They’ve changed directors. For good.
Jon M. Chu has been tapped to direct Wicked, the film adaptation of the Wizard of Oz prequel phenomenon. Best known for Crazy Rich Asians; Chu has also recently steered the upcoming adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s In The Heights, set to open this summer.
Originally slated to be helmed by Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot, The Hours, Netflix’s The Crown), the director’s chair for this big screen Broadway musical became vacant after Daldry had to back out due to other commitments.
Given Daldry’s suspect filmography (which includes the sentimental melodrama Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close), the shift to Chu is an exciting upgrade, especially as it suggests that he’s been hired on the basis of how good In The Heights is.
Chu himself recently became available after backing out of spearheading the Willow series reboot for Disney Plus. It now appears that it was Wicked that wooed him away.
With no cast yet lined up, a filming schedule has yet to be determined, but now with Chu on the broomstick expect Wicked to start defying gravity soon, and at long last.
My Casting Idea for Wicked musical film adaptation, Jo Ellen Pellman as Elphaba, Emma Corrin as Glinda, Harry Styles as Fiyero, Glenn Close as Madame Morrible, Reneé Rapp as Nessarose, John C. Reilly as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Casey Cott as Boq, Hugh Bonneville as Doctor Dillamond,
An inspired mix of choices!
My Casting Idea For film adaptation of Wicked. Rachel Zegler as Elphaba, Olivia Rose Keegan as Glinda, Timothée Chalamet as Fiyero, Olivia Rodrigo as Nessarose, Renée Zellweger as Madame Morrible, John C. Reilly as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Martin Short as Doctor Dillamond, Joshua Bassett as Boq
I Think Hannah Waddingham would be good choice for Madame Morrible In a film adaptation of Wicked.
I Think Sharon Maguire would be Better Choice to direct A film adaptation of Wicked, then Jon M. Chu
My Casting Idea A film adaptation of Wicked. Ella Hunt as Elphaba, Olivia Rose Keegan as Glinda, Thomas Doherty as Fiyero, Emilia Jones as Nessarose, Hannah Waddingham as Madame Morrible, Martin Short as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Keegan-Michael Key as Doctor Dillamond, Jason Gotay as Boq,