Journey To ‘Wicked’ [Interview] at The Playlist.

Jeff Goldblum shocked passersby with an impromptu piano performance at London’s St. Pancras International train station on Wednesday, in celebration of the release of Wicked.

The Jurassic Park alum, who stars as the Wizard of Oz in Jon M. Chu’s impending musical adaptation, performed an intimate rendition of a Wicked number and two Christmas tunes as travelers and shoppers watched on.

Goldblum is a musical talent as well as an actor. Performing as part of The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, his band is known for their contemporary arrangements of classic jazz and American songbook standards.

The station he performed at on Wednesday unveiled a Wicked themed Christmas tree in partnership with Universal Pictures, to celebrate the movie’s release. In taking to the St. Pancras piano, Goldblum followed in the footsteps of Grammy award winners Alicia Keys and Nora Jones, and dynamic duo Rod Stewart and Jools Holland, who also performed there.

Last summer, Malibu’s favorite blonde went toe-to-toe with Cillian Murphy and the hydrogen bomb in a double-feature forever known as “Barbenheimer.” Now, audiences are witnessing a new battle of the sexes between the first half of Jon M. Chu’s two-part “Wicked” film adaptation and Ridley Scott’s long overdue “Gladiator” sequel, both in theaters the weekend before Thanksgiving.

It’s an imperfect comparison, but an important one coming on the heels of a highly gendered U.S. presidential election that has many people asking, “Does America just … hate women?” You could call this event “Glicked” — or maybe “Wickediator”? Heck, name it “Gladiator: Part 1” and let other people figure it out! Whatever mash-up you choose, this is the cinematic grudge match to watch if you’re pondering the differences between men, women, and their respective purchasing power at the movies in 2024.

Pre-Thanksgiving is a coveted time for tentpole releases...

On Wednesday November 20 2024, Bravo broadcasts The Kelly Clarkson Show!

Season 6 Episode 40 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “The Kelly Clarkson Show” promises to be an exciting one, especially for fans of the musical “Wicked.” Titled “Wicked Hour,” this episode will feature a lineup that is sure to entertain and inspire. Kelly Clarkson, known for her warm personality and incredible talent, will guide viewers through a magical hour filled with music and special guests.

During this episode, Kelly will perform “If I Only Had a Brain,” a classic song that showcases her powerful voice and love for musical theater. This performance is part of the show’s popular segment, Kellyoke, where Kelly often puts her unique spin on well-known songs. Fans can look forward to her heartfelt rendition of this beloved tune.

The episode will also feature a star-studded guest list, including Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Goldblum, and Jonathan Bailey,...

Ariana Grande originally auditioned to play Elphaba in ‘Wicked’.The 31-year-old pop star plays Glinda in director Jon M. Chu’s new movie - which is based on Stephen Schwartz's musical - but the filmmaker has revealed that Ariana initially tried out for Cynthia Erivo’s green witch Elphaba Thropp, and sang all of the character’s songs during the audition process.In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Chu said: “We were getting mixed messages. I was like, ‘Of course she's coming in for Glinda.’ And then my casting director was like, ‘No, I think she thinks she's coming in for Elphaba.’ I'm like, ‘That was not the plan.’“And they're like, ‘Well, she prepped it.’ She was being nice to me, and I was being nice to her. We just let her do it. “But in my mind I was like, ‘Why is she singing Elphaba right now?...

Director Jon M Chu’s musical adaptation features two incredible central performances and songs to die for. Here’s our Wicked review.

Before we get into the review itself, let’s address the elephant in the room. Yes, Jon M Chu’s Wicked is 160 minutes long and only covers half of the stage show despite being 20 minutes longer. Did it need to do this? I’m relatively confident in saying that at the end of the movie, you’ll come to the same conclusion as I: it absolutely did.

Wicked begins where The Wizard Of Oz ends. The Wicked Witch of the West is dead and all is well in Munchkinland. One of the Munchkins asks Glinda The Good (Ariana Grande) if it’s true that she and the witch were once friends, prompting Glinda to tell their story.

If you’re familiar with the stage musical, you’ll know what’s coming.

In the bright land of Oz, a story we thought we knew undergoes tremendous upheaval. “Wicked” is a cinematic revelation that reimagines the notorious green-skinned witch’s narrative from an angle never explored before. Based on Gregory Maguire’s original novel and the phenomenally successful Broadway musical, director Jon M. Chu’s film version delivers a multilayered genesis story that defies decades of storytelling about good and evil.

Emerging from the long shadow of the 1939 classic “The Wizard of Oz,” this reimagining flips the standard narrative on its head. Instead of a simple villain, Elphaba—the woman who will become the Wicked Witch of the West—emerges as a multifaceted, sympathetic character fighting systematic injustice. Her journey from misunderstood outsider to powerful activist becomes a striking allegory for marginalization, bigotry, and personal empowerment.

The story is divided into two parts, allowing for a more in-depth investigation of Elphaba’s world,...

Wicked Part 1 Box Office Prediction (North America): Debut Weekend Projection ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Wicked Part 1 projections are looking good, and fans can’t wait any longer for the movie. The industry’s predictions are pointing North of $100 million for the musical fantasy starring Ariana Grande. It will clash with Gladiator II, but Grande’s film is leading the projections in North America. Scroll below for the deets.

It is the first part of a two-part film adaptation of the stage musical of the same name by Stephen Schwartz and Holzman, loosely based on the 1995 novel of the same name. It is set in the Land of Oz, and the characters are from the Wizard of Oz. Jeff Goldblum played the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Cynthia Ervio plays the Wicked Witch of the West, and Ariana, the Good Witch of the North. The film reportedly had a budget of $145 million.

On Wednesday November 20 2024, E! broadcasts The Kelly Clarkson Show!

Season 6 Episode 40 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “The Kelly Clarkson Show” promises to be a special treat for fans of the musical “Wicked.” Set to air on E!, this episode is themed around the beloved show and features a lineup of exciting guests. Kelly Clarkson will dive into the magical world of Oz, bringing the enchanting spirit of “Wicked” to the stage.

The episode will kick off with Kellyoke, where Kelly Clarkson will perform “If I Only Had a Brain.” This song is a classic from “The Wizard of Oz,” and fans can expect Kelly’s powerful voice to bring a fresh twist to this iconic tune. Her rendition is sure to capture the essence of the song while adding her unique flair.

Joining Kelly in this episode are some notable guests from the “Wicked” universe. Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo,...

The review embargo for Universal's Wicked - Part 1 has lifted, and so far, the majority of critics seem to be very pleased with director Jon M. Chu's big-screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical.

With 117 reviews counted, the movie currently sits at 91% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Despite this very impressive score, not everyone was won over by this take on the material. One review describes the movie as "ghastly," while another is of the opinion that Wicked is "messy and overlong, and ultimately incomplete."

The negative verdicts are in the minority, but it should be interesting to see if that Rt score holds as more reviews come in.

#Wicked is now officially Certified Fresh at 93% on the Tomatometer, with 95 reviews: https://t.co/xBl3Gk7XhK pic.twitter.com/r8HsY5yiPH

— Rotten Tomatoes (@RottenTomatoes) November 19, 2024

'Wicked' Review - Jon M. Chu's Majestic Musical Defies Gravity Thanks...

White Bird: A Wonder Story (2024) has finally arrived in theaters after a two-year wait for the adaptation of the graphic novle by R.J. Palacio. This year has seen several big book adaptations dominate the box office from Dune: Part Two to It Ends With Us.

Several other well known books have transformed for the big screen this year, including comics like The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, childhood stories like Harold and the Purple Crayon and more.

Read on for a list of this year’s book to movie adaptations:

Wicked Part One – Nov 22 – Theaters

Jon Chu’s rendition of the Wizard of Oz prequel story is based on the 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire. The film will star Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey , Jeff Goldblum and more. Wicked Part One arrives in theaters Nov. 22.

Out of My Mind – Nov 22 -Disney+

Phoebe-Rae Taylor in ‘Out of My Mind’

Based on the book by Sharon M. Draper,...

There’s a new entry in the Jurassic Park / Jurassic World franchise heading our way, with Jurassic World Rebirth set to reach theatres on July 2, 2025 – and during an interview with Empire, director Gareth Edwards said that the new movie goes back to what he loved about the original Jurassic Park.

News of the new Jurassic World movie first hit back in January, when it was revealed that the screenplay – by original Jurassic Park screenwriter David Koepp, returning to the franchise for the first time since The Lost World: Jurassic Park – had already been written. The project was assembled in a mad scramble after that, with Godzilla and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story director Gareth Edwards ending up at the helm. This new Jurassic World movie won’t be featuring any returning lead characters from the previous Jurassic Park / Jurassic World movies, so describing it as a “Rebirth” could be accurate.

“Wicked” is proving popular with film critics.

Directed by Jon M. Chu, the long-awaited film adaptation of the beloved Broadway stage musical stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp, aka the Wicked Witch of the West, and Ariana Grande as Galinda Upland, aka Glinda the Good Witch. Other cast members include Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Ethan Slater as Boq Woodsman, Marissa Bode as Nessarose Thropp, and Peter Dinklage as the voice of Doctor Dillamond.

The embargo for “Wicked” reviews officially ended on Nov. 19, so let’s take a look at what some notable movie critics are saying. The film opens in theaters on Friday, Nov. 22.

“The razzle-dazzle that’s Jon M. Chu’s bread and butter is on glorious display in ‘Wicked,’ the big-screen version of the beloved Broadway musical,” writes Christy Lemire (RogerEbert.com). “Chu is...

One of the biggest movie events of the fall is upon us. "Wicked," which is adapted from the famed Broadway musical of the same name, is hitting theaters after being talked about for years. Now, it's a reality. Cynthia Erivo ("Harriet") and Ariana Grande ("Don't Look Up") lead the cast of director Jon M. Chu's star-studded musical. It's a big movie that already has a sequel on the way. So, did Universal do a little extra something to help tee up the ball for next year's "Wicked: Part Two"?

Credits scenes are a pretty regular thing these days, with Marvel films and other franchise fare often using them to help set up future installments. Given that "Wicked" was split into two parts in 2022 (with good reason), it wouldn't be surprising if such tactics were employed by Chu here. With that being the case, we're here to offer up a...