A big-screen version of the hit musicalWickedhas been in development almost as long as the stage production has been in existence, but finally, it appeared to gain a solid footing late last year with an announcement thatAriana GrandeandCynthia Erivohad been cast in the lead roles of Glinda and Elphaba respectively. Director Jon M. Chu has now shared a few snippets of information about the audition process, noting that no one was “given a free pass” and the auditions of both leading ladies brought him to tears and directly led to their casting.It has been over a decade since a possible movie adaptation of Wicked was first announced, with many discussions about who would possibly take on the roles made famous on stage by Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel. For many reasons, from directorial changes, scripting delays and no one seemingly wanting the job of bringing the super-successful show to the screen, the film has been stuck in limbo for so long it seemed destined to become a “what could have been.” However, inNovember the casting announcementsseem to have set the musical movie on course for a big screen release next year.Now Chu has further fueled expectations that this time the film is on the right track by discussing the casting process that led to Grande and Erivo getting the coveted roles on Twitter, including some screenshots providing background on the auditions. The director, who recently worked on In The Heights, also gave a strong hint that production on the movie would be getting underway soon. In the tweet he said, “Facts on the #WickedMovie Casting. EVERYONE had to audition. Nobody had a free pass. And each had compelling, personal takes on these characters. I wish I could show you the footage. It is ridiculously moving, but I’ll get it on camera for the movie for you to experience soon.”
Wicked Can Become One of The Biggest Screen Musicals Ever Released
The confirmation of Grande and Erivo’s casting was just the catalystWickedneeded to give fans the hope that they will finally be getting to see the musical adapted to the big screen.Wickedis based the novel of the same name, which in turn is based on characters fromThe Wizard of Oz,and tells the story of the friendship between Glinda (The Good Witch) and Elphaba (The Wicked Witch of the West) in the years before the story of Dorothy Gale’s trip to Oztakes place.
The musical has been a sensation around the world, and continues to be one of the most popular stage productions currently running. If the movie is done right, there is every chance that it could become one of the biggest stage-to-screen musical adaptations ever released. There is no doubting the singing credentials of their lead stars, both of which have had experience in acting on stage and screen. While there are currently no other details about who else could be cast in the movie in the supporting roles, it is almost sure thatWickedwill finally be defying gravity on the big screen in the next couple of years.
