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There have long been talks of taking Wicked from stage to screen and the popular Broadway musical is finally being adapted into a two-part feature film. Derived from The Wizard of Oz and based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, it tells the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West. By changing the audience’s original perception of Elphaba and revealing the details of her past, Wicked transforms one of cinema’s most notable villains into the ultimate underdog.
The cast of the musical has changed several times over the years. However, Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel played the original duo when the show first opened in 2003. Now the baton is being passed to Cynthia Erivon and Ariana Grande, who will be taking on the lead roles in Wicked’s latest adaption. In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Cynthia Erivo opens up about playing Elphaba and all the preparation required for the part. Here’s what she had to say:
Cynthia Erivo: Oh, there’s a lot that goes into it. You might see me working out a lot on my Instagram, and that is a real thing, because I need to keep my brain and my body super-focused. I have a wonderful vocal coach who is the most helpful woman I could possibly wish for, and she’s been doing this with me.
There’s the conversations that we’ve been having, both with myself and Ariana and with myself and the director. Even the costume designer; hair and makeup. It’s a really collaborative effort to create these women in this world, and that’s how we’ve been prepping for it.
We’re in it right now; we’re deep in it. We’re making it, and every little detail is thought about. Every moment is thought about, and I’m so excited for people to get their eyes on it once it’s done. I think it’s gonna be really special. It’s definitely been special to me, and we’ve had some really wonderful moments doing it.
What We Know About Wicked: Part One
While many details are still under wraps, director Jon M. Chu recently gave a taste of what’s to come when he responded to fan questions in a Twitter thread. Chu tweets that the cast is “mind-blowing,” which is no surprise given the line-up. In addition to Erivon and Grande, a number of talented performers will be featured in the film.
Produced by Marc Platt Productions and Universal Studios, the main cast will also include Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard of Oz, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, and Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero. Bowen Yang will play the role of Pfannee, with Keala Settle as Miss Coddle. Bronwyn James, Ethan Slater, Colin Michael Carmichael, Marissa Bode, and Aaron Teoh Guan Ti are also set to appear.
The decision to split the feature into two parts has been met with mixed reactions. Although many fans worry that it will disrupt the narrative, there are also ways a two-part release could benefit the onscreen adaptation. Part one is set to release on December 25th, 2024, with part two debuting a year later on December 25th, 2025. A theatrical release has not yet been confirmed, but given the film’s demand, it’s likely that viewers will have the option to see Wicked on the big screen when the time comes.
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