How’s this for amazing news … Playbill.com is reporting that the wildly successful (and absolutely amazing) Broadway musical Wicked is going to be making the transition to the big screen. Much like Chicago, Hairspray and most recently Mama Mia! before it, Wicked is in the process of being adapted into a movie. This new production will be handled by Marc Platt Productions for Universal Pictures:
Marc Platt has extended his contract with Universal Pictures for five years, according to Variety. Marc Platt Productions currently has several projects of interest to theatre plans in the works, including a film version of the international hit Wicked, a remake of the 1973 Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice film “Jesus Christ Superstar” and a new motion picture about the life of the late composer George Gershwin. Universal Pictures production president Donna Langley told the industry paper, “Our goal now is absolutely to make the Wicked film, but much like Judy Craymer wouldn’t give up screen rights to Mamma Mia! until the stage show had reached its pinnacle, Marc and Stephen Schwartz are very mindful of the right timing. But we’re dying to do it.” Platt told Variety that he and Wicked co-producer David Stone are currently in “early movie talks” with the studio. Winnie Holzman, who penned the Tony-nominated book for Wicked, will write the film’s screenplay. No casting has been mentioned.
Hot damn! This could either rule the world or suck hardcore. My guess is that they are going to go after the original Broadway stars to reprise their roles as Elphaba (Idina Menzel) and Glinda the Good (Kristin Chenoweth) but I would DIE if Megan Hilty was able to play Glinda in the movie version. She is such an amazing Broadway actress — I contend that she would be the best person to play Glinda. In any event, I hope that the producers do the story justice … it’s a great musical, it can be an amazing movie. This is deffo a movie to watch … again, I just hope they do it right.
NNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I cant wai!! =)
seriously, if they get the original cast (like they did in Rent), it could be amazing, seriously AMAZING :)
I hope it does come thru we missed the one on DC last yr because I had the flu
OMG! CANNOT WAIT!
SWEET! i have wanted to see this for such a long time! avoided seeing any clips or what not coz i wanted to see the whole version and it would a movie would prolly be the only way i get to see it. i can’t wait!
OMMMMMMMMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
I went to NYC last summer and saw Wicked and immediately fell in love. I listen to the soundtrack at least weekly and count down the days until I am no longer poor and can afford to go back and see it again. Luckily I will have the movie to tie (tide?) me over!!!!!!!! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS
omg AWESOME!!! i just saw Wicked last week here in Australia and i LOVED IT BEST MUSICAL EVER HOPE THE MOVIE IS AWESOME but hope it doesnt take ten year for it to come to aus!
it sucks because the musical is never going to come to Singapore, but a movie? YAY! *dances around*
I’m with G’s comment. NOOOO.
I’m basically throwing up in my mouth right now. Some of the worst lyrics ever, complete mutilation of a good book, and some shameful performances (really, Norbert, is that your best work? I didn’t think so.)
BOOO!!!
are you kidding, megan hilty? kristen chenowith was amazing! noone could beat her
Haven’t seen the musical, but the book is one of my all time favorites. I wonder if the movie version will be a replica of the musical or an adaptation of just the book. Interesting anyways…I hope they don’t screw it up!!!
How exciting! Baz lurman should produce! If he can make wicked look as whimsical as moulin rouge, it’ll be visually amazing!
I love how they’re making Wicked into a movie. I must say, I just saw a sneak preview of Mamma Mia and it was excellent. I think it reminded the people in the audience who grew up in the 70s of when they were getting it on. They were crazy nostalgic. Gross, huh?!
this should have been done a long time ago. i love wicked! and norbert has the best voice of any fiyero, hands down.
I totally agree with you about Megan Hilty. She was absolutely awesome on Broadway.
i echo the “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!” sentiment!!!
i’m obsessed with all things Wicked, but i can see this going verrryyyy verrryyyyy badly!!!!!! the Rent movie was pretty bad…it’s really tough to translate musicals to the screen, especially something like Wicked, where there are a lot of scenes that are focused entirely on the singer(s), without anything going on in the background. The movie version would have tons of filler during those scenes to keep the audience visually stimulated, like what they had to do in the Rent movie. And that got PANNED by critics.
That being said, if Baz Luhrmann (wow i spelled that right the first time) or Susan Stroman (The Producers) directed it, it might have a fighting chance!
Cheno was great as the original Glinda… however the absolute best Glinda was and still is Megan Hilty. I have watched clips of every single actress who has played that part including UK, Tokyo, and Australia… and Megan IS that part… however… depending on when the movie is made… she may still have contractual obligations to 9 to 5. We’ll see… but they’d better not screw it up!!
Making “Wicked” into a film would definitely be interesting to see. I do agree with everyone else that said it could either be really fabulous or really terrible.
I do think though that one person who commented in regard to the fact that the stage production “ruined” the book, or something to that affect needs to remember, they had to “liven up” the musical, it’s BROADWAY! Many theater goers are tourists/families, so of course it was much “brighter” than the novel. I think you have to take the book as it is, by itself, and the play the same way. It really isn’t fair to compare the two, you know?
Also, I believe the excerpt of this entry has an error. It refers to a “Winnie” someone who wrote the book? Um…wasn’t it Gregory Maguire?
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