It may not be one of the most popular names of all time, but Wicked is a Broadway classic with a strong following, and it’s getting a well-deserved adaptation that will be released in late November 2024. With a cast full of stars, a very creative artistic direction, and even poster-related drama, this movie could introduce the classic to a whole new generation.
And here are five random facts that make Wicked a movie to keep an eye on this autumn.
1. The Wicked Cast Is Star-studded With Big Names
Of course, we all know about Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp and Ariana Grande as Galinda Upland, but the rest of the characters are also played by well-known names like Jeff Goldblum (known for his roles in Jurassic Park and Independence Day) as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Michelle Yeoh (known for her roles in Memoirs of a Geisha and Everything Everywhere All at Once) as Madame Horrible, the Headmistress of Shiz University, and Peter Dinklage (of Game of Thrones and X-Men: Days of Future Past) as the voice of Dr Dillamond, a goat and history professor.
2. It’s An Adaptation Of A Broadway Musical That Was Based On A Novel (That Was Based On Another Movie And Another Novel)
Yes, a bit confusing, but allow us to explain. The incoming 2024 adaptation, directed by Jon M. Chu, is based on the stage play of the same name with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (who also participates in the new adaptation as a lyricist), which is a loose adaptation of the 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, written by Gregory Maguire, based on both the 1939 film adaptation, directed by Victor Fleming, and the 1900 original novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, written by L. Frank Baum. With a pedigree like that, it’s no wonder why it has such a dedicated following.
3. The Trailer Premiered At The “Super Bowl”
During this year’s Super Bowl, attendees had the opportunity to watch the first trailer for the upcoming movie. “The best way to bring folks together is to give them a real good enemy”, Jeff Goldblum’s voice in said, summarizing the film’s main conflict and its themes of social perception and the nature of evil, followed by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in the main roles.
4. The Story Is Divided Into Two Parts
According to Stephen Schwartz, the song ‘Defying Gravity’ was created as a curtain-closing number, and it would be too awkward to continue the story after that point without cutting some parts of it, so it was decided that the movie would be divided in two parts, with one coming out this November, and the second part in the next year.
The team took this opportunity to give the story the breathing room it needs to be as epic as possible.
5. The “Wicked” Poster Had A Controversy
Of course, we’re living in the 2020s and nothing can exist without some sort of controversy. In this case, a couple of weeks back, a Twitter/X user known as midosommar posted a slightly modified version of the official poster, with Elphaba’s eyes hidden behind her hat, making it closer to the 2002 original.
But the film’s protagonist Cynthia Erivo wasn’t thrilled about this, declaring that she was being erased and that the poster was offensive.
While some people supported the actress, including the film’s director Jon M. Chu, it seems that most people took her claims as a bit silly and unnecessarily harsh, with some even calling the whole thing a temper tantrum. Erivo herself recalled her statements a couple of days later, calling it a “human moment” and regretting going public with it.
Are you excited for the premiere of Wicked? Let us know in the comments!