On the evening of February 11, 2024, a Sunday that marked not only the Super Bowl but also a momentous occasion during the halftime show – the surprise release of the trailer for the long-awaited 'Wicked: Part I' film. Derived from the immensely successful Broadway musical of the same name, Wicked narrates the untold prequel story of Oz's witches before Dorothy's arrival. Dive into the details of why this movie has been on our radar 🎞️👇
From an attempted adaptation before the Broadway show even started to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the journey of bringing 'Wicked' to the big screen has been as tumultuous as a farmhouse in a tornado.
The attempt to adapt Gregory Maguire's bestselling novel 'Wicked' into a live-action film took place before the musical adaptation. According to SFGATE, Universal Studios hoped to turn Maguire's novel rights into a live-action film. During the project's development, producer Marc Platt received a 'passionate plea' from composer Stephen Schwartz, leading to the decision to turn it into a musical.
Schwartz recalled, 'It was like a little bell went off in my head.' Upon learning that Universal was already developing an adaptation, Schwartz urged Platt to consider turning the project into a stage musical. After a pre-Broadway preview in San Francisco in 2003, 'Wicked' moved to Broadway and became a cultural phenomenon. Despite its success on stage, they didn't initially consider a film adaptation.
'Wicked' achieved great success in its long Broadway run, becoming a platform for original stars Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. Rumors and speculations about a film version began as early as 2004, before the start of the U.S. touring company. Serious developments started in 2010, with reports that Winnie Holzman and Schwartz, the creators of 'Wicked,' were in talks with potential directors considered by Universal.
It was believed that the 'Wicked' film was finally in the works. However, another musical, 'Cats,' took precedence in scheduling, leading to a temporary suspension of 'Wicked' to make room for the 'Cats' adaptation.
In August 2018, 'Wicked' was reportedly put on hold to accommodate the release of the 'Cats' adaptation by Universal. However, the film adaptation of 'Cats' faced challenges, and 'Wicked' was expected to proceed. Nevertheless, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, production, like many other films, came to a halt. Director Daldry's departure further complicated the film's future.
Deadline reported that 'Wicked' would not be released in 2021, and there was no confirmed release date or progress. The situation worsened with Daldry's departure from the project.
Shortly after, it was revealed that Cynthia Erivo would take on the iconic witch's hat, while Ariana Grande would play the bubble role. The film faced additional challenges due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, but Chu assured audiences that it wouldn't impact the release date. The production of the two-part adaptation was completed in January 2024.
From its initial formation to director changes, delays caused by 'Cats,' the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a strike, it faced numerous obstacles. Viewers must have visited the Wizard of Oz for patience. However, finally, on Super Bowl Sunday 2024, the first trailer was released, promising that Oz's witches would finally fly to the big screen on Thanksgiving Day. And this time, nothing will wash them away!