News

Deadline’s Read the Screenplay series spotlighting the scripts behind awards season’s most talked-about movies continues with Wicked, Universal’s blockbuster musical movie from director Jon M. Chu. Adapted from Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West — about the untold stories of the witches of Oz, set in the years before Dorothy dropped in via L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz — the screenplay was penned by original Broadway musical book writer Winnie Holzman and Cruella co-scribe Dana Fox.

In 2003, Wicked debuted on Broadway, starring Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, earning 10 Tony nominations including Best Musical and three wins. The musical has earned about $6 billion worldwide and has become a runaway success in Japan, Korea, Singapore, Australia and the UK.

The film, which opened November 22 to a slew of records after its own long journey to the screen,...

Universal Pictures today announced Christmas Day Wicked sing-along screenings as the box-office phenomenon continues its record-shattering theatrical run. More than 1,000 theaters throughout the United States, Canada and select international markets will host interactive Wicked sing-along screenings, which will feature on-screen lyrics and a special introduction from stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

The announcement arrives as Wicked continues to shatter box-office records, becoming the highest-grossing Broadway musical film adaptation in domestic box-office history, surpassing a benchmark held by Grease for 46 years.

Featuring Grammy and Oscar winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz’s songs from the generation-defining stage musical, the film’s groundbreaking soundtrack has made history, debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. With more than 270 million global streams, it has achieved the largest streaming week ever for a stage-to-screen musical film soundtrack and stands as the No. 1 soundtrack debut of the decade.

A special sing-along version of the soundtrack...

‘Wicked: Part I’ recently released to glowing reviews and phenomenal box office success. It’s based on the stage musical ‘Wicked,’ which is inspired by Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, itself a reimagining of L. Frank Baum’s ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.’

The film follows Elphaba, who will become the Wicked Witch of the West, and her friendship with Galinda, who will become Glinda the Good, set in the Land of Oz before Dorothy arrives.

The main cast of ‘Wicked: Part I’ includes Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West, and Ariana Grande as Galinda, who becomes Glinda the Good. Supporting roles feature Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Ethan Slater as Boq, Bowen Yang as Pfannee, and Peter Dinklage as the voice of Dr. Dillamond. Other notable cast members include Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard, and Marissa Bode as Nessarose, Elphaba’s sister.

Warning: Massive spoilers for the Wicked stage show and Wicked: Part One ahead

Cynthia Erivo is hopping on her broomstick and Ariana Grande is stepping inside her bubble as the pair take flight as Elphaba and Glinda in Jon M. Chu’s Wicked. The adaptation of Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman’s stage show is defying box office expectations, which is good news for Wicked: Part Two’s release in 2025. The second act of Wicked is a good deal darker than the first, as the second movie will be darker than Part One. And director John Chu is already laying the groundwork.

Chu already switched things up from the stage adaptation by featuring (an uncredited appearance by) Dorothy Gale in the movie’s opening, as well as expanding the Wiz-o-Mania show in the Emerald City with some unexpected cameos and a stretching out the end of “Defying Gravity” with an appearance from Young Elphaba.

Fans of Antiques Roadshow and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz were in for a treat when one guest brought in a copy of L. Frank Baum’s book on the reality show. The book turned out to be very special once it was opened up. However, the guest ultimately refused to part ways with it.

Antiques Roadshow Took A Trip To Oz By Way Of Texas

Antiques Roadshow is an American remake of the British series of the same name. In the series, antique owners have items appraised by experts, often learning just how valuable a certain item really is.

During an episode filmed at the McNay Art Museum in Texas, a guest brought in a copy of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. He revealed his father purchased the book in the 1960s.

Dorothy Gale from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ – YouTube

As noted by The Express U.S., the guest shared,...

The Wicked movie has recently become the subject of a viral rumor alleging there was a great pay dispute between the two lead actresses, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The story had sparked debate among fans on social media. Universal Pictures, the film’s production company and distributor, has recently addressed the issue.

Rumors Claimed One Wicked Actress Was Paid Much More Than Another

Wicked is a film adaptation of the Broadway show of the same name, itself based on the namesake Gregory Maguire novel. The story is a revisionist take on L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, telling the story of the early years of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.

Cynthia Erivo plays Elphaba, the story incarnation of the Witch of the West. Ariana Grande plays Glinda.

Elphaba & Glinda in ‘Wicked’ – YouTube

The two actresses, however, recently became the subject...

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

Unless a house has suddenly fallen on you in the land of Oz, then you know that the Wicked movie, which premiered last Friday, is already one of the most talked about films of the year (it grossed $164 million during opening weekend). The blockbuster, starring Ariana Grande-Butera and Cynthia Erivo, has drawn pink and green fans to the theater in droves, all wanting to get a glimpse of Glinda the Good and Elphaba.

Jon M. Chu’s musical Wicked (Part One), starring Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, is set to defy gravity over the coming weeks as the blockbuster event of the holiday season. Adapted from Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman’s long-running Tony and Grammy Award-winning Broadway musical, itself based on Gregory Maguire’s fantasy novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Wicked has the kind of built-in fan base most Hollywood musicals can only dream of.

While recent theatrical musical adaptations and originals like West Side Story (2021), The Color Purple (2023), Wonka (2023) and Chu’s In the Heights (2021) had their share of fans, none could compare with the Wicked phenomenon — except for maybe, Cats (2019). Jokes aside, Wicked’s fan base has been maintained and further populated by a plethora of merch, Broadway reunions, album rereleases, a 15th anniversary Halloween TV special and,...

Between its Broadway musical adaptation, its film adaptation, and the numerous villain origin stories it inspired, Gregory Maguire’s Wicked seems poised to become an addition to the canon of American literature. The book was already partly a prequel to L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Maguire explained why he decided to write a prequel to Wicked.

A few pages of Gregory Maguire’s ‘Wicked’ inspired his new book

In The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the West does not have a proper name. In Wicked, she’s called Elphaba or “Elphie” for short. Maguire recently released another book about the character called Elphie: A Wicked Childhood. It elaborates on the early sections of Wicked that deal with the character’s childhood. It is more or less a prequel, though technically it could also be considered an interquel or a parallel novel.

During a 2024 interview with Paste,...

Between its Broadway musical adaptation, its film adaptation, and the numerous villain origin stories it inspired, Gregory Maguire’s Wicked seems poised to become an addition to the canon of American literature. The book was already partly a prequel to L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Maguire explained why he decided to write a prequel to Wicked.

In The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the West does not have a proper name. In Wicked, she’s called Elphaba or “Elphie” for short. Maguire recently released another book about the character called Elphie: A Wicked Childhood. It elaborates on the early sections of Wicked that deal with the character’s childhood. It is more or less a prequel, though technically it could also be considered an interquel or a parallel novel.

During a 2024 interview with Paste, the author discussed the book. “Elphie takes as its...

Actresses Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are both starring in the film adaptation of Wicked and have been promoting the project with a press tour. During one such recent interview, Erivo’s response ended up going viral. Fans, and even the reporter who interviewed the actresses, has commented on the meme.

The Press Tour Has Become Known For Being An Emotional One

Erivo first came to prominence after appearing in the Broadway revival of The Color Purple in 2015. She would then transition into films, notably playing Harriet Tubman in the 2019 biopic Harriet.

The actress has gained further recognition playing Elphaba in the film adaptation of Wicked. Based on the Broadway musical and the Gregory Maguire book of the same name, the story explores the early life of the Wicked Witch of the West, who Erivo’s character is set to become, from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Ariana Grande – YouTube...

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...

Spoiler Alert !!!Spoiler Warning for Wicked (2024)

Universal’s 2024 Wicked movie based on the book by Gregory Maguire, finally hit the theaters almost two decades later, since the musical began its Tony Award-winning run on Broadway. Released on November 22, 2024, Jon M. Chu’s highly-anticipated film featured Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba.

A still from Wicked (2024) | image: Universal Pictures

Meanwhile, although the early reception of the film has been positive, Jon M. Chu’s Wicked, like any other adaptation, featured a few changes from the original Broadway show. While the entire score in the new film remained the same with a few variations, the 2024 movie featured the biggest change in terms of Elphaba and Fiyero’s first meeting.

Fiyero and Elphaba’s First Meeting in the Broadway Musical

Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West has been one...

Audiences unfamiliar with the original book and musical may have missed that the Lion, Tin Man & Scarecrow appeared unnamed in Jon M. Chu's Wicked.

Since Wicked is a reimagined prequel of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, it is only expected those three Ozian characters would appear. However, their roles and relationships with characters like Elphaba, Glinda, and the Wicked Witch of the East would be heavily recontextualized.

Dorothy's three companions managed to appear in Wicked, whether audiences realized it or not. However, plenty of foreshadowing will make them wonder why and how they did not see it sooner.

Read full article on The Direct.

The concept of a prequel is a well-worn one in literature. Not only did authors like J.R.R. Tolkien further flesh out their characters and worlds in books set before previously published adventures, but L. Frank Baum, author of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," wrote "Ozma of Oz," the first prequel to be set in that particular universe. In cinema, however, the concept took a while to catch on, and it wasn't really until "Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace" that the cinematic prequel became popular. To say that the process had some bumps in the road would be an understatement; "The Phantom Menace" and its two sequels were loudly reviled upon their initial release, with everything from their characters to their dialogue to their visual aesthetic taken to task for not looking or feeling enough like the original "Star Wars" trilogy. Despite George Lucas' claims that the films...

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,...

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...

Most children’s books are forgotten immediately, but the best of them put a spell on adults. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is so good that it inspired numerous adaptations, including Gregory Maguire’s Wicked and the upcoming movie of the same name. Maguire revealed his opinion on why Oz isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

‘Wicked’ author Gregory Maguire explained why we keep returning to Oz

During a 2024 interview with Paste, Maguire discussed the enduring appeal of Oz, the setting of L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its many sequels and adaptations. “Oz has always, I think, implied America, by the way that Baum designed it,” Maguire opined.

“But because Oz was originally made both broad and indistinct that has left people who came later, like MGM, like The Wiz, like me, like [Wicked musical writers] Stephen [Schwartz] and Winnie [Holzman], that has left us lots and lots of acreage...

As Wicked hit theaters, it's interesting to see Disney's surprisingly long history with the Oz books!

The world of Oz is about to see a new spark in popularity. After two decades as one of the biggest musical hits in the world, Wicked is about to hit the big screen in part one of a two-part epic. It's a revisionist take on the property showing how Elphaba aka the Wicked Witch of the West, wasn't that bad a person and her friendship with Glinda, the Good Witch of the North.

The movie is from Universal and seems set to become a major box office hit. Yet there was a time when it looked like Disney might get their toes into the property and the history of Disney and Oz is fascinating to see!

The early Oz foray

The early days of moviemaking were tricky, yet was always interested in adapting some beloved books.

Jeopardy! occasionally has special promotional categories meant to highlight upcoming movies, events, and even Broadway shows. Most recently, the game show had a category promoting the upcoming Wicked movie. However, fans recently got upset after they felt an Oz-themed response was unfairly rejected.

Jeopardy! Was Off To See The Wizard

Wicked is based on the Gregory Maguire book and Broadway show of the same name. A revisionist retelling of L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the story explores the early life of the story’s famous villain, the Wicked Witch of the West, known as “Elphaba” in Maguire’s story.

Jeopardy! recently had a category promoting the release of the upcoming movie adaptation. Cast and crew from the film even made appearances to introduce the clues. This included Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, who play Glinda and Elphaba respectively in the film.

Elphaba & Glinda in ‘Wicked’ – YouTube

One contestant,...

Gregory Maguire's novel "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" was first published in 1995, a time when teenage Gen-Xers were having a ball deconstructing pop media and riffing on the inherent absurdities of previous generations' entertainment. This was an era when Richard Linklater's "Slacker" joked about the Smurfs, and when Kevin Smith's "Clerks" amusingly overthought the details of the Death Star. In 1995, there was a feeling that all media was coming to an end, and it was easy to make a sport of tearing old stories to the ground. 

Maguire, as such, wrote a tale about how the Wicked Witch of the West from L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" -- as well as from Victor Fleming's 1939 film adaptation -- was actually a misunderstood sorceress who was forced into wickedness by a vapid schoolmate version of Glinda...

Those heading to theaters to see Wicked this week might not be aware of the meaning behind the main character Elphaba’s name.

There’s actually a fun backstory to how the Wicked Witch of the West got her name. Cynthia Erivo portrays the role in the new movie.

If you aren’t aware, the musical Wicked is based on the book “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” by Gregory Maguire (which you can purchase on Amazon now!) The characters are all, of course, based on the characters from L. Frank Baum‘s 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which was eventually made into the Judy Garland movie hit, The Wizard of Oz.

Keep reading to find out more…

The name “Elphaba” is actually a play on original author L. Frank Baum‘s name! “El-pha-ba” uses L. Frank Baum‘s initials to spell out the word!

As Jon M. Chu brings the latest big-screen installment to L. Frank Baum’s ever-expanding universe, he’s reflecting on the societal shifts that have historically punctuated adaptations of Oz.

The Wicked director explained that the Yellow Brick Road has become “the road we travel” ever since Baum released The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1900, which was later adapted into the Victor Fleming-helmed onscreen masterpiece The Wizard of Oz (1939), starring Judy Garland.

“The Wizard of Oz was always sort of prophetic in a way. It was written at a time of America in transition,” Chu told NBC News. “At that point, the Depression had just finished and they’re about to go into war. And so it’s always a question of about what the American dream looks like when the road ends and what are the possibilities of the next thing.”

The country went through another transition in...

Jeff Goldblum isn't worried about the competition between 'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II'.The 72-year-old star plays The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the hotly-anticipated musical movie and has no concerns about the film being released at the same time as Sir Ridley Scott's long-awaited sequel to the historical epic.Jeff told Deadline at the Los Angeles premiere of 'Wicked': "Nobody's in competition – it's an abundance mentality world with enough to go around."He explained that rivals learning to exist together peacefully is a major element of the plot of 'Wicked' which is demonstrated by lead characters Glinda (Ariana Grande) and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo).Goldblum said: "That's part of the theme of our show!"The 'Jurassic Park' actor was overjoyed to land a part in Jon M. Chu's movie as he had been a fan of 'Wicked' since the...

Jeff Goldblum isn't worried about the competition between 'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II'.The 72-year-old star plays The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the hotly-anticipated musical movie and has no concerns about the film being released at the same time as Sir Ridley Scott's long-awaited sequel to the historical epic.Jeff told Deadline at the Los Angeles premiere of 'Wicked': "Nobody's in competition – it's an abundance mentality world with enough to go around."He explained that rivals learning to exist together peacefully is a major element of the plot of 'Wicked' which is demonstrated by lead characters Glinda (Ariana Grande) and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo).Goldblum said: "That's part of the theme of our show!"The 'Jurassic Park' actor was overjoyed to land a part in Jon M. Chu's movie as he had been a fan of 'Wicked' since the...

The Wicked movie and Broadway musical of the same name have some similarities to the original children’s story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. While the 1900 novel is centered around the main character of Dorothy, the movie and play tell the story of life in Oz before her arrival.

However, there are many elements of the play that tie back to the original book, including Elphaba’s name and its connection to the book’s author.

‘Wicked’ author reveals Elphaba’s name is deeply connected to the original ‘Wizard of Oz’ author

In 1995, Gregory Maguire wrote the book Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. It is a retelling of L. Frank Baum’s original story.

The book was adapted into a Broadway musical in 2003 and a feature film in 2024. As Maguire created the characters for his retelling of Baum’s story, he wanted to...

The magical world of Oz, where you can expect the unexpected.

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.

#WickedMovie is only in theaters November 22.

https://www.wickedmovie.com

The St. Louis screening is at the Marcus Chesterfield Cinema on Sunday, November 17 at 2pm.

Link: http://gofobo.com/EcfwX34351

Please arrive early as seating is not guaranteed.

This film is rated PG for some scary action, thematic material and brief suggestive material.

L to R: Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba and Ariana Grande is Glinda in Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu © Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures

Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin,...

Universal Pictures recently held a preview screening of Jon M. Chu's Wicked for selected critics and social media influencers, and the first social media reactions are very positive indeed.

It sounds like fans of the Broadway smash hit are in for a treat - although it's always worth keeping in mind that these initial reactions do tend to be... enthusiastic. That said, several people who saw the movie admit to being surprised by how much they ended up enjoying it.

Wicked tells the story of how a shy green-skinned woman named Elphaba becomes a cackling villain with an aversion to water we first met in The Wizard of Oz.

Cynthia Erivo stars as Elphaba, who will ultimately become the "Wicked Witch of the West," while pop megastar Ariana Grande will play Glinda, aka "Good Witch of the East." Both actresses have come in for high praise for their performances.

Wicked Part 1 Early Reviews Revealed ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Ariana Grande starrer Wicked Part 1 by Jon M Chu’s initial verdict is out and is looking good. The film will clash against Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II. This is helmed as 2024’s Barbenheimer phenomenon. Both movies have extensive budgets and are among this year’s much-awaited movies. Scroll below to find out what the critics say about it.

It features Ariana Grande as the Good Witch and Cynthia Ervio as the Wicked Witch of the West. The film is based on the stage musical of the same name. The characters are from L Frank Baum’s 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It also features Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Leala Settle, Ethan Slater and Pete Dinklage.

Wicked Part 1 is set in the Land of Oz. It follows the green-skinned Elphaba’s studies at Shiz University and the beginning of...

More than 20 years after originating the onstage role of Glinda in Wicked, Kristin Chenoweth is praising her big-screen successors.

After noting she “cannot confirm or deny” a cameo in the long-awaited feature adaptation, which premieres Nov. 22 in theaters, the Tony winner shared a rave review for director Jon M. Chu‘s feature adaptation of the Broadway musical.

Speaking for herself and Og co-star Idina Menzel, Chenowth told Us Weekly they’re “both really happy for the girls [Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo]. We can’t wait to see them take on these characters.”

Following a screening with the film’s cast, Chenoweth gave the movie musical her seal of approval in a video from her ride home. “Y’All Won’T Even Believe How Good It Is,” she captioned the clip. “I’ll never be the same!!!”

Chenoweth raved in the video, “Oh my gosh I just saw the movie and I’m dying.

Wicked Part 1 Box Office Prediction (North America): Update ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Wicked Part 1 by Jon M Chu is a musical fantasy film set to be released in theatres next month. The long-term box office prediction for the fantasy movie is here, and it is not so shabby. The film will clash against Gladiator II, and the Ridley Scott-directed film has garnered praise from critics and influencers in the early reactions. Being a musical, the movie is in a risky spot; it can either be a hit or a miss at the box office. Keep scrolling for the deets.

There will be two movies, and this is the first part. For the unversed, it is the film adaptation of the stage musical of the same name by Stephen Schwartz and Holzman, which was again based on the 1995 novel by the same name. The characters are from L Frank Baum’s 1990 work,...

Kicking off the 12th edition of the International Classic Film Market (Mifc) in Lyon, France, guest speaker Cassandra Moore, VP Mastering and Archive at NBC Universal, discussed her company’s vast catalogue and restoration techniques.

The Mifc runs alongside the Lumière Film Festival, a nine-day event dedicated to heritage cinema, featuring an impressive screening program of over 150 films, mostly classics but also some contemporary titles.

Among them is Steven Spielberg’s “The Sugarland Express,” which NBC Universal restored in time for its 50th anniversary. The film, which won Best Screenplay in 1974 at the Cannes Film Festival, had its newly restored version screened this year at Cannes Classics, the festival’s section dedicated to repertoire cinema.

Moore guided the crowd in Lyon through the restoration process, which took six months. After retrieving the original from the vault, the team inspected the negative and audio elements and created a repair report before getting to work.

Universal Pictures’ two-part Wicked has become a highly anticipated film for the holiday seasons of 2024 and 2025.

Directed by Jon M. Chu, the movie musical will star Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba with several other famous faces taking on iconic roles in the land of Oz. Wicked Part One has shifted release dates a few times to land where it now sits in November 2024, and Part Two will follow in November 2025 as of right now.

For everything else we know about Wicked, find more information and details below.

When Will Wicked Part One come out?

Wicked Part One almost went head to head with Disney’s Moana 2 on November 27, 2024, and before that, it was set to bow Christmas 2024, but it moved up a week to the Friday before Thanksgiving, November 22, 2024. Its new opponent will be Paramount’s Gladiator II starring Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal among others.

As we first reported on SFFGazette.com, tickets for Wicked went on sale today and we have a new sneak peek and posters for the long-awaited big screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical ahead of its November 22 release.

It's been a tough year for several movies but Universal is banking on Wicked being a mega hit. We've already seen one big musical, Joker: Folie à Deux, flop at the box office so we're intrigued to see how audiences react to this one.

The fact it's got such a storied history on the stage is bound to help, though whether it will appear to regular moviegoers - who typically avoid full-blown musicals in theaters - is tough to say.

We have to give the studio credit for recreating the Wicked musical's iconic poster in live-action with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, anyway, because that's a phenomenal piece of imagery.

Check...

Universal Pictures figured out a way to bridge the generation gap. “Wicked” will be released on November 22, 2024; a sequel is scheduled for release on November 21, 2025. “Wicked” is a two-part film adaptation of the stage musical. The stage musical was based on a 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire and characters from L. Frank Baum’s novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” was published in 1900. (Per Wikipedia.) This is flipping hilarious to me. Let me explain. I know I’m telling my age with this story, but hear me out. The first television broadcast of “The Wizard of Oz,” starring Judy Garland as Dorothy, was in 1956. In my childhood home, watching this cinematic wonder every year was Tradition! In my memory, even though the yellow brick road wasn’t yellow, the red ruby slippers were not red, and there was no green in the Emerald City (because we had a black and white...

The degree of separation that Wicked, the film that will hit theatres later this year, has with its original source material is amusing, to say the least. The adaptation of a musical is adapted from a book about the Wicked Witch of the West, which serves as a prequel/sequel to the original text The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Ariana Grande in a still from Wicked || Universal Pictures

Set to star Ariana Grande, it will be a two-part endeavor helmed by Jon M. Chu and Winnie Holzman. The director has said that there are some things that he is going to keep in the film that will please the fans of the books. The film, like the book and the musical it is adapted from, will be a prequel to the original Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The director has also promised that the film will echo some iconic scenes from the books.

Today, Universal Pictures officially unveiled the official trailer for Wicked, the highly anticipated film adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical. Directed by Jon M. Chu, the film stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the green-skinned Wicked Witch of the West, and Ariana Grande as Glinda, the Good Witch. Wicked explores the untold backstory of these two iconic characters from L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, tracing their friendship, differences, and the events that ultimately lead to Elphaba’s reputation as the “Wicked” witch.

The trailer instantly created a buzz, offering fans their first glimpse of the magical world of Oz in its cinematic glory. The rich visuals, striking set designs, and immersive effects immediately set the stage for an epic retelling. Fans were treated to breathtaking shots of familiar locations like the Emerald City, the towering spires of Shiz University, and the enchanted forests of Munchkinland. These details bring to life the colorful,...

The video game adaptation curse may no longer be a thing, but the batting average of adaptations of video games continues to be less than great. While we got the stellar "Fallout" TV series early this year, we also barely got the biggest bomb of the year with the horrendous "Borderlands" movie. That said, we have finally reached a point where video game adaptations are as varied as video game themselves. Shows like "Arcane" and "Cyberpunk Edgerunners" bring their worlds to life with spectacular visuals (telling original and poignant stories that surpass those from their source material), while "The Last of Us" feels instead like a walkthrough video.

Except, there is one thing a shocking number of video game movies have in common, and they share it with anime. When the first "Minecraft" movie trailer dropped, some viewers were surprised to learn the film is about a group of people...

Center L to R: Cynthia Erivo (as Elphaba), Director Jon M. Chu, and Ariana Granda (as Glinda) on the set of Wicked

“If you want to be inside the world, you have to build it.”

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, 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.

Watch the new Wicked featurette.

Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo 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,...

Universal has pushed up the release of Wicked, the highly anticipated adaptation of the acclaimed Broadway show. The film was originally slated to hit theaters on November 27th, but it will now be released on November 22nd… the same day as Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II. This could get interesting.

As both Wicked and Gladiator II are courting very different demographics, the new release date is a smart move. It’s also possible that this match could be the Barbenheimer of 2024. Wickiator? On its original date, Wicked would have opened alongside Moana 2. With this move, the animated Disney sequel currently sits alone as the only new major movie set to be released before the Thanksgiving weekend.

Related Wicked: Journey back to the land of Oz in the new trailer for the musical adaptation

Wicked stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, “a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin,...

Wicked fans won’t have to wait quite as long as expected to watch Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in the film adaptation of the popular Broadway musical.

Universal Pictures announced Monday that director Jon M. Chu’s musical feature will hit theaters Nov. 22. The film has moved up from its previously scheduled release on Nov. 27, the day before Thanksgiving, with the new date giving the movie more time to build word of mouth heading into the holiday corridor. The new date also allows it to avoid Disney’s Moana 2.

It will now compete against Paramount’s Gladiator II, which also hits theaters Nov. 22 and stars Paul Mescal in Ridley Scott’s follow-up to his Oscar-winning 2000 historical epic.

Wicked adapts the Tony-winning Broadway musical of the same name, which is itself based on author Gregory Maguire’s 1995 book, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.

“It’s the basic rule of musicals: characters sing when their emotions become so intense they can’t do anything else.” That quote from Grammy, Emmy and Tony award-winning composer Tom Kitt perfectly sums up the experience of watching a movie musical. A genre arguably more expressive than any other, where dialogue is broken up by sporadic bursts into song and dance. Some movie musicals like ‘Hairspray’ or ‘Grease’ make the audience want to jump out of their seats and sing along to the lively songs, while others like ‘Les Miserables’ or ‘Cabaret’ might leave viewers in a puddle of tears. Many films in this genre were based on original Broadway productions and adapted for the big screen, which allows for bigger sets, Hollywood starpower and exposure to a wider audience. While every movie musical has made an impact on the film industry in one way or another, these eight...

A six-minute music video for Ariana Grande's latest single, "The Boy is Mine," has been released, and it finds the pop megastar channelling iconic Batman baddie/love interest, Catwoman.

The premise of the video focuses on You star Penn Badgley as the mayor of an unnamed city (we're guessing they couldn't call it Gotham), who decides to unleash an army of stray cats to rid the streets of a rat infestation. Grande plays a woman who is obsessed with the mayor and creates a love potion to make him fall for her.

Then, in a scene which appears to pay homage to Michelle Pfeiffer's Selina Kyle creating her costume in Tim Burton's Batman Returns, Grande dons a homemade Catwoman suit of her own and takes to the streets.

The tune is a single from Grande’s newest album, Eternal Eunshine, and samples Brandy and Monica's 1998 hit of the same name.

Walt Disney recently released the first trailer for Moana 2, set to be released on November 27, 2024. Starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Auliʻi Cravalho, the movie aims to build on the success of the original 2016 release, which grossed around $687 million at the box office. The trailer itself promises an entertaining watch, which sees Moana set sails into unchartered territory once again, in a bid to ‘sail new waters.’

However, despite a promising trailer, it seems as if the Dwayne Johnson movie has run into a snag already, as its release date clashes with another major project. It stars none other than Ariana Grande, and boasts of Michelle Yeoh, Cynthia Erivo, and Jeff Goldblum as well. Based on characters from the 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Wicked also releases on November 27, 2024.

Dwayne Johnson’s character in Moana. | Disney

The clash has already led to fans choosing sides, with both movies...

Universal Pictures has dropped the second trailer for director Jon M. Chu’s 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, in theaters on November 27, 2024, is the first chapter of a two-part immersive, cultural celebration. Wicked Part Two is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 26, 2025.

With a cast featuring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Keala Settle and Peter Dinklage, watch the trailer now.

Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo 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,...

Enter the wonderful world of Oz as Universal Pictures has debuted the official full trailer for John M. Chu’s ‘Wicked.’

The untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and 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.

We're not in Kansas any more...

Universal Pictures has pulled back the curtain on Jon M. Chu's big-screen adaptation of Broadway hit, Wicked, with an extended trailer, and if you're not too familiar with the story, don't worry - this teaser tells you everything you need to know.

We're used to trailers giving a bit too much away at this stage, but this really takes the flying monkey!

The movie, which is set to hit theaters on November 27, will tell the story of how a shy green-skinned woman named Elphaba becomes a cackling villain with an aversion to water we first met in The Wizard of Oz.

Cynthia Erivo stars as Elphaba, who will ultimately become the "Wicked Witch of the West," while pop megastar Ariana Grande will play Glinda, aka "Good Witch of the East."

It's probably not a major to spoiler to note that their friendship doesn't last!

Since the film is being produced and distributed by Universal, which streamer it will land on is easy to answer; when, however, is more complicated.

Did you hear a distinctive call coming from the western skies on Wednesday? If so, it might have been caused by the release of the thrillifying trailer for the upcoming film adaptations of the hit Broadway musical “Wicked.” Directed by Jon M. Chu, the iconic musical will be broken up into two films, with the first will be released on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, the day before Thanksgiving. Starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, the film’s trailer already has the internet buzzing and while the musical’s legions of fans will undoubtedly show up to see the film in theaters, you might already be wondering when you will be able to stream Erivo’s “Defying Gravity” on repeat at home. Fortunately, we here at The Streamable...

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are ready to defy expectations in the new trailer for the movie adaptation of Wicked.

On Wednesday, Universal Pictures released the first full promo for the initial installment of the two-part film version. Jon M. Chu’s film, which stars Grande as Glinda and Erivo as Elphaba, hits theaters Nov. 27.

Wicked’s teaser trailer aired during Super Bowl Lviii on Feb. 11 and provided the first look at the movie that adapts the Tony-winning Broadway musical of the same name, which is itself based on author Gregory Maguire’s 1995 book, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. The project adapts characters that originated in L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and were brought to life in the Oscar-winning 1939 film musical The Wizard of Oz starring Judy Garland as Dorothy.

The Wicked film follows green-skinned Elphaba and her...