Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande star in director Jon M Chu’s new musical adaptation. Take a look at the new Wicked trailer.
Jon M. Chu’s Wicked is one of this year’s most awaited film musicals. Starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, Chu’s film is adapted from the hugely popular, and rather good, stage musical. Recently, Chu also confirmed that the film would use live vocals, which isn’t surprising as both Grande and Erivo have pretty good pipes for this sort of thing.
The story proved too big for a single film, so Chu and writer Winnie Holtzman have divided it into two parts. We assume the first part will adapt the musical’s first act while Wicked Part Two will do justice to the second act, but don’t quote us on that.
A new trailer has just landed online as well, albeit not on a broomstick. It shows a goat teacher, an ape with wings (nothing to do with Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes as far as we know) and Erivo’s Elphaba embarcing her true identity.
Wicked is heading into cinemas 27th November, while Wicked Part Two will follow a year later, 25th November.
Take a look at the new Wicked trailer.
Our original story follows…
12th February, 2024: During Sunday night’s Super Bowl, viewers were treated to an array of trailers and among them, the first look at Jon M Chu’s Wicked. Or at least, Part One.
It was reported a while back that Wicked, based on the hit Broadway musical, would be arriving in two parts. Part One will hit in November this year while Part Two will debut in 2025.
Take a look at the first Wicked trailer.
Throughout the promo, Chu is teasing Defying Gravity, the most famous song out of the stage version and perhaps one of the catchiest and most iconic Broadway songs ever written. Idina Menzel – Elsa from Frozen and Maureen from RENT – originated the role of Elphaba back in 2003.
The story follows the green-skinned Elphaba as she arrives at university and meets Glinda. The two would later be known as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda The Good Witch – but how we got there is quite the story.
Cynthia Erivo plays Elphaba, while pop star Ariana Grande is channelling her inner good witch as Glinda. The starry cast also includes Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey and Ethan Slater. Keala Settle will also appear in a completely new character, created solely for the film.
Here’s a proper, official plot synopsis:
Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart.
The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
Wicked: Part One is in cinemas 27th November.
