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No woman has even won an Oscar for best cinematography, and that’s not likely to change in 2025. Why? Because no women made the final five. But this year, the American Society of Cinematographers could be righting Oscar’s wrong.

ASC has only handed out the top prize once to a woman — Mandy Walker, who won in the feature competition in 2023 for “Elvis.” Now, for the first time since 2014, the feature competition field has expanded its nominees to seven, with Alice Brooks landing a nomination for her work on “Wicked.”

Brooks had one goal for the big screen adaptation of the hit musical, that “it would be the most beautiful love story between these two women,” she says, referring to Glinda (Ariana Grande) and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), who star as the famous witches of Oz.

Brooks is Jon M. Chu’s go-to Dp since their filmmaking days at the University of Southern California.

Following his Oscar-winning feature film Oppenheimer (2024) which swept the Best Picture, Best Director, Best Lead Actor, Best Score and more categories at the 96th annual Academy Awards, Christopher Nolan’s next project is taking shape.

Read on for everything we know about the inspiration, story, cast and more

When does Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey come out?

The film is currently set for a release in Imax July 17, 2026.

What is Christopher Nolan’s next film about?

Just before Christmas, it was revealed that Nolan’s latest project would be epic in more than one sense of the word as it will adapt Homer’s epic poem composed around the 8th century Bce. Universal revealed the news.

“Christopher Nolan’s next film The Odyssey is a mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX film technology,” the studio announced on Dec. 23, 2024 in a message posted to X. “The...

Songwriter and Tony Award-winner Lin-Manuel Miranda really, really wanted to appear in Jon M. Chu's recent "Wicked" adaptation — but I bet you'll never guess which role he was gunning for.

During an appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" in February 2025, Miranda, the man behind Broadway hits like "Hamilton" and huge cinematic songs like "We Don't Talk About Bruno" from "Encanto" revealed that he basically begged Chu for a specific and incredibly small role in the adaptation of Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman's acclaimed Broadway musical. "In the opening number of the show, this one munchkin runs out and goes, 'Is it true you were her friend?'" Miranda told Colbert. "Because, man, I don't know if you've seen a live production of 'Wicked,' but sometimes they really put some sauce on the ball when they deliver that line. It's where the story starts. So I was like,...

Exclusive: Corey Hawkins (The Piano Lesson) has been tapped for a role in The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of the epic poem from Homer for Universal Pictures, sources tell Deadline.

Details as to the part he’s playing are under wraps, as they were for Mia Goth, who was announced as joining the cast earlier this afternoon. As previously announced, the stacked cast also includes Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Benny Safdie, Charlize Theron, Himesh Patel, Elliot Page, Bill Irwin, Samantha Morton, Jesse Garcia and Will Yun Lee.

The Odyssey is the story Odysseus, King of Ithaca, and his perilous journey home after the Trojan War. The literary classic explores themes of heroism, loyalty, cunning and the struggle against divine will, featuring stories like Odysseus’ encounters with the Cyclops Polyphemus, the Sirens and the witch-goddess Circe, culminating in a reunion with his wife Penelope.

The Broadway musical, written by Bareilles and Jessie Nelson, was nominated for four Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Love, dreams, chosen family, and strength— all mixed up and baked in a beautiful pie. Sara Bareilles and Jessie Nelson’s musical adaptation of “Waitress” may have closed up shop on Broadway in 2021, but Joe’s Pie Diner is back open for business. The filmed production, which stars Bareilles in the lead role, premieres this Friday, Feb. 14, bringing the Tony Award-nominated musical to streaming for the first time.

See what baking can do: watch “Waitress: The Musical” this Friday with a subscription to Max!

How to Watch ‘Waitress: The Musical’ When: Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. Et Where: Max Stream: Watch with a subscription to Max. From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a Vpn. Everything you need to know to watch ‘Waitress: The Musical’

How to Watch ‘Waitress: The Musical...

Providing the perfect date night option for those who love romantic comedies and festive slashers, Josh Ruben's Heart Eyes is now slicing into theaters, and Lakeshore Records will release Jay Wadley's score for the festively frightful film digitally beginning February 14th, giving horror-loving couples the chance to add the movie's music to their Valentine's Day playlists. As an early treat for Daily Dead readers to enjoy ahead of the soundtrack's holiday digital release, we have the chilling Heart Eyes track "Forgive Me" that you can listen to right now!

You can listen to Jay Wadley's "Forgive Me" below, and we also have the full track listing with additional details! To learn more about the digital release of Heart Eyes—Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, visit:

https://lnk.to/heart-eyes

From the Press Release: Lakeshore Records is set to release Heart Eyes--Original Motion Picture Soundtrack digitally [on] February 14, featuring music...

Film Editing is often the below-the-line Oscar category most frequently linked to Best Picture, even more since the Academy committed to 10 Best Picture nominations.

All five of this year’s editing nominees also received Best Picture nominations, but only three have corresponding nominations for the film’s director. Four of this year’s five nominees received nominations from the American Cinema Editors (Ace) for the Ace Eddies, which have been delayed until March 14 due to the fires in Los Angeles. Noticeably missing from those nominations was The Brutalist, despite being nominated by the Academy editing branch.

According to the Gold Derby odds, Conclave would win this category, with The Brutalist close behind. However, this might be a more difficult category to pick. In the past, there have been unexpected winners, like Bohemian Rhapsody and The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo. In 2022, Coda was a rare Best Picture winner that wasn’t nominated for its editing.

Lin-Manuel Miranda hoped to play a minor role in the film adaptation of Wicked but his casting request was denied, he said during a Monday appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

“In the opening number of the show, this one munchkin runs out and goes, ‘Is it true you were her friend?’ Because, man, I don’t know if you’ve seen a live production of Wicked, but sometimes they really put some sauce on the ball when they deliver that line,” Miranda told Colbert.

The Wicked director...

After Lin-Manuel Miranda collaborated with director Jon M. Chu on the 2021 movie musical “In The Heights,” the pair almost worked together on 2024’s biggest Broadway adaptation: “Wicked.”

During a recent appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” Miranda explained that he had his eye on the role of a munchkin who delivers a critical line in the opening scene of “Wicked.”

“In the opening number of the show, this one munchkin runs out and goes, ‘Is it true you were her friend?’ Because, man, I don’t know if you’ve seen a live production of ‘Wicked,’ but sometimes they really put some sauce on the ball when they deliver that line,” Miranda said.

He continued, “It’s where the story starts. So I was like, ‘I really wanted to do that line, Jon.’ And I was not cast.”

Miranda admitted that “it would’ve been distracting” to see...

Lin-Manuel Miranda is opening up about why he was ultimately not cast in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Wicked.

Jon M. Chu directed the movie musical, the filmmaker Miranda had worked with on the film version of In The Heights in 2021.

“This has gotten blown away out of proportion,” Miranda told Stephen Colbert on The Late Show.

The CBS late-night talk show host joked, “And we’re going to continue to do that right now.”

Miranda explained, “In the opening number of the show, this one munchkin runs out and goes, ‘Is it true you were her friend?’ Because, man, I don’t know if you’ve seen a live production of Wicked, but sometimes they really put some sauce on the ball when they deliver that line.”

“It’s where the story starts,” Miranda continued. “So I was like, ‘I really wanted to do that line, Jon.

Jon M. Chu's musical "Wizard of Oz" riff "Wicked," based on the pop-u-lar Broadway musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, wasn't terribly well-reviewed in the pages of /Film, cited by this author as being a mushy mess, led by two weirdly dispassionate lead performances from Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The review pondered why Chu, who ordinarily can make exciting, energetic musicals like "Step Up 3D" and "In the Heights," decided to let himself be upstaged by busy production design and dull, eternally retreaded fantasy mythology.

My review, however, is certainly the outlier on "Wicked." On January 23, Chu's film was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress (for Erivo), Best Supporting Actress (for Grande), and Best Production Design. The film was also generally well-reviewed, earning an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes (based on 380 reviews). Most importantly, the massive cult of Broadway devotees flocked to see Chu's film version,...

Going into this year’s Grammys, each of the six nominees for Best Musical Theater Album has its own distinct advantages, from involvement of previous nominees/winners to encouraging statistics. So let’s consider the possibilities.

The frontrunner to win based on the official Gold Derby odds is Hell’s Kitchen. It’s a jukebox musical mining the song catalog of Alicia Keys, who also wrote a few original tunes for the show. Jukebox musicals in general tend to be catnip for voters in this category as they contain material voters are familiar with. Previous champs include Jersey Boys, which used the songs of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons; American Idiot, an adaptation of Green Day‘s eponymous 2004 concept album; Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, which featured Carole King‘s song catalog; and Jagged Little Pill, an adaptation of Alanis Morissette‘s 1995 album.

Keys has plenty of bona fides.

There is fun to be done! Warner Bros. Pictures Animation’s film adaptation of the Dr. Seuss book “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” will release on March 17, 2028 in IMAX.

Jon M. Chu and Jill Culton are directing the film from writer Rob Lieber’s screenplay. J.J. Abrams produces through his Bad Robot Banner alongside Gregg Taylor.

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul are writing original songs for the film, based upon Dr. Seuss’ final book.

Studio sources indicate that the film is a high priority project for the studio, and is being made in collaboration with Dr. Seuss Enterprises. The book is the blueprint for a globetrotting animated musical following a young adventurer as they journey through the joys and heartaches and the peaks and valleys of life.

Chu’s film adaptation of “Wicked” just earned ten Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. The follow-up, “Wicked: For Good,” is due out this November.

Michelle Yeoh is opening up about the close-knit Wicked cast.

The 62-year-old actress appeared on The View, where she spoke about the blockbuster musical’s 10 overall nominations ahead of the 2025 Oscars.

Joy Behar asked if she and fellow stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande had a chance to connect following the nominations announcement.

Keep reading to find out more…

“Yes! We are all crying for joy,” she said.

“But, we must say we are also crying because Jon M. Chu, Alice Brooks — our Dp — were not nominated, but the rest of us are celebrating. Best Picture, costumes, hair!”

Sunny Hostin added that the film is “fantastic,” while Ana Navarro referenced the snubs.

“This is the second time they’ve passed over Jon Chu. He should’ve been nominated for In the Heights,” she said, with Michelle responding: “Yes, I agree with you!”

Find out who else was snubbed at the Oscars.

When it was first announced that Jon M. Chu, the director behind movies like "Crazy Rich Asians" and "In the Heights," would adapt Stephen Schwartz's hit Broadway musical "Wicked," news broke shortly thereafter that the movie would be split into two parts. On some level, it does make sense to split "Wicked" in half, giving it a cinematic two-act structure that mimics the stage version. With all of that said the movies were originally called "Wicked: Part One" and "Wicked: Part Two," and Part One soared into theaters in November 2024, crushing the box office and earning rave reviews from critics. Then, in December of that year, Chu revealed that the second part of the epic film will actually be called "Wicked: For Good," taking its title from an earnest duet sung by Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo) and her best friend turned political enemy Glinda the Good Witch (Ariana Grande-Butera) in the show's second act.

Michelle Yeoh said the Wicked cast is celebrating but also “crying” after the 2025 Oscar nominations were revealed.

The actress, who played Madame Morrible in the movie musical, stopped by The View on Thursday, where panelist Joy Behar asked if she had yet to connect with her fellow castmembers after Wicked earned 10 noms earlier in the morning.

Among the film’s nominations were best picture, Cynthia Erivo for best actress, Ariana Grande for best supporting actress, best costume design and best original score. However, Jon M. Chu was shut out of the directing category.

“Yes! We are all crying for joy,” said Yeoh, who previously won an Oscar for her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once. “But, we must say we are also crying because Jon M. Chu, Alice Brooks — our Dp — were not nominated, but the rest of us are celebrating. Best picture, costumes, hair!”

Co-host Ana Navarro later added,...

Update: Real Women Have Curves: The Musical has announced additional members of the production’s Broadway company who will join the previously announced Tatianna Córdoba (Ana) and Justina Machado (Carmen). Newly announced cast members are Florencia Cuenca (Broadway debut) as Estela, Shelby Acosta (1776) as Prima Flaca, Carla Jimenez (Broadway debut) as Pancha, Aline Mayagoitia (Broadway debut) as Itzel, Mason Reeves (Broadway debut) as Henry, Jennifer Sánchez (Elf) as Rosalí, Sandra Valls (Broadway debut) as Prima Fulvia, and Quincy Hampton, Zeus Mendoza, Claudia Mulet, Christopher M. Ramirez, Monica Tulia Ramirez, Shadia Fairuz, Elisa Galindez, and Omar Madden.

Casting for the role of Raúl will be announced at a later date.

Previous, January 16: Justina Machado and Broadway newcomer Tatianna Córdoba have been cast as the leads in the upcoming Broadway production Real Women Have Curves: The Musical, producers announced today.

Justina Machado is heading back to Broadway!

The One Day at a Time and Six Feet Under actress has joined the cast of the upcoming show Real Women Have Curves: The Musical in the role of Carmen Garcia.

The new musical is based on the beloved movie of the same name, which was actually based on a stage play by Josefina Lopez.

In Real Women Have Curves, it’s the summer of 1987 and Ana Garcia dreams of flying away from East Los Angeles. But when her family receives a make-or-break order for 200 dresses, Ana finds herself juggling her own ambitions, her mother’s expectations, and a community of women all trying to make it work against the odds.

Broadway newcomer Tatianna Córdoba will make her debut starring as ambitious high school senior Ana Garcia, the role that America Ferrera played in the 2002 movie.

Keep reading to find out more…

Justina...

The overlap of awards season with a fire season has posed a stern test of Hollywood fortitude. Will there be shelf space for statuettes?

If Hollywood needs some optimism I’d propose it look to Jon M. Chu, who has contributed both a sharp, but unnoticed, new book plus a hit movie to advance his mission. His Wicked won the Cinematic and Box Office Achievement honor at the Golden Globes, but the kudo crowd also owes Chu a bow for his memoir Viewfinder, which poses his dissent on current issues.

Viewfinder details the hazardous trek of a young Chinese-American filmmaker seeking to pursue his zeal for pure “entertainment” in an industry that periodically seems disdainful of that concept.

As he preps his Wicked sequel at Universal, Chu, at 46, can look back upon a formidable list of snubs, slaps, cancellations and ethnic putdowns littering his younger years.

Deadline Related Video:

The...

After watching Wicked, fans will want to check out the two movies that helped pave the way for Jon M. Chu’s highly anticipated adaptation of Stephen Schwartz’s beloved Broadway musical. Reviews for Wicked praise the director’s glamorous and affecting theatrical vision which, paired with its visuals, costumes, acting, and musical performances, is perfectly suited for the big screen. Chu’s experience directing another acclaimed Broadway cinematic adaptation explains his skill in creating choreographed scenes that palpate with emotion in Wicked.

Additionally, Chu’s major romantic comedy hit from seven years ago displayed popping visuals, larger-than-life characters, witty dialogue, and plenty of heart — all of which are masterfully used again by Wicked and its cast. Both movies demonstrate the creator’s ambition to direct universally resonant stories told from unfavored points of view, acting as the right stepping stone before Wicked’s tear-inducing ending and darker sequel setup.

Wicked fans may have been mourning their beloved film after Sunday’s Golden Globes, where it only won one of the four awards for which it was nominated, but the movie adaptation of the Broadway musical was the toast of the town in New York on Tuesday night.

At the 2025 National Board of Review Awards, Wicked was honored with best film, best director (Jon M. Chu) and a special award for the collaboration between stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

The accolades, which NBR announced in early December, were presented, as is customary at the gala at New York’s Cipriani 42nd Street, via star-studded introductions and extended speeches from each of this year’s honorees.

Lin-Manuel Miranda honored his In the Heights director Chu, and Yeoh paid tribute to her Wicked co-stars Erivo and Grande. But NBR saved arguably the most star power for the end of the night,...

Jon M. Chu is assuring fans that Britney Spears will be “very involved” in the adaptation of her bestselling 2023 memoir “The Woman in Me.”

Chu told Entertainment Tonight that the mega-star will definitely be part of the production for his upcoming Universal film, which is based on Spears’ life. “La La Land” and Broadway producer Marc Platt is also producing the big-screen adaptation.

“She’s going to be very involved,” Chu said of Spears. “I haven’t really started anything fully yet. But she will be very involved in this. I have ideas and things of an approach, but it’s very, very early.”

However, there has not been anyone cast yet as singer Spears.

“I’ve seen all the fan casting, I’ve seen all that stuff, and I always take those into consideration because maybe there’s a good idea out there,” Chu said. “But we’ll have to see.

“Follow the Yellow Brick Road” isn’t stopping anytime soon.

That’s because at the Golden Globe Awards Red Carpet Pre-Show at the Beverly Hilton, Ariana Grande donned an unworn vintage 1966 Givenchy Haute Couture dress. Grande told Marc Malkin, Variety‘s Senior Culture & Events Editor, that the dress’ color is inspired by the iconic song from “The Wizard of Oz,” the 1939 musical for which “Wicked” serves as a prequel.

“It’s yellow because of ‘Follow the Yellow Brick Road,'” Grande explains. “It’s one of Glinda’s favorite colors and here we are.”

The pale yellow silk dress with a hand-beaded bodice was purchased from Rita Watnick-lily et Cie and came from the collection of an “old school studio head’s wife,” according to Watnick.

Original sketch for the Givenchy gown

“Wicked” is nominated for four Golden Globes, including Grande for Best Supporting Actress, Cynthia Erivo for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy,...

Musical movies have an extremely variable track record when it comes to box office and critical reviews. 2024 was a good year for the movie musical just based on one film alone: Wicked. An adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical of the same name, Wicked received rave reviews, and has been considered a frontrunner for Oscar nominations. The film has also done tremendously well at the box office, making over $648 million and counting. This positions the musical as the no. 6 movie of the year at the worldwide box office at the time of writing.

Not all movie musical, unfortunately, have had the same fervent support as Wicked had this year. Even movies adapted from incredibly popular Broadway musicals can flounder, as evidenced by the critically panned box office flop Dear Evan Hansen in 2021, which grossed a mere $19.1 million worldwide. Wicked director Jon M. Chu's own In the Heights also struggled...

Seeing Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in action is a remarkable study in contrasts. Even after months of their omnipresence on social media and TV screens — as fans have consumed every morsel of the ongoing press tour for their film “Wicked,” in which tears have been shed — it’s hard not to be mesmerized as the London-born theater actor and the Boca Raton-born pop singer, newly minted co-stars, pose for photographs in a New York City studio in early December. Erivo is stoic, silent, channeling the power of her character Elphaba, though once she’s off-camera she lets loose watching her director Jon M. Chu take solo shots: “Give me Calvin Klein, Jon!” she shouts. “C’mon, profile! Work!” And on cue, Chu grows half an inch taller, straightening his spine and adjusting the tilt of his chin.

Grande, on the other hand, seems never to stop singing, harmonizing to...

‘Wicked’ director Jon M. Chu demanded Ariana Grande prove she could “overcome” her pop star image before she was cast as Glinda.The 31-year-old singer stars opposite Cynthia Erivo as the ‘Good Witch’ in the musical blockbuster, though Chu, 45, insisted he would only consider Grande for the role if she could demonstrate she could put her pop star persona aside for the part.The filmmaker told Deadline: “[She] had to overcome the Ariana Grande image in order to do it. And I know how hard it is. “I’ve seen actors who do their first lead in a movie, and that’s not easy. That also takes skills and that takes actual craftsmanship. That experience can happen.”While her audition process was a challenge, the ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ director said Grande ultimately won the role of Glinda after demonstrating she “understood the nuance of the character”.He said: “Every time she came in,...

“Wicked” is everywhere.

Since debuting at Thanksgiving, the movie, an adaptation of the blockbuster musical, has earned more than $635 million at the global box office and earned four Golden Globe nominations and eleven Critics’ Choice Award nominations (including Best Picture). It just debuted on digital platforms, too, so if you have someone in your house that is a “Wicked”-head, you’re going to be hearing “Defying Gravity” even more often than before.

And now you can go behind-the-scenes of the movie with a brand-new featurette dedicated to the movie’s director Jon M. Chu. You can watch it below.

“I think back to the moment I first saw ‘Wicked,’ when it was being workshopped in San Francisco 20 years ago. I had a very personal family connection to it watching it with my mother and I was so blown away to learn the backstory of the Wicked Witch. It felt so relevant event back then,...

Universal’s “Wicked” is officially the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation in global box office history, overtaking 2008’s “Mamma Mia” to notch the harmonious milestone.

“Wicked” has generated $634 million worldwide after six weeks of release while “Mamma Mia” amassed $611 million (not adjusted for inflation) by the end of its box office run. “Wicked,” starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, has earned $424 million domestically and, weeks ago, surpassed 1978’s “Grease” ($188.62 million) as the biggest Broadway adaptation at the domestic box office. These benchmarks are good news for Universal since the second half of the big-budget musical, “Wicked: For Good,” opens in 2025. This record is also notable because it bucks the recent trend of underseen stage-to-screen remakes, including 2023’s “The Color Purple” and 2021’s “West Side Story,” “Dear Evan Hansen” and “In the Heights.”

Meanwhile, Paramount’s “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” cemented a franchise record with $74 million in its international box office debut, the...

After the box-office success of musicals like Wicked and Moana 2, Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical collaboration with Eisa Davis on a remix of The Warriors should be the next Miranda film adaptation. 2024 has been a good time for movie musicals, with plenty of successes found on the big screen. Even beyond the historic heights of Wicked and Moana 2, films as diverse as Emilia Pérez, Spellbound, Mean Girls, Joker: Folie à Deux, The End, and Mufasa: The Lion King highlight how versatile and varied the genre has proven to be in modern film.

This leaves the door open for plenty of other big musical adaptations, with other upcoming movie musicals set to make their mark at the box office. However, one of the most exciting prospects that currently doesn't have a movie planned actually has an established cinematic history. Lin-Manuel Miranda's 2024 musical collaboration with Eisa Davis reimagined the 1979 film as a...

L to R: Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba and Ariana Grande is Glinda in Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu

Ring in the New Year with the grand cinematic triumph Wicked.! After setting the record for the biggest opening for a movie based on a Broadway show ever and nominated for four Golden Globes® including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, the thrillifying, must-have musical adaptation will be available exclusively on digital platforms to own or rent in time to celebrate New Year’s Eve on December 31, 2024, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

Having cast a captivating spell on film audiences around the world, the film has earned Certified Fresh and Verified Hot designations on Rotten Tomatoes and a wickedly stunning “A” CinemaScore. Experience the magic of the spellbinding film with a dazzling bonus Sing-Along version, a 40-minute journey through Oz that celebrates the film’s transformative on-screen magic, deleted & extended scenes...

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has announced the Wicked Digital, 4K Uhd, Blu-ray and DVD release details. The film’s Peacock streaming debut has not yet been announced.

After setting the record for the biggest opening for a movie based on a Broadway show ever and being nominated for four Golden Globes including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, the musical adaptation will be available exclusively on digital platforms to purchase or rent in time to celebrate New Year’s Eve on December 31, 2024.

Having cast a captivating spell on film audiences worldwide, the film has earned Certified Fresh and Verified Hot designations on Rotten Tomatoes and a wickedly stunning “A” CinemaScore. You’ll be able to experience the magic of the spellbinding film with a dazzling bonus Sing-Along version, a 40-minute journey through Oz that celebrates the film’s transformative on-screen magic, deleted & extended scenes and more.

On Dec. 31, the Wicked...

The DC Universe has a unique opportunity ahead of it. After a decade of DC films with mixed reception, the franchise is receiving a reboot with an all-new creative team, helmed by James Gunn and Peter Safran. The previous iteration, called the DC Extended Universe, kicked off with Zack Snyder's Man of Steel in 2013. While fan reception of the film was somewhat accepting, the darker, more realistic take on Superman it offered created a shaky foundation for the rest of the series.

Additionally, the Dceu jumped straight from a solo Superman film to the crossover Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, which had the lofty job of introducing Batman and Wonder Woman as well as teasing the rest of the Justice League. That movie largely set the tone moving forward. Some entries in the Dceu were good, and some were not so good. A lot of them left dangling...

Wicked raised the bar for musical films with its successful theatrical run, becoming one of the best movies of 2024 and one of the highest-grossing movies of the year. Wicked's box office success could lead to more musical films premiering in theaters in the near future. One groundbreaking Broadway hit that should receive a film adaptation is Lin-Manuel Miranda's 2015 musical Hamilton, which depicts the life of Alexander Hamilton and his impact on American history.

While Wicked has been around on Broadway far longer than Hamilton, the latter's popularity and high quality demands a big-budget film adaptation on par with director Jon M. Chu's vision of Wicked. It has already displayed its blockbuster potential on Disney+ with 2020's Hamilton film, so combined with Wicked's stellar performance in theaters, a film adaptation of Miranda's musical is all but guaranteed at this point.

Wicked's Performance Increases The Chances Of...

Lin-Manuel Miranda is not throwing away his shot to make the perfect “Hamilton” movie.

“I’ve always said I’m open to it, if I hear a director with a great take,” Miranda told Variety during an interview for his latest film “Mufasa: The Lion King.”

“I already have an amazing production of the one we made on Broadway [which debuted on Disney+ in 2020],” he continued. “I’m really happy that exists and that we’re able to share it with the world. But if someone’s got an idea, holla at me.”

But since “Wicked” soared to the top of the box office, Miranda concedes, “I have weirdly gotten more questions about it.”

Of course, there’s a link here — “Wicked” director Jon M. Chu also helmed “In The Heights,” the 2021 big-screen adaptation of Miranda’s first Broadway musical. The 2008 production, in which Miranda wrote the music and lyrics and starred, was...

The movie musical is hard not to love as a genre, with dynamic dance numbers, moving songs, and familiar characters who fans will remember from the staged versions. Hollywood has recently embraced movie musicals, finding success with them at the box office, such as Jon M. Chu's Wicked, or Oprah Winfrey's The Color Purple.

However, the movie musical has been popular for many decades, with several becoming classics, surpassing even the legacy of their original theater shows. One of the main recipes for success in these musicals is their large music numbers that specifically stand out to audiences. For example, "Dancing Queen" in Mamma Mia! and "Carnival Del Barrio" in In The Heights, are exciting ensemble moments that paint colorful depictions of both communities in their prospective films. Whether they be large, upbeat ensemble numbers, or smaller emotional songs that move audiences, these standout movie musical moments help...

For Myron Kerstein, whose work on Lin-Manuel Miranda’s feature debut Tick, Tick… Boom! earned him a 2022 Oscar nomination for best editing, cutting a musical number is no different than any other scene in a movie. With Wicked, the editor’s third collaboration with director Jon M. Chu (following Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights), Kerstein had roughly 250 hours of footage to assemble into the two-part adaptation of the long-running and beloved Broadway musical that serves as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz—and honoring both the stage show and the classic 1939 film brought extra challenges to the […]

The post “Musicals Are the Hardest Thing I Could Ever Cut”: Editor Myron Kerstein on Wicked first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.

For Myron Kerstein, whose work on Lin-Manuel Miranda’s feature debut Tick, Tick… Boom! earned him a 2022 Oscar nomination for best editing, cutting a musical number is no different than any other scene in a movie. With Wicked, the editor’s third collaboration with director Jon M. Chu (following Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights), Kerstein had roughly 250 hours of footage to assemble into the two-part adaptation of the long-running and beloved Broadway musical that serves as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz—and honoring both the stage show and the classic 1939 film brought extra challenges to the […]

The post “Musicals Are the Hardest Thing I Could Ever Cut”: Editor Myron Kerstein on Wicked first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.

Harry Houdini was a famous magician and escape artist from the early 1900s, known for his amazing stunts like escaping from handcuffs, locked containers, and underwater traps. Born in 1874 in Hungary, he moved to the U.S. as a child and became famous worldwide for his talent and showmanship.

In addition to magic, Houdini was a skeptic who exposed fake spiritualists and was also involved in aviation and filmmaking. Now, his inspiring story will be turned into a spy thriller film called Becoming Houdini, produced by Scott Sanders and Danny Strong.

The movie will follow the story of young Erik Weisz (Houdini’s real name) as he rises to fame, with a script written by Michael Finch and Alex Litvak, known for John Wick: Chapter 4 and The Three Musketeers.

Not much is known about the plot of Becoming Houdini yet, and no lead actor has been cast, according to Deadline.

It’s the “Semi-Finals” on “The Masked Singer” and the top three were ready to battle it out for the last two spots in the blockbuster finale. The semi-finalists opened the show with a spectacular performance of “Some Nights.” Then, Buffalo, Strawberry Shortcake, and Wasp hit the stage as panelists Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, and Ken Jeong played detective. Were the celebrity sleuths able to guess the masked singers’ identities?

Strawberry Shortcake kicked off the competition with “Lose You to Love Me” by Selena Gomez. Fighting back tears, McCarthy said, “It was beautiful! It was so emotional. Did you guys feel the power in her voice? You are truly a star.” Strawberry Shortcake revealed, “I have learned that I’m resilient and strong. I’m so happy to be here on stage. Those words mean so much to me. I love being on stage, this is what I love to do.

Several directors of photography are in Oscar contention this year after reteaming with a director they had worked with previously. Some lensed $100 million-plus epics, while others shot films with tighter budgets. Whatever their situation, six of this year’s leading DPs gathered on Zoom in October for THR’s annual Cinematographer Roundtable to discuss their paths into the profession, their stance on VFX and the biggest challenges they faced on their projects this year.

The six roundtablists were Maria’s Ed Lachman, who previously worked with Pablo Larraín on El Conde; Gladiator II’s John Mathieson, who lensed the first movie as well as others from Ridley Scott’s filmography; Wicked’s Alice Brooks, whose collaborations with director Jon M. Chu include In the Heights; Emilia Pérez’s Paul Guilhaume, who shot Jacques Audiard’s Paris, 13th District; Dune: Part Two’s Greig Fraser, who, of course, also shot...

“Wicked” choreographer Christopher Scott used to escape to the movies as a kid. When his family moved from Maryland to Los Angeles, Scott would head to the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood to work out his angst.

“I’d take my ticket stub, and they would let me back in, so I paid once, but I saw it probably 10 times,” Scott tells Variety, recalling the summer of 1998 when he religiously watched (and rewatched) “Blade” starring Wesley Snipes. “Any time I was frustrated, I would just go. That was my outlet.”

So, when “Wicked” debuted in theaters last month, Scott strolled back into that famed cinema.

“I could feel my younger self in that theater, dealing with those emotions and remembering how powerful this stuff can really be,” Scott recalls. “This was my sanctuary, and now I’m watching my choreography on screen. And I have a cameo. When I popped up on screen,...

The semifinals have arrived for Season 12 of “The Masked Singer,” meaning that whoever advances on Wednesday night has the chance to win the golden mask. So, who might it be? Jason Derulo? Usher?

Those are at least a few of the guesses that the panelists have for who might be under Wasp’s mask, in TheWrap’s exclusive sneak peek at Wednesday night’s episode. Take a look in the video, below.

Why are these the names that come to mind? Well, in the clip, the Fox panelists are given a clue showing how one of them is connected to the singer under the Wasp mask. In this case, it’s Robin Thicke, as he receives a friendship bracelet that reads: “Nashville.”

“You know, Robin, I had a blast when we painted the town red in Nashville,” Wasp says. “We had such a good time, do you remember?”

However, it...

Lin-Manuel Miranda, who received an Oscar nomination for “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana, opened up about why he didn’t return for its record-breaking sequel, Moana 2.

The award-winning artist sat down with The Hollywood Reporter ahead of the release of Mufasa: The Lion King and explained that it wasn’t a choice between working on the Lion King prequel and Moana 2.

“It didn’t line up that way actually,” he said. “I got the script for Mufasa when I had just finished Encanto, and so I started working on that at the top of ’22. So, Moana 2 was already in process as a TV series with Emily [Bear] and Abigail [Barlow]. So then, when that decision got made to turn that into a movie, they were already cooking.”

Despite not being asked to return for the film, again voice starring Auliʻi Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson, the Hamilton creator...

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...

Suri Cruise and her money are making headlines today.

And Katie Holmes, who rarely speaks out on such matters, is clearing the air on her daughter’s behalf.

The trouble began with a sketchy media report claiming that Suri became a millionaire the day she turned 18.

Katie Holmes and daughter Suri Cruise arrive the opening night premiere of “In The Heights” during the Tribeca Festival at the United Palace Theatre on June 9, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Angela Weiss/Afp via Getty Images) Wild Claim About Suri Cruise’s Money Makes Headlines

The report alleged that once she became a legal adult, Suri gained access to a sizable trust fund created by her father, Tom Cruise.

The news came as a surprise to many, as Tom reportedly hasn’t seen Suri in several years.

But on Sunday, Katie took to Instagram and set the record straight with a rare post about her personal life.

Jon M. Chu’s Wicked is already proving to be one of the most important and popular releases of 2024 so far, but it’s not the first time that the successful director has benefited from a major box office hit. The Wizard of Oz prequel takes place many years before the original story, following the intersecting lives of two witches, Elphaba and Glinda, as they uncover a sprawling conspiracy in the Emerald City. Wicked seems to be 2024’s big commercial hit, with the film’s success triggering many viewers to return to Chu’s earlier catalog.

There are countless reasons for Wicked’s success, ranging from factors as precise as an extensive marketing campaign to simpler reasons like the quality of performances and universality of the story’s themes. It’s a narrative that audiences have been attached to ever since the Broadway production started more than 20 years ago, and...

Melissa Barrera and WME have parted ways.

Barrera is no longer with the agency following the star’s decision to exit, a source tells The Hollywood Reporter. She remains represented by management firm Sugar23, Imprint PR and law firm Gang Tyre.

The actress starred earlier this year alongside Kathryn Newton and Dan Stevens in Universal Pictures’ vampire movie Abigail from co-directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett.

The filmmaking duo also directed Barrera in 2022’s Scream and its follow-up Scream VI. Barrera was fired from the franchise last year following social media posts addressing the Israel-Hamas war.

Reports at the time of her Scream exit suggested that WME was considering dropping Barrera over her stance, but the actress told THR earlier this year that she felt supported by her reps.

“It’s definitely hard, because I was just in such a cloudy state of mind, but I was very fortunate,” she told THR.

Exclusive: Melissa Barrera is no longer with WME.

The actress signed on with talent agency around 2019 as her feature career was taking off with a big role in Jon M. Chu and Warner Bros’ feature take of Broadway musical In the Heights.

The actress remains represented Sugar 23 management, ImPRint and Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman.

Deadline understands that Barrera herself decided to exit WME. The decision comes a little more than a year after she was dropped from the upcoming Scream VII by Spyglass Media over her social media posts about the Israel-Hamas conflict. Spyglass perceived the actress’ posts as antisemitic. Barrera responded to the firing on her Instagram Stories, exclaiming “First and foremost I condemn Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. I condemn hate and prejudice of any kind against any group of people.” Barrera was part of a big reboot of the Dimension horror comedy franchise with Scream in...

Wicked has taken home a major prize in the early days of the 2024-2025 awards season. The new movie musical, which was directed by Jon M. Chu, is based on the Broadway show of the same name, which in turns adapts Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel telling the origin story of The Wizard of Oz's Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba. The Wicked cast includes Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Ariana Grande-Butera as Glinda, Jonathan Bailey as the charismatic prince Fiyero, Michelle Yeoh as the sorceress Madame Morrible, and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard of Oz.

Per Variety, Wicked has been named the Best Film of the year by the National Board of Review. It won a total of two awards, as Jon M. Chu was also awarded Best Director. Additionally, Ariana Grande-Butera and Cynthia Erivo were given the NBR Spotlight Award for their "creative collaboration." As this Best Film award...

Stars: Melissa Barrera, Tommy Dewey, Edmund Donovan, Meghann Fahy, Kayla Foster | Written and Directed by Caroline Lindy

What happens if you fall in love with the monster under your bed? That’s the question posed by darkly funny fantasy rom-com Your Monster, the debut feature from writer-director Caroline Lindy.

Melissa Barrera stars as Laura Franco, a wannabe actress who’s dumped by her theatre director boyfriend Jacob (Edmund Donovan) while she’s recovering from surgery after cancer. Devastated, Laura returns to her childhood home, where she’s shocked to discover that Monster (Tommy Dewey), the creature she once saw under her bed as a child, still lives there.

Things quickly go from bad to worse for Laura – in addition to Monster gruffly giving her two weeks to leave the house, she finds out that Jacob has started production on a Broadway musical they developed together and, worse, has offered the...