Wicked Part One, the Broadway musical based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, is finally hitting theaters after nearly two decades. Fans can’t wait to see what filmmaker Jon M. Chu has in store for the film, which already stars a cast from Cats and will be released in November 2024. From the release date and the story to the cast and trailer, here’s everything you need to know about the film.
Who Has Been Cast in Wicked?
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have been cast in the feature film adaptation of Wicked, directed by Chu. In April 2023, director Jon M. Chu published first-look photographs of Grande and Erivo as Glinda and Elphaba, the renowned Wicked Witch of the West. Grande made her Broadway debut at the age of 15 as Charlotte in the play 13. Years later, in 2016, she appeared as Penny Pingleton in Hairspray Live! The singer has always been a fan of Wicked, and in 2013, she performed songs from the musical alongside Mika for the production’s 15th-anniversary special.
What’s the Wicked Plot?
If you’re unfamiliar with the plot, let’s start from the beginning. The play follows two teenage witches: Elphaba, who has a green complexion, and Glinda, who is blonde and lovely. They first dislike one other, but eventually create an odd relationship. The musical begins with their childhood relationship and tells the story of how Elphaba became the Wicked Witch and Glinda became the Good Witch. In reality, Wicked Part One is based on The Wizard of Oz and Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked.
This musical is presently a worldwide success because of its heartfelt portrait of historic friendship and mind-blowing songs like “For Good”, and “Defying Gravity.” Not to mention the breathtaking effects, such as Glinda dropping from the clouds in a sea of bubbles and Elphaba flying on her broom. Wicked is more than simply a new story about two well-known characters; it’s also an incredible megamusical.
When Will the Film Be Released?
Chu said in April 2022 that fans might expect two Wicked films rather than just one. Why? In an Instagram post by Jon M. Chu, he said:
“…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. So 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: Part One as it was meant to be told while bringing even more depth and surprises to the journeys of these beloved characters.”
So, when will the first movie be released? This thrilling movie will be released in two parts. Parts one and two will be released on November 22, 2024, and November 26, 2025, respectively. Wicked’s first teaser trailer aired at the 2024 Super Bowl, then followed by another in August 2024. On September 5, a second trailer was released, providing hungry fans with an even more in-depth look at what’s next. So the wait to witness the most awaited story on the big screen is finally over!
Wrap-Up
Universal Pictures plans to release Wicked: Part One on November 22, 2024, just in time for Thanksgiving weekend. The picture was supposed to be released on December 25th, but it was moved up a month to November 27th to prevent competition with other holiday films. To minimize rivalry with Moana 2, the release date was bumped up five days to November 22. The picture will also be available in IMAX and Dolby Cinema formats, as well as on Peacock, Universal’s streaming service, 45 days after its theatrical premiere.
