It looks as though Universal Pictures has decided to immediately double-dip when it comes the film version of Wicked as it will be split into two films.
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Universal Pictures has announced that the upcoming film version of Wicked will be released in two parts. The first will hit theaters on Dec. 24, 2024, and the second film will be released on Dec. 25, 2025.
Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights) is directing the films based on the bestselling novel by Gregory Maguire. The book was adapted into a very successful stage musical in 2003. The book was by Winnie Holzman with music by Stephen Schwartz.
The film will star Cynthia Erico as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda.
The story follows the origins of the Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch of the North from the Wizard of Oz, and how they met in college as roommates and became friends before everything fell apart.
Musicals have had a mixed reaction in theaters as of late, so the announcement of Wicked being split came as a bit of a surprise. Unlike some of the other musicals, however, Wicked has been supporting multiple productions at once for years. As of 2016, the Broadway production had broken through $1B in revenue.
