Big Screen Adaptation of the Broadway Musical WICKED to Be Split into Two Films Debuting Christmases 2024 and 2025

The Broadway hit musical Wicked is being adapted for the big screen, and news has now been released that the studio is actually going to split the story into two films. Universal Pictures will release the first Wicked movie on Wednesday, December 25, 2024. The second Wicked movie will be released a year later on Thursday, December 25, 2025.

The films are being directed by Jon M. Chu, who recently directed the film adaptation of the musical In the Heights. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are set to star in the lead roles of Glinda and Elphaba, respectively. A prequel to The Wizard of Oz, Wicked tells the story of everything leading up to Dorothy’s arrival in Oz, with just a touch of overlap. Stephen Schwartz, who penned the music and lyrics to the original Broadway show, is adapting the Wicked screenplay with Winnie Holzman. Marc Platt, who produced the Broadway musical, is producing the film.

Chu released a statement, and said of the decision to split the story into two films:

“As we prepared the production over the last year, it became impossible to wrestle the story of Wicked into a single film without doing some real damage to it. As we tried to cut songs or trim characters, those decisions began to feel like fatal compromises to the source material that has entertained us all for so many years. We decided to give ourselves a bigger canvas and make not just one ‘Wicked’ movie but two! With more space, we can tell the story of ‘Wicked’ as it was meant to be told while bringing even more depth and surprise to the journeys for these beloved characters.”

I’m on board for a two-parter. I think sometimes it has to be done, and I am looking forward to seeing this story adapted in the right way. Are you looking forward to Wicked?

via: Variety