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.

[Source via ONTD!]