It’s been almost two years since it was reported that Britney Spears was working on a biopic based on her memoir The Woman in Me with director Jon M. Chu and producer Marc Platt. Over those years, despite lots of chatter about who could play Spears, there really hasn’t been much movement, though. However, now, after rumors about the film being delayed went around, it took a big and exciting step forward as a great writer was hired to work on an early draft.

Liz Meriwether has been tapped to write an early draft of this Britney Spears biopic, according ot Page Six. She will join the team alongside Chu and Platt, and she will finish the draft the director and producer reportedly started. Again, it will be a book-to-screen adaptation of The Woman in Me, Spears' wildly successful and popular memoir.

Notably, Meriwether has worked on some wonderful projects that make me very excited about this development. First of all, she created New Girl, which is still a beloved comedy that many people watch and rewatch. Also in the TV realm, she was a writer and showrunner for The Dropout and Dying for Sex, both of which are acclaimed miniseries based on true stories that you can stream with a Hulu subscription.

In the realm of film, she wrote and produced the rom-com No Strings Attached, which starred Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher.

Overall, her work proves that she can balance comedy, drama and heart really well, and I think she’s a great person to work on this film. Dying for Sex was one of my favorite shows of 2025, and the way it handled a truly tragic story about a woman with terminal cancer with so much care, tenderness and humor was remarkable. So, I’m hopeful that that level of care and heart can be put into Spears’ biopic.

The Woman in Me features stories about Spears' childhood, growing up famous, her relationships and her conservatorship. So, the film will likely cover the high highs and low lows of her life, and it will take a great team to pull that off. However, I think they do have a team in place who can do just that.

It took a while to get there, though. As I mentioned, it’s been a while since we’ve gotten an update about this movie. Plus, in June, it was reported that Spears’ personal life and struggles were getting in the way of her biopic moving forward. It was claimed by a source who spoke to Star Magazine that “with Britney’s personal struggles continuing, it would be impossible…to film and release a movie.” They went on to claim that the singer needed to “get better” to “re-engage with the project.”

While that was just a rumor, Page Six also claimed that there were reports that “Universal Pictures might’ve been pumping the brakes on the project.” However, this new update clarifies that this film is still very much alive and moving forward.

So, now the wait is really on to see who gets cast to play the iconic singer and what comes of this highly anticipated movie.

Anyone who has contributed to Wicked’s box office success knows the whole experience was absolutely magical. Audiences are completely immersed in the land of Oz and feel like they are attendees at the magical Shiz University. The world feels so real, that it’s easy to forget it all takes place on a carefully constructed film set. Director Jon M. Chu recently pulled back the curtain to give fans a glimpse into one of Wicked’s remarkable film sets: the dorm room. I have to say I’m completely blown away.

In a recent Instagram post shared by Chu, the filmmaker gave kudos to the hundreds of artisans and production designers that made the world of Oz a reality. He emphasized how much work went into the process and how man-made everything was, despite it looking so natural and lived in. Chu drove home that point by sharing the photo of the dorm set, which is heavily constructed and incredibly small compared to how it appears on screen. You can see his post below:

This looks absolutely insane, and it’s hard to comprehend that this is the same cozy bedroom fans saw on the big screen. It also looks so small, with the ceiling of the set grazing the tops of the crew members’ heads. I can’t even imagine how Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were able to execute musical numbers to some of Wicked’s most emotionally impactful songs in such a tight space.

Jon M. Chu also noted that the production had to be logical and practical in the way the sets were constructed because he and the rest of the cast and crew were essentially shooting two films at the same time. The first Wicked movie notably had a number of rooms, set pieces, and characters that all had to feel cohesive. 2025's For Good, which has several 2026 Golden Globe nominations, also has some impressive sets. A lot of thought went into it, and Chu emphasized the amount of hard work his crew did in the caption, saying:

Clearly everything came together. Even though the dorm room was clearly a tiny isolated set that was essentially floating, it still felt so connected to the rest of the set pieces. Even though it was very superficial, this construction also gave the filmmakers a lot of control with the lighting and how the whole thing would be shot. These controlled environments were essential to making Oz seem real, as they allowed the creatives to be detail-oriented and craft a visual language.

I’m endlessly impressed with what the team has accomplished and that the actors were able to still be able to be in touch with their emotions even with so many moving parts around them.

You check out these sets being put to use by checking out Wicked: For Good, which is currently still playing in some theaters nationwide. Fans can also revisit the first Wicked film now with a Prime Video subscription. Additionally, watch the 2026 Golden Globes tonight, January 11 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS to see if For Good earns any awards.

While last year saw Wicked as a clear contender in the awards race, at this point, Wicked: For Good isn’t getting the same kind of attention. Make no mistake, Jon M. Chu's fantastical sequel is still receiving some award nominations, though some governing bodies haven't honored the films' cast and crew. Just recently, Chu himself was snubbed for a major honor as was Cynthia Erivo. Now, Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda, is sharing her thoughts on the nominations her collaborators didn't receive.

In a recent interview with Variety, Grande opened up about her recent focus on acting as she enters a new phase in her career as well as what’s in store for her as an artist. She also discussedWicked: For Good being excluded from several awards this season. For instance, Cynthia Erivo has notably didn't land a nomination from the Screen Actors Guild Awards for her role as Elphaba. Despite this omission, it seems like Grande is tremendously proud of the work her co-star did, and couldn’t gush about her enough:

Wicked: For Good director Jon M. Chu was also not a nominee for the Directors Guild of America award this year. Grande was also generous with her praise of this collaborator as well, and she is clearly happy with the end product that Chu put out there. She said:

It’s important to note that Wicked: For Good hasn’t completely been shut out of awards season. Erivo and Grande were both nominated for Golden Globes for their performances in the film and, even though Erivo didn’t land a SAG nomination, Grande did. Someone could argue that much of this could be attributed to the belief that the second half of Wicked is generally weaker story-wise, and musically and that that prevented the film from reaching the heights of the original.

Despite the Wicked follow-up not being the awards darling that some anticipated, the cast and crew still have a lot to be proud of. As of this writing, the film has grossed over $520 million worldwide, making For Good a box office hit. The movie also seemed to resonate with fans, with many audiences sobbing after in their seats after the film concludes. It also showcases the blindly paired Erivo and Grande's tremendous talents, and they truly give spectacular, emotionally charged performances. In my humble opinion, the two actresses are the highlights of the film.

As for Jon M. Chu, he has officially entered the A-list canon of directors and is attached to splashy projects like Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Hot Wheels. Like the “Dangerous Woman” singer said, her collaborators have a lot to be proud of, even without being up front and center this awards season.

You can see Wicked: For Good now, as it’s still in select theaters nationwide. Fans can also revisit the first Wicked film now with a Prime Video subscription.

The conclusion of Wicked has come and gone from the 2025 movie schedule, but the release of the pair of movies feels like something we’re going to be talking about for years to come – especially for longtime fans of the musical. I just came across Jon M. Chu’s explanation of how Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were paired up, and I had no idea it went down this way.

I’ve definitely heard about how cutthroat auditioning for Wicked was. Amanda Seyfried said she auditioned for the role six times before not getting the role. I can’t imagine how many rounds the movies’ Glinda and Elphaba went through. Check out what the director said about how they decided on the actors as a pairing:

It's wild, isn’t it? I’d expect that Grande and Erivo went through a ton of chemistry tests together before nabbing the roles, but apparently each of them earned their roles separately before being combined into a memorable duo. It sounds like Chu wasn’t quite sure the two would blend, but took a shot in the dark after spending a lot of time on picking each role. As he continued:

John Chu took a chance on a blind pairing, and came up very much in luck with these two actresses. And the fact that the first song they got to duet is “For Good,” feels like the perfect way for their journey together to start. Of course, both of them are huge talents in their own right and are perfect in their respective roles, but their chemistry as friends is so key to Wicked. The director also said this in an interview from TODAY with Jenna & Friends:

The rest is certainly history! The first Wicked movie came out last fall to commercial succes and multiple Oscar nominations (including for Grande and Erivo). The second movie, For Good, led to more mixed feelings among audiences, particularly for its new additions, but that has nothing to do with its leads’ specific talents. (Oh, and the sequel broke some box office records.)

And who can forget some of the iconic press tour moments! From the pair joining forces to method dress at events, to their meme-worthy “holding space” moment, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as a pair are unforgettable. If you’re missing the Wicked movies, you can currently watch the first movie with an Amazon Prime subscription, and/or buy/rent them on your preferred digital platform.

Wicked: For Good ends with a bittersweet goodbye from Elphaba and Glinda, where they go their separate ways to the tune of “For Good.” But soon after, Dorothy dumps a bucket of water on the Wicked Witch, and she presumably melts away. Little does everyone in Oz know that Elphaba didn’t really die; she actually ran away with Fiyero/The Scarecrow. However, I've been wondering: Does Glinda know about her friend's true fate?

That question is never truly answered in one of the biggest movie releases of 2025, leaving the answer up to the audience’s interpretation. Elphaba actress Cynthia Erivo just shared her personal opinion on the fan debate, saying this:

In a new interview with Variety, Erivo revealed she’s in the camp of those who think that Glinda is completely unaware that her friend didn't die at the hands of Dorothy. It’s definitely a more tragic reading of the movie than the other option, but the Wicked star has a good point that it’s perhaps in the best interest of Glinda not to know.

Director Jon M. Chu has also been asked about this aspect of Wicked: For Good, but he chose not to share his own feelings on the ending. He said that he has a “definitive idea” in his head, but prefers “everyone to be able to interpret it how they want to.” If you look at Wicked: For Good at face value, there’s no reason for Glinda to believe Elphaba is alive, considering what she saw and how she reacted after Dorothy poured the water on her. But one could argue that she might have an inkling since she is a powerful witch.

Cynthia Erivo also shared her thoughts on another aspect of the Wicked: For Good ending. In her words:

Erivo said she thinks when she gives Glinda the Grimmerie, the Wicked Witch “doesn’t need the book anymore” because she’s “already in possession of her magic”. It makes for a sweet full-circle moment for Ariana Grande’s character, who has had trouble tapping into her magic since she was a kid. I know one of the biggest surprises for me was Glinda’s stronger character arc in For Good amidst a host of new additions to the hit musical.

Wicked: For Good is in the top 15 highest-grossing movies of the year, with a $475 million worldwide gross, per Box Office Mojo. The sequel may not have been as acclaimed as its predecessor, but it still had a lot of love around it – our Wicked: For Good review gave it 4 out of 5 stars. What Glinda knows or doesn’t know isn’t the only loose end of the movie, but it is kind of fun that the movie starts a conversation about what happens next.

Wicked: For Good was one of the most anticipated films on the 2025 movie schedule, and the sequel to the Broadway adaptation is smashing box office records. The critics seem overall happy with the conclusion to this Ozian tale, and Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are getting their well-deserved flowers. While it’s hard to imagine the film shaking out any other way, director Jon M. Chu recently revealed that he originally had Bowen Yang playing a much more pivotal role in the movie, and he explained why he chose to scrap that plan.

In an interview with EW, the Wicked filmmaker discussed the much more expanded roles Bowen Yang’s Pfannee and Bronwyn James’ ShenShen had in the original iteration of For Good. Apparently, Chu planned on having Pfannee and ShenShen help Glinda distract the guards so she could go visit Elphaba and warn her that the witch hunters were coming after her. Ultimately, their involvement seemed to take away from Glinda’s storyline, and Chu decided to script her solo departure from her castle. He explained:

Ultimately, I think this was the right call. Some audience members were displeased over some of the major additions to the Act 2 storyline in Wicked: For Good, and avoiding straying too far from the beloved text was probably for the best. Also, the movie’s runtime was already pretty long, and adding more would likely detract from Glinda and Elphaba’s central journeys, as Chu said.

However, I do think the sentiment for having Pfannee and ShenShen help the “good guys” in the end would have been a nice one. We see plenty of depictions of the hate and vitriol towards Elphaba in Wicked: For Good. It would have been nice to see more Ozians in support of Elphaba and her cause. Chu explained that involving the two friends of Glinda’s would have shown that there was still some good in Oz, especially within the younger generation. He said:

In addition to the sentiment and world-building involving these two characters in a meaningful way, it would have also been nice to see more of Bowen Yang and Bronwyn James in general. They were fan favorites in the first film, and they served as excellent comic relief, so I was looking forward to the duo reprising their roles in the sequel.

Unfortunately, with this proposed scene cut, Yang and James are barely in the film at all, despite Lorne Michaels letting the comedian fly back and forth to work on both Wicked and SNL. Maybe eliminating them from such an iconic scene was the right call, but fans did miss them in For Good, and hopefully, there's another opportunity to see these two together again on the big screen in the future.

You can see Wicked: For Good now, as the film is currently playing in theaters nationwide. Fans can also revisit the incredibly talented Wicked cast in the original film, as it is available with an Amazon Prime subscription.

Spoilers ahead for Wicked: For Good.

I'm a millennial theater kid, so the Wicked movies have basically been like the Super Bowl for me the last two years. While it remains to be seen if For Good joins the ranks of musicals that have won Best Picture, the sequel has been breaking records at the box office. There's been some debate about whether or not Glinda knows what happened to Elphaba during the movie's finale, and now director Jon M. Chu has weighed in.

While the first Wicked movie (which is streaming with an Amazon Prime subscription) showed Glinda and Elphaba's friendship growing, For Good features a time jump and offers a much more complicated look into that dynamic. At the end of the movie Cynthia Erivo's character is seemingly killed by Dorothy, although it's later revealed that it was a trick so that she and Fiyero could leave Oz and have peace. But poor Glinda seemingly has no clue, and thinks her best friend and ex are both dead. During an interview with Variety, Chu addressed the question about whether or not Grande's character knows they're alive, saying:

In the stage musical it's pretty clear that Glinda has no idea, with Fiyero and Elphaba lamenting that they couldn't tell her before departing Oz. That's still basically how it goes in Wicked: For Good, but a lingering shot of Grande makes it a little more ambiguous. And according to Chu, that debate is kinda what he was going for.

I'm a Wicked Act II apologist, and I therefore know the original material very well. While I thought the show's ending was pretty cut and dry, I definitely noticed that the movie's finale was a bit less clear. In the same interview Jon M. Chu shared why this open-ended conclusion makes sense, offering:

He's not wrong. While the story of Wicked is magical and connected to The Wizard of Oz, it's ultimately a story about the human conditions. Characters are flawed, make mistakes, and then try to find their way back to each other. Sometimes that happens like when Glinda and Elphaba take responsibility for their mistakes in "For Good". Others like Nessa and Boq aren't so lucky.

Wicked isn't an offbeat musical, so there were plenty of fans who knew the source material when watching Chu's pair of movies. Even so there were some big surprises in the movie, including that somewhat ambiguous finale. Personally I prefer the original, with Glinda unfortunately thinking her loved ones are dead. Does that make me heartless?

Wicked: For Good is in theaters now as part of the 2025 movie release list. You can make your own decision about its ending, specifically what Glinda does or does not know.

After Wicked dominated the box office last year, heads turned to the release of Wicked: For Good. The film was one of the most anticipated on the 2025 movie schedule, and it was set to be the explosive end to the Wizard of Oz prequel musical. While the first part was a fun, bouncy story about two unlikely friends, the second part offered something much darker, focusing on a lot of thematic arcs and political allegories that the first film touched upon. Director Jon M. Chu recently opened up about that choice and how the success of the first movie played a big role in how they approached the second.

In a recent Entertainment Weekly interview with the Wicked filmmaker, Chu revealed that the initial plans for the two-part story were altered after Wicked was a record-breaking success last year. The strong reception showed fans were just as interested in the thematic elements as the dance numbers, and deeply cared about these central characters. As a result, the director decided to lean into this, embracing the darkness that the second act of the stage play holds. He said:

For context, at the end of the first Wicked film, Oz is in disarray after Elphaba and Galinda learn that the powerless Wizard is using lies and influence to segregate Oz and turn them against the animals. Elphaba flees, refusing to use her immense power to help the Wizard, and she tries to turn Oz against the Wizard. Galinda stays, acting as a symbol of hope that things will get better in Oz.

This dichotomy is what sets the scene for Wicked: For Good, as political turmoil and motivations start to pull friendships apart. This is certainly darker than the more innocent, university setting that Wicked opens with.

Chu also revealed Wicked's record-breaking success last year allowed them to steer away from having to catch audiences up to what was happening in Wicked: For Good. Audiences flocked to the cinemas to see the first musical on the big screen, so they were able to cut out any recap material in the second film that was intended to get audiences back into the story. People were already invested, so they didn’t need all of this. The director explained that this allowed them to embrace the darkness immediately, saying:

With Wicked: For Good, Chu seems more than confident that he can trust his audience. The second half of Wicked is famously prickly, but the stage musical has always embraced this, and I’m glad the movies' director is allowing the cinematic audience to do the same. The runaway success of the first film validated these creative choices and encouraged the team to dig deeper. Based on these comments alone, fans should feel content that Chu is promising a finale that’s not only bigger, but bolder and even more resonant.

Fans can see Jon M. Chu’s buzzy film, Wicked: For Good, themselves now, as the movie is in theaters nationwide. You can also revisit the spectacular first film, Wicked, as it is currently available to stream with an Amazon Prime subscription.

We’ve been waiting a year for the release of Wicked: For Good on the 2025 movie schedule. However, the two Wicked films were actually filmed at the same time. That means it was quite the beast of a project to film and edit together, and the movies’ editor, Myron Kerstein, told CinemaBlend just how difficult it was to juggle moments like “Popular” and “No Good Deed” at the same time.

Those who have seen the Broadway musical know that Act I and Act II of Wicked are tonally very different. While the first part is colorful, bubbly and fun, the story For Good covers is significantly darker. They truly are two totally different movies, and that made working on them at the same time a challenge. During an interview with CinemaBlend’s Rachel Rosenfeld, the movies’ editor Myron Kerstein explained why that was the case, saying:

This really isn’t for the faint of heart. I’d guess that making two movies at the same time would be rough regardless. However, juggling Wicked and Wicked: For Good feels like a particularly massive challenge, because it has to tell a cohesive story while also giving fans two distinctly different movies.

In the well-reviewed Wicked: For Good, we jump forward and meet Elphaba, Glinda and co. long after the events of the first film. They’re all grown up, they’re more mature, many of them are a lot angrier, and overall, the story is significantly darker.

Juggling that story with Wicked, which got great reviews, was a challenge. However, Kerstein told us that by working closely with cinematographer Alice Brooks, they were able to put it all together. He said:

Along with having conversations with the cinematographer about how to flip between things like the bubblegum pink number that is “Popular” and the deep dark moment that is “No Good Deed,” he also spoke with director Jon M. Chu a lot. Explaining how the conversations with the filmmaker helped the editor, Kerstein said:

Since they filmed Wicked and Wicked: For Good at the same time and not in chronological order, the cast and crew probably always had to be aware of where they were in the story while also being able to jump to a totally different point on a moment's notice. On top of all that, they had to keep the full vision in mind. So, I can see why it could get confusing.

Overall, I totally get why working on both films was a “bit of a brain fry.” However, it all worked out! Now, we can all watch Wicked with an Amazon Prime subscription, and you can see Wicked: For Good in theaters now.

The moment we’ve all been waiting a year for has arrived — the second half of Jon M. Chu’s Wicked adaptation is hitting the 2025 movie calendar. Wicked: For Good — or, as the director calls it, “the most compelling side of the story” — depicts Act II of the Broadway production and hits theaters on November 21. The first movie broke box office records and earned more than $700 million worldwide, so will Chu stick the landing?

Critics have seen Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo come together as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West for the grand finale, and according to CinemaBlend's review of Wicked: For Good, audiences can expect more stunning visuals, remarkable performances and beautiful music. For our own Riley Utley, the darker second act doesn't outshine the first, but she still rates it 4 stars out of 5, writing:

Deadline’s Pete Hammond, meanwhile, thinks Wicked: For Good soars even higher than the first, which is a pretty big ask, considering how masterful the first movie was. Hammond says:

David Gordon of TheaterMania agrees that the lead actresses are at their best, particularly Cynthia Erivo, whose magnetism radiates off of the screen with musical numbers that feel like a thrill ride. Expanding the story of the theater production's hourlong second act into a full feature gives the story room to breathe, with certain plots deepened and intensified. The critic says:

The previous critic couldn’t take his eyes off of Cynthia Erivo, but for THR’s David Rooney, Ariana Grande steals the show as she brings “luminous life” to Glinda. Wicked has historically favored Elphaba’s complex story of persecution, but For Good elevates Glinda’s story to a level playing field without significantly changing the well-known narrative. Rooney says fans will “rejoicify”:

Bilge Ebiri of Vulture says Wicked: For Good is notably darker than its predecessor, which is a good thing. It’s also more focused and more human, bringing the full movie to a surprisingly satisfying conclusion that left audience members in tears. The critic writes:

For some critics, however, not even Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s powerhouse performances could completely overshadow the supposed misstep of making us wait a year for this conclusion.

Kate Erbland of IndieWire gives the movie a B-, saying that too much time has passed to remember important plot points and character machinations without a rewatch of Wicked: Part I. However, we couldn’t ask for more from the leading duo, either in terms of personifying their characters or their singing. The critic continues:

It sounds like fans of the first movie are in for more thrills in this story’s emotional conclusion. Regardless of whether a year was too long to wait, at least that wait is over, as Wicked: For Good hits theaters on Friday, November 21. If you do need a refresher before heading out, Wicked: Part I is available to stream with an Amazon Prime Video subscription.

Wicked: For Good had a tough act to follow, as it comes on the heels of the widely well-received Wicked. The bar is high, and the stakes are set for the epic conclusion of the Broadway musical adaptation, and in a lot of ways, it meets them. However, since I have always been a bigger fan of Act 1 than Act 2, I was left with complex feelings about the highly anticipated sequel.

In Wicked: For Good, quite a bit of time has passed since the events of Wicked. Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is widely seen as a true wicked witch, Glinda (Ariana Grande) works with Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) and the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) now, and the political climate in Oz has gotten scary, as laws against animals have been put in place.

Erivo’s witch is determined to save her home from this terrible mess, though things get complicated when it comes to her friendship with Glinda. From there, For Good asks audiences to ride with these women as they come to terms with what they want their world to look like and what they can do to save it.

Overall, much like Wicked, this film directed by Jon M. Chu feels like a technical masterclass that is full of stunning visuals, remarkable performances and beautiful music. For me personally, however, it didn’t change me for good like the first part did.

Ariana Grande absolutely steals the show with her nuanced portrayal of Glinda.

Ariana Grande has a tight rope to walk in Wicked: For Good. As we see during the final moments of the first movie, Glinda is torn between her best friend and a world she’s always dreamed of – where she is the beloved witch. That struggle continues in the sequel, and the actress playing the “good” character portrays it beautifully.

When she sings “Thank Goodness,” her vocals are not just gorgeous, they’re also layered as Glinda tries to put on a mask for Oz that makes it seem like she believes something she’s not 100% sure about. And that mask proves to be a vital part of her arc.

Meanwhile, she is also the source of some of the movie's biggest laughs. There’s a fight between Glinda and Elphaba that, while serious, is very funny because of physical comedy chops demonstrated by the actress.

While Elphaba’s motivations are pure and clear, Glinda’s journey is grey (despite all the pink). Grande plays it with an impressive amount of nuance that makes it so her character is never really a villain; she’s simply struggling to understand her place in this situation and is trying to figure out the right thing to do.

The cast brings depth and darkness to this story in a way that helps distinguish it from Part 1.

Wicked: For Good takes a notably dark turn, and the cast brings their A-game when it comes to the drama.

Cynthia Erivo is particularly impressive in this capacity, as she plays out Elphaba’s struggle to save Oz in a powerful and angry way that also features a light and hope that is admirable. Her commanding performance of “No Good Deed” comes to mind here. The witch’s breaking point blew me away, as it emotionally communicates her struggle to do the right thing while the whole world thinks she’s trying to destroy it.

Meanwhile, Marissa Bode, Jonathan Bailey and Ethan Slater all bring darker sides to Nessarose, Fiyero and Boq, respectively, that shine a bright light on how their characters are impacted by the events of the first film.

With Bailey's return as Fiyero specifically, there’s an angst that is reminiscent of his work as Anthony Bridgerton on Bridgerton – which I love. In For Good, the happy-go-lucky prince gets angry, comes to terms with the darkness around him, and works hard to set things right. It’s a beautiful and revealing journey, and it helps Fiyero grow as a character exponentially.

Bode and Slater's performances also come with surprising anger that flooded me. Both Nessa and Boq have their own reasons for being filled with fury, and the actors bring that to life in a visceral way, which, in turn, helps viewers understand just how far things have fallen in Oz.

Paul Tazewell’s costumes shine brightly in this dark tale.

When the credits rolled at my screening, and costume designer Paul Tazewell’s name appeared, the woman in front of me applauded, and that was the correct reaction.

He designed the costumes for both movies by Jon M. Chu, and somehow, I think Tazewell tops himself with For Good. That’s saying a lot, too, because he rightfully won an Oscar for his work on Wicked, and I feel like it could easily happen again here.

When Glinda appears on screen in her blue and pink dress, my jaw dropped. The way it sparkles in the darkness of this film is magnificent, and it helps highlight Grande’s beautiful performance.

Likewise, the texture on Elphaba’s dresses is also beyond impressive. The layers and patterns Tazewell uses on her looks help them be so much more than just your typical black witch’s costume. Therefore, her clothes help highlight and emphasize the complex story of the Wicked Witch of the West.

The costume designer's work in general also helps immerse us in Oz. From the Munchkins' outfits to the gem tones of the Emerald City, these costumes bring distinct life and bright color to this world, and it makes the movie all the more immersive. It also helps signify how the characters have changed from the first story to the second, and I simply couldn’t be happier about it.

I have always preferred Act 1 to Act 2 of this musical, and that did impact my enjoyment of Wicked: For Good.

Here's the deal: I’m not a big ballad person, I love a big splashy dance number, and the songs from Act 1 – like “Popular,” “Dancing Through Life” and “Defying Gravity” – have been my favorites from Wicked for decades. So, I knew I probably wouldn’t like For Good as much as I liked Wicked – and I was right.

I remember watching the first of Jon M. Chu’s films and being moved to tears numerous times, and that just didn’t happen during For Good. It’s hard to explain why that’s the case; however, I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I’ve always been more emotionally invested in and attached to Act 1. For Good isn't the spectacle Wicked is, which I believe is intentional due to its darker story. But I didn't love that that was the case. I also think “Defying Gravity” is one of the most moving and profound endings I’ve seen, and while I appreciate the end of this second act, it doesn't sucker punch me in the heart like the first movie did.

I find this story about Elphaba and her battle with the Wizard a tad hit-or-miss, with some subplots and characters left underdeveloped and me less invested in the narrative. Combine that with my already big feelings about Act 1, and you get a recipe for mixed emotions. That being said, Wicked: For Good is still absolutely wonderful. The story is touching, it’s beautifully made, and it provides a fulfilling conclusion to this Ozian epic.

Dancing With The Stars Season 34 has brought a few surprise faces to the show in recent weeks to serve as guest judges, adding a bit of fun as it continues as part of the 2025 TV schedule. Hip hop hype man Flavor Flav and director Jon M. Chu both showed up to give their scores, and quickly learned it's a lot more difficult than it looks.

At a time when veterans like solo female judge Carrie Ann Inaba have had to defend their scores on DWTS, I'm not too surprised to hear the latest celebs judges had their own struggles on the panel sandwiched between Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli. Here's what both men had to say about their time.

Jon M. Chu Was "Scared" To Handle Live Judging On Dancing With The Stars

I would've assumed Jon M. Chu would be cool as a cucumber being the honored guest on Dancing With The Stars' "Wicked Night" as the person representing the upcoming sequel ahead of its release. The director confessed to Parade that he was pretty nervous, and there were a couple of key things that added to his anxiety while appearing:

Despite not feeling prepared enough for the gig, I didn't notice Jon M. Chu was rattled or anxious at all after watching Robert Irwin and others perform. That said, I can totally understand why he was uneasy if he wasn't expressly told what all to expect after the cameras started rolling, and that may explain why Flavor Flav struggled as well.

Flavor Flav Made An Unfortunate Mistake While Being A Judge

It was clear Flavor Flav felt out of his element during his episode of Dancing With The Stars. The first couple of dances featured the judges helping the Public Enemy member figure out how to work the judging system and showing him where the paddles are. It wasn't easy, and led to a devastating error on his end after Alix Earle's dance. Flav explained what happened on X after the episode:

It was a brutal error that robbed TikTok influencer Alix Earle of the first perfect score of Dancing With The Stars Season 34. It was even more painful considering that Flavor Flav handed out "10" scores all evening, unafraid to buck the majority opinion of the other judges.

What all of this tells me is that Dancing With The Stars might want to re-evaluate how they train guest judges during rehearsals, and if they don't train them, maybe they should start. If nothing else, having a guest who feels fully prepared and comfortable will help the show avoid awkward moments during the live broadcast and result in fewer mistakes from the guest.

Dancing With The Stars Season 34 continues on ABC and Disney+ on Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Those with YouTube TV will need to continue streaming the series elsewhere for the time being, and hopefully, there will be some resolution to that deal before the end of the season.

We’ve reached the point on the 2025 movie schedule where it’s time to return to Oz. The release of Wicked: For Good is right around the corner, and in preparation for that, I’m considering just how different this movie will be from last year’s Wicked. That’s because Act II of this musical takes a dark turn, and director Jon M. Chu opened up about why he thinks this part of the story is “the most compelling.”

When we met Elphaba and Glinda at Shiz in Wicked, the world was bright and bubbly. And for the most part, the first movie – which you can stream with a Peacock subscription – maintains that tone. However, in the final moments, as “Defying Gravity” plays, Cynthia Erivo’s witch leaves Ariana Grande’s Glinda and the characters who are going after her behind, leaving us on a cliffhanger that promises to be intense and dark.

Chu addressed what’s to come after that during an interview with SFX Magazine on CinemaBlend, and noted that he loves this upcoming act of the musical, saying:

There’s no doubt, Act II of Wicked is far more mature than Act I. Time has passed between the two parts, and when we return, Elphaba and Glinda have grown up and are in very different places. As the director explained, we’re not in school anymore:

While Wicked was about the formation of Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship, For Good will address how their relationship is impacted by the evil that is overtaking their world. It will be especially challenging as Glinda works with Madame Morrible and the bad side, if you will, while Elphaba figures out her next move.

In the trailers for Wicked: For Good, you can see all of that on display, and it’s clear that what we’re about to get will be darker, more intense and more emotional than Wicked. All of that really excited Jon M. Chu, too, as he explained:

Well, I can’t wait to see all this play out on screen. I desperately hope the people of Oz are able to overcome their biases and see the issues in their land that are hurting so many of them, especially the animals.

On top of the important lessons For Good holds, it will also continue this compelling story of friendship between Glinda and Elphaba, which I’m dying to see. Oh, and we’ll get the strongest Wizard of Oz connections yet, as we know Dorothy will appear (though we won’t see her face) alongside Colman Domingo’s Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow and the Tin Man.

So, like Jon M. Chu, I’ve found a bunch of reasons to be stoked for Wicked: For Good. And his comments about why he thinks it’s the most compelling part certainly help that enthusiasm, too. Now, to see exactly what he’s talking about, you can catch the highly anticipated second act of Wicked in theaters starting November 21.

A number of musicals have won Best Picture over the years, and another contender is coming in the form of Jon M. Chu's Wicked: For Good. The first movie (which is streaming with an Amazon Prime subscription) was an Oscar-nominated success, and anticipation for the sequel is sky high. Moviegoers are expecting Dorothy Gale to factor into the drama, although it turns out that we won't see the Wizard of Oz protagonist's face throughout its runtime. Chu explained why this was a purposeful choice, and it makes a great deal of sense.

What we know about Wicked: For Good depends on how well you know the stage musical. But even hardcore fans will seemingly be surprised, including the two new songs written by Stephen Schwartz. In an interview with People, the Crazy Rich Asians director explained why we won't see Dorothy's face in the sequel, saying:

This makes a great deal of sense narratively, and also continued in the trend of the stage show. In it Dorothy off stage and referenced, except for the ending where her shadow is seen throwing a bucket of water on Elphaba a la The Wizard of Oz. There's been online debate about who is playing Dorothy in Wicked: For Good, but it seems like that discourse was ultimately for nothing.

Prior to these latest comments, Jon M. Chu teased how much Dorothy we'll see in Wicked's sequel. While footage has shown her alongside the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion, we seemingly shouldn't expect her to have any lines of dialogue. At least not enough to warrant showing her face in For Good. After all, she's not the focus of this particular story. That honor goes to Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo's Glinda and Elphaba.

Despite this, Dorothy and her friends have been featured pretty heavily in Wicked: For Good's trailers. This is presumably thanks to the ongoing fan love for The Wizard of Oz, hopefully convincing non-musical fans to head to theaters and see it for themselves. We just shouldn't expect too much from Judy Garland's signature character.

While Dorothy's face won't be featured in For Good, the same can't be said for her friend. I won't spoil how the Scarecrow and Tin Mn factor into the story, but Colman Domingo is voicing The Cowardly Lion in the sequel. How much we'll hear from his remains to be seen, but this is definitely something fans are interested in.

All will be revealed when Wicked: For Good hits theaters on November 21st as part of the 2025 movie release list. The early buzz for the sequel is overwhelmingly positive, so we'll have to see if it manages to beat out the success of its predecessor.

Remember when Crazy Rich Asians became a record-breaking summer blockbuster? Well, that was seven years ago. Shortly after its success, there was an announcement of the novel’s sequel being in the works, but here we are still without one. However, director Jon M. Chu swears this time HBO Max has the “real thing” with the currently in-development TV spinoff.

When Crazy Rich Asians had its explosion moment in the summer of 2018, so did all the talent associated with it, including stars like Henry Golding, Awkwafina and Jon M. Chu, have had healthy careers since the beloved romantic comedy hit theaters that it’s seemed like there’s barely been time to fit in a followup in. Here’s Chu’s latest update:

The “it” he’s talking about is a TV series that was reported to be in the works in February with the movie’s co-writer Adele Lim as its showrunner, producer and writer along with Chu and the novel’s author Kevin Kwan. In a recent interview with Esquire, Chu shared that scripts have been written and the production is all but ready to go. He also said this:

Specifically, the untitled series is apparently drawing from Kevin Kwan’s first sequel, China Rich Girlfriend. These new comments from Chu come after Henry Golding said in April that Lim visited him and Gemma Chan to “talk about” their characters.

It definitely sounds like the next chapter to Crazy Rich Asians is finally moving forward this time, and that’s particularly exciting after so many years of brief talk about it not backed by much movement. This time, Chu’s talking about scripts and the key actors have attended meetings with the showrunner. I think it’s really happening!

As you might recall, Crazy Rich Asians came out in the summer of 2018 and made $239 million at the worldwide box office, which made it the best theatrical release for a romantic comedy since 2009’s The Proposal. Another movie in the rom-com genre has yet to make the kind of waves of Chu’s film.

In the years since it being a big hit, we heard about a sequel being in development from Constance Wu in 2022 and about a musical adaptation in 2024, but it’s thrilling to hear the biggest and most concrete update we’ve had in a long time.

As we wait to return to Crazy Rich Asians, Chu’s second Wicked movie, For Good is hitting theaters on November 21.

If you’re paying attention to the 2025 movie calendar, you know we’re just a month away from the release of Wicked: For Good. If you’re already familiar with the hit Broadway musical, you may think you know what’s coming for the storyline and songs, but there are so many surprises in the movie that have yet to be revealed. One of them is concerning The Cowardly Lion and who will be voicing the role.

When director Jon M. Chu spoke to Deadline about the making of Wicked: For Good, he teased that we should be getting excited for the mysterious actor behind The Cowardly Lion. He said that he approached the star about the part via an Instagram direct message. In his words:

Now, this is an interesting mystery. Who could it be? It must be someone pretty good if he’s talking about them like this, but they’d also have to have an Instagram as well. The director also said this:

Now that’s something fun to ponder ahead of Wicked: For Good hitting theaters next month. Of course, I looked online to see what people are guessing, but the guesses run the gamut way too much for there to be really any contender for us to talk about at the moment. It must be someone big, but who?

Wicked: For Good is set to not only continue the story of Glinda and Elphaba’s storyline after they met the Wizard of Oz together and went on separate paths, but it will also feature a spin on the classic story of Dorothy, the Tin Man, Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion’s journey to Oz as well. (I know I was skeptical about Wicked being two movies, but knowing how much story there is to cover, I’m extremely excited that it was split up.)

Aside from the Cowardly Lion tease from Chu, the director has recently talked about how the Tin Man and Scarecrow will have “incredible” practical makeup and costumes. He also confirmed that Dorothy’s face won’t really be featured after previously telling CinemaBlend, “I do think it's important for whoever Dorothy is to you, to try to respect that as much as possible,” back in December.

If the story of Wicked is completely new to you, I might suggest you avoid the final Wicked: For Good trailer, but boy, are we excited for all the answers (new and old) to reveal themselves to audiences when the movie hits theaters on November 21.

As Wicked: For Good approaches its release on the 2025 movie schedule, fans are excited to see how the classic The Wizard of Oz story will be interwoven in Elphaba and Glinda’s storylines on the big screen. As of late, there’s been a lot of talk about what’s going on with Dorothy in the movie musical, but I’m getting excited about what director Jon M. Chu recently said about his iterations of Scarecrow and Tin Man.

Jon M. Chu Is Hyping Up Scarecrow And Tin Man In Wicked: For Good

On Friday, Chu paid a visit to the London Film Festival to offer an exclusive sneak peek to attendees from Wicked: For Good and share more about the upcoming fall release. Here’s what he said about two of the Wizard of Oz characters (via The Hollywood Reporter):

Luckily, we’ve got just six weeks until the movie hits theaters. As Chu spoke, he made a real effort to make Tin Man and Scarecrow these practical characters with physical makeup and hair rather than involving too much CGI. Though here’s what he later clarified on his Instagram:

If you’ve seen the live musical before, you know why Scarecrow and Tin Man are so key to Wicked: For Good, and if you don’t, you might want to avoid the final trailer that just dropped a couple of weeks ago. Either way, it’s great to hear the Ozians received a lot of love and care from the director to bring them to life over 80 years after they were in the 1939 classic, The Wizard of Oz.

It’s Great To Hear That After Dorothy’s Role In Wicked: For Good Has Been The Red Hot Topic

Chu’s comments come after there’s been a lot of talk about Dorothy specifically, from rumors about who would play her, and how much she’s going to be in it. In a recent Empire interview, it was confirmed that Dorothy will only be seen from behind or afar in Wicked: For Good. Cynthia Erivo’s take on the reveal is that it’s “wonderful” because “everyone gets to keep the Dorothy that they know.” Plus, it does keep in spirit of the musical, which doesn’t really feature her at all.

The reveal has been met with mixed reactions, especially for those who were hoping to see the beloved character interact with Cynthia Erivo’s Ephaba and Ariana Grande’s Glinda (though Grande has said she’ll for sure get to play at Glinda’s “shadiness” towards her).

But, we’ll just have to see it all play out when Wicked: For Good hits theaters on November 21. Now I'm definitely looking forward to Tin Man and Scarecrow more than ever.

Throughout the years a number of movie musicals have won Oscars for Best Picture. The genre is tried and true, with the recent addition of Jon M. Chu's Wicked being an Oscar-nominated sucess. The sequel For Good will be here next month, and the soundtrack list was recently revealed, including the titles of two new songs that'll debut. It also confirmed that another beloved song that was missing from the Broadway soundtrack is finally getting its first recording. Let's break it all down.

What fans know about Wicked: For Good depends on how much they like musical theater. Broadway fans know exactly what's going to happen in the sequel, and how it'll connect to The Wizard Of Oz. Except for the two new tracks, which have been revealed to be titled "No Place Like Home" and "The Girl in The Bubble", meant to be sung by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande respectively. The announcement also confirmed that "The Wicked Witch of The East" is in the movie and soundtrack, marking the first time Nessa's big number is given a proper recording. Check it out below:

If you can hear anything beside this first tease of "Thank Goodness", you might also hear the sounds of Wicked fans out there collectively cheering. It's thrilling to get this tease about what the new tracks will be about, as well as the confirmation that "The Wicked Witch of The East" will finally get to be immortalized.

The upcoming introduction of "No Place Like Home" and "The Girl in the Bubble" will not only offer the chance for Wicked: For Good to get nominated for Best Original Song, they'll also offer new looks at the psyche of Elphaba and Glinda respectively. Splitting Wicked into two movies opened the door for more storytelling possibilities, and made sure that none of the original songs got left on the cutting room floor.

The first Wicked movie, which is streaming with an Amazon Prime subscription) showed its cast of characters at Shiz University, but For Good is expected to greatly expand its narrative. There's a time jump, allowing for each of them to greatly change. That includes Marisa Boden's Nessarose, who will get the chance to take center stage with her own song. It's been teased that this scene would be changed a bit from the stage version, and I can't wait to see how.

"The Wicked Witch of the East" has always been one of my favorite Wicked songs, perhaps for its elusiveness. Since it's not included on the Original Broadway Cast Recording, presumably due to its spoilery contents, fans had to watch grainy (and illegal) videos of the stage musical to watch Nessa and Boq's biggest solos in the show's second act. I'm so hyped to be able to listen to that particular track anytime I want once the For Good soundtrack is released.

Given Wicked's box office performance and various Awards Season nominations, all eyes are on if the sequel will be similarly successful. But since they were filmed at the same time, there is a ton of good will with moviegoers.

All will be revealed when Wicked: For Good hits theaters on November 21st as part of the 2025 movie release list. Until then I'll just have to re-listen to the first movie's soundtrack as I (not so) patiently wait for the sequel's.

It’s hard to believe that in about two months, the 2025 movie release of Wicked: For Good will be hitting theaters. Other than seeing Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande coming back in their magical roles, audiences can anticipate an original twist to the sequel—two new songs to get hooked onto. Believe it or not, though, director Jon M. Chu wasn’t sure about the fantasy sequel’s new songs at first, with a good reason why.

One of the many benefits of Wicked splitting into two parts is the opportunity to get deeper into L. Frank Baum’s reimagined characters. A common technique when adapting long-running Broadway shows to the big screen is to add original songs to enhance the story or characters. Hey, it may improve its chances for Best Original Song at the Oscars like Evita’s “You Must Love Me” did.

However, Jon M. Chu got real with EW about feeling unsure of For Good adding two original songs, and I see where he’s coming from:

Taking into account the emotional impact each Wicked song had in the first movie, you don’t want unnecessary new songs to fill up screentime. Whether it’s “Defying Gravity” or a fun tune like “Popular,” they all carry weight in moving the story forward and helping audiences get to know each character. But considering what a visionary Jon M. Chu is, I’m confident the two new musical numbers didn’t blow into the movie like Dorothy’s house, but floated down elegantly like Glinda’s bubble.

What we know so far about Wicked: For Good’s new songs will be one co-written by Cynthia Erivo for her Elphaba character. The other will be for Glinda called “Girl in the Bubble.” Jon M. Chu further explained why these two new additions work best for the anticipated sequel, and both have to do with the one common theme of “home.”

That’s a very beautiful sentiment about how both Glinda and Elphaba are searching for “home.” After all, we saw in The Wizard of Oz Dorothy going through that same journey, trying to reach Oz to go back to Kansas. It looks like the Oz residents who came before her could relate to the wandering farm girl in discovering themselves and where they belong.

Not only is the American film director now psyched for his two new songs, but the one song he thinks will be a “fucking banger” is Cynthia Erivo singing “No Good Deed.” With the musical tune sung when Elphaba is in a fit of rage about wickedness vs. goodness, I can’t blame the talented director. Chu also described “As Long As You’re Mine” as “beautiful,” with this being a zesty love song between Elphaba and Fiyero. As if I wasn’t hyped enough already for the upcoming musical sequel.

Jon M. Chu may have been unsure at first if adding new original songs was a good idea for Wicked: For Good. But, it looks like the two songs found a “home” in the musical adaptation that I’m already predicting will give us all of the emotional feels and Best Original Song nominations.

If you’re pumped to see where Elphaba and Glinda’s journey ends, Wicked’s Part Two flies into theaters on November 21st. Until then, you can watch the Oscar-winning movie that started it all streaming on your Peacock subscription.

Wicked transported audiences into another world with its spellbinding performances, emotionally impactful music and a fresh twist to the Land of Oz. But not everything about the magical world was CGI. There was actually a man who played Elphaba’s broom, and I can’t get over the cast of Wicked making sure to send love to “a true legend.”

Here I assumed that the broom in Wicked either flew with CGI or had a wire pulling it up. In reality, Jon M. Chu’s movie’s Instagram revealed “a true legend” behind the flying broomstick, and I never would have guessed:

A man in a blue spandex suit turned invisible was carrying Elphaba’s broom?! Imagine that for a dream role. You have admit that it’s more realistic-looking for a broom to be carried up compared to CGI or a wire having it “defy gravity.”

There’s nothing like the brilliant use of practical effects to remind audiences of other ways to create movie magic. Jon M. Chu made sure to share his love in his IG Story by giving us some insight into the man behind the broomstick’s movements:

Nice to meet you, Charlie. Although I do feel bad that the poor man couldn’t breathe under that costume. I feel claustrophobic just looking at the suit. But that’s all the more reason why you need to give Charlie his props. Stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande sure did in their director’s post comments:

• Cynthia Erivo: 💚
• Ariana Grande: Charlie 🥹!

It’s nice to see Charlie getting a lot of love for risking oxygen while in his spandex suit. This hero may not be wearing a cape, but he created magic on set by assisting Elphaba with her flight.

One of the many reasons why Wicked was worthy of its award nominations was by not relying fully on green screen to create the magical world of Oz. There was so much built for the fantasy-musical flick, like growing 9 million tulips, a 16-ton train and the remarkable sets of Munchkin Land, Shiz University and the Emerald City.

Plus, Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba green was also done without CGI. The British actress and her team came up with a custom shade of green makeup that wouldn’t look too much like face paint in close-ups. The whole process took two hours to put on and one hour to take off. Now that’s dedication. Elphaba’s makeup looked amazing and so natural that it could almost pass as a real skin tone. Just like the man behind Elphaba’s broomstick, the magic of Wicked lies in the details we don’t always see.

While Jon M. Chu, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande deserve applause for their work in Wicked, I can’t get over their praise for Charlie, the broomstick handler. For being willing to walk around in a spandex suit that you can hardly breathe in to make a broom fly, he’s earned every bit of recognition as the “unsung hero.”

See that broomstick defy gravity all over again with Part One on your Peacock subscription. You also need to see how the musical story ends with the 2025 movie release of Wicked: For Good, coming to theaters on November 21st.

There’s no way around the fact that the 2025 movie schedule has a hell of a hit in store with Wicked: For Good’s November release. Part of the magic making that possible is, of course, the rockstar efforts of director Jon M. Chu and co-lead Ariana Grande, both of whom are well-regarded musical vets. So what could possibly make their reteaming on another song filled adventure even more exciting? How about a Frozen co-star, and the 2017 Oscar winning songwriters behind La La Land? Hyping Chu’s 2028’s adaptation of Oh, The Places You’ll Go, Warner Bros has doubled down on the Dr. Seuss of it all on social media.

Announcing Grande’s casting, alongside Josh “Olaf the Snowman” Gad and the inclusion of musical duo Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, you can see the good news about Oh, The Places You’ll Go in the post below:

Now if that isn’t a team for the ages, I don’t know what is. The Ariana Grande/Josh Gad team should go a long way towards selling audiences on Oh, The Places You’ll Go, and for one big reason. Unlike previous Dr. Seuss adaptations like How The Grinch Stole Christmas, The Cat in the Hat, or Horton Hears a Who, there isn’t really a rigid narrative in play.

The 1990 children’s book is one that has more of a message than a plotline, which sees its protagonist go on a journey that teaches them to be curious and open to wherever one can go next in life. A staple for graduation gifts of all ages, it’s a positive journey that could very easily involve quirky supporting characters, Oscar-nominated songs, and a colorful landscape of adventure.

Of course, it’s hard to call who’d be the protagonist and who’d be the sidekick here, as Ariana Grande and Josh Gad are equally fit for both roles. We don't know much about the story, although we do know there will be singing; for all we know, Jon M. Chu is encouraging his leads to warm up their voices as we speak.

I know 2028 feels like a long time out, but considering the recent teaser for The Cat in the Hat, Warner Bros. has picked a pretty smart time to hype its Seussian Cinematic Universe. Oh, and the fact that the Bill Hader-led reel of footage is running in the same Superman pre-show package that includes Wicked: For Good’s first trailer probably helps boost this move’s powers as well.

Oh, The Places You’ll Go will arrive at its final cinematic destination on March 17, 2028. Two much closer pictures to look forward to are The Cat in the Hat, which opens on February 27 as part of the 2026 movie calendar, and of course Wicked: For Good – which is set for a much closer release date of November 21.

After the box office success of Wicked last year, fans have been excitedly anticipating the release of Wicked: For Good on the 2025 movie schedule. The film, based on the 2003 hit Broadway musical, followed Glinda and Elphaba, two witches who form an unexpected friendship before the events in The Wizard of Oz. The sequel film is set to take place alongside the events of The Wizard of Oz giving a new perspective to the classic Hollywood film. While the upcoming movie was set to be the conclusion of the Wicked story, a new rumor circulating is predicting otherwise, which leaves me with questions.

In a post by MyTimeToShineHello on X, the user claimed to have inside knowledge about a third Wicked film being discussed at Universal. This would be a complete surprise if it was true, as even the insider claimed that Wicked: For Good would cover the concluding events that happen in the Broadway musical it’s based on. The user did not elaborate further on what the intended storyline or plot would be in a third film, or if the idea had even been discussed with the Wicked cast.

On one hand, it makes sense that Universal would be interested in a third Wicked film. The first film did incredibly well financially and critically and was even nominated for Academy Awards. The second film is expected to be as much of a hit, as the Wicked: For Good trailer went viral on the internet and promised as much of a spectacle as the first. In an age of sequels and prequels, wanting to capitalize on this success seems like a classic move from a movie studio, even if the material for it isn’t quite there.

On the other hand, it’s hard to imagine how a third film would even be justified. The second act of Wicked, which will be covered in For Good, is very conclusive. It ends where The Wizard of Oz ends, offering a more sympathetic viewpoint of the classic movie villain, The Wicked Witch of the West.

So that leads me to questions like: What would a third film even be about? Why would they want to expand past the existing story? And would the cast even be up for something like this?

Overall, it's hard to imagine writing a third part that would extend beyond this ending. Even if they did write that script, the support from the theater community may wane if Wicked: Part 3 doesn’t manage to justify its existence or live up to the magic of the original musical and the first film.

As of right now, this is all just a rumor, so this whole thing should be taken with a grain of salt. A third Wicked would be completely out of left field, and a big upheaval to get together as the cast becomes older and moves onto bigger and better things. However, we will continue to follow this story if other news surrounding a threequel breaks, or more Wicked rumors swirl as we draw closer to the release of Wicked: For Good.

Fans will be able to see Wicked: For Good when it hits theaters on November 21, 2025. In the meantime, you can also revisit the first Wicked film now with a Peacock subscription.

After the worldwide success of Barbie back in 2023, studios realized there may be an appetite for toy products on film. The Polly Pocket movie seems to be a go, despite Lena Dunham no longer directing, and news today suggests that Hot Wheels is certainly moving forward. After a long hunt to find a director for Hot Wheels, it seems like the project finally has some talent attached, and I think it’s a Wicked good choice.

In a recent report by Deadline, Jon M. Chu, who is best known for directing the Wicked movies and Crazy Rich Asians, has signed on for the Hot Wheels project. After Wicked was a box office sensation in the fall, it seemed like everyone was clambering to work with Chu, launching him to A-list filmmaker status. He has a flair for the blockbuster, seeming to specialize in big flashy spectacles that come together and excel at world building. This makes him a great fit for Hot Wheels, which will need to establish its own world the way that Barbie did. In a statement, Chu said:

In addition to Chu, Juel Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier, who are responsible for writing such films as Creed II and They Cloned Tyrone have been tapped to pen the script. It seems like some Star Wars talent is attached to Hot Wheels as well, with J.J. Abrams cited as a producer through his production company, Bad Robot. It will also be produced under Warner Brothers, who has a current partnership with Mattel and seems confident they can bring the Hot Wheels world to life.

Hot Wheels is currently being advertised as an action film, which makes sense considering the marketing of the product in the past. Auo racing films have been known to have a flair for the adrenaline rush in the past, as the Fast and Furious movies have demonstrated. With F1 being a success this summer, there clearly is an appetite for this kind of movie. With the right vision, I think this could be a great move for Warner Brothers, as the sleek car designs and colorful visuals could bring this to life in a really fun way.

In all, this seems like the right next move for Chu following Wicked: For Good, which will be released later this year. He has a lot of interesting projects on his hands with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat currently in development, and Split Fiction already underway. He clearly is seeing the benefits of delivering cinematically time and time again, and I can’t wait to see what he can dream up for Hot Wheels when the film finally hits the big screen.

Hot Wheels is still in the development phase, but this announcement means we are getting closer to seeing the film on the big screen very soon. In the meantime, fans can see Jon M. Chu’s upcoming film, Wicked: For Good which hits theaters on November 21st, 2025. For more information on other exciting titles heading to cinemas in the near future, make sure to consult our 2025 movie release schedule.

This Pride Month, we continue to celebrate the representation of LGBTQ+ people in media here on CinemaBlend as the month itself was created as a way to commemorate the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots. Since the first Wicked: For Good trailer finally dropped during the first week of June, it’s a great time to talk about the lasting impact of the musical’s connection to the queer community.

From its roots in The Wizard of Oz to the coming release of Wicked: For Good this November, the cultural phenomenon has long found a deep connection with queer people. Let’s get into it, because it’s an important piece of its legacy.

The Wizard Of Oz Has Long Been Thought Of As Queer-Coded

You can’t really talk about Wicked without going way back in time and starting with The Wizard of Oz. Based on the Oz books from L. Frank Baum, one of the most iconic movies ever made by Hollywood is of course 1939’s The Wizard of Oz movie starring Judy Garland. It’s a classic-period to every fan of cinema, but it also holds a lot of significance to the queer community.

No, there’s not explicitly any LGBTQ+ characters in the musical fantasy, but there’s something about Dorothy leaving her black and white world to go “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” that does make it explicitly queer coded. When Dorothy arrives in the beautiful Technicolor world of Oz, she finds solace in a group of outsiders like herself coming together to protect her. The movie’s “found family” story has resonated with queer audiences for decades, especially before there were actual queer characters anywhere to be found in media. There’s also this camp quality to the movie that has long served as inspiration for the queer community, particularly through drag queen performances.

And these days The Wizard Of Oz is so intertwined with the LGBTQ+ community that it’s hard to even separate the two, such as the saying “friend of Dorothy” becoming a code gay men used to identify each other and themselves back in the day when many more were closeted. Or, there being speculation that The Wizard Of Oz in part inspired the Pride Flag being a rainbow as a reference to the film as well, per Queer Sites by David Higgs (via Google Books).

There’s also the piece that Judy Garland is hailed as a gay icon, too. LGBTQ+ scholar Nathaniel Frank said (via EW) because she “compared herself to a wind-up doll, manufactured by adults for their entertainment” and was “was never able to really be herself. And yet, when she performed, she exhibited this level of authentic emotion,” she developed such a prominent following of gay fans who could identify with her struggles, and came in droves to support her during her career.

The Wicked Book Makes The Romantic Undertones To Glinda And Elphaba’s Relationship Canon

With all that history in context, let’s move over to Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch (which became a series of four books). The novelist, who is gay himself, decided to explore the origin story of the Wicked Witch through his book series before it would become the hit musical a few years short of a decade later that we all know and love. After years of readers sensing some romantic tension between Elphaba and Glinda in the book, including through the characters sharing a kiss in one moment, Maguire said this to Them in 2024:

In the book itself, Elphaba and Glinda never get into an official relationship together, but there’s absolutely some romantic tension between the pair throughout in a way that could be seen as a romance for those who want to ship them, or a complex friendship for those who want to see it too. As Maguire shared in the above statement, he didn’t want to make a “declarative statement” about their relationship, and so he didn’t. This certainly carries over to the musical and the movie, though there is never a kiss in the musical from Stephen Schwartz.

Elphaba’s Arc Is A Queer Allegory, Too

When it comes to Wicked the book and musical, it’s also worth noting that aside from a hint of romance between its two main female characters, perhaps even greater is the queer allegory at the center of Wicked Witch’s arc. In both versions Elphaba, has to deal with the ramifications of being different (since she has green skin), and through her journey to become the Wicked Witch she accepts herself for who she is. Particularly through the song “Defying Gravity,” she finds power in being green, and chooses to lean into it rather than hide who she is. The song is thought of a gay anthem just like The Wizard Of Oz’s “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”.

The Movies Feature Numerous Queer Actors

And when it comes to the cast of the Wicked movies, the production has stayed true to the queer history of the title by casting predominantly LGBTQ+ actors in many of the main roles. Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba), Jonathan Bailey (Fiyero). Marissa Bode (Nessarose), Bowen Yang (Pfannee) and Bronwyn James (ShenShen) are all queer actors.

So, there’s no doubt The Wizard of Oz and Wicked belong to the LGBTQ+ community, and have connected so deeply to the queer community for years. But perhaps what sets it apart from other more niche new LGBTQ+ movies is that the beauty of the Wonderful World of Oz is how it’s made to appeal to everyone. Whether you are a gay person who loves the Glinda/Elphaba relationship, or someone with no ties whatsoever to this context, it’s clearly been made for anyone to enjoy and feel connected, and will continue to for generations to come. We can’t wait for Wicked: For Good, which is part of the 2025 movie release calendar to hit theaters on November 21.

The Wicked: For Good release date is just five months away now, and I keep getting more excited to see the second act of the beloved musical realized on the big screen. (It’s seriously going to be tough for another one of the 2025 movie releases to top the feeling of seeing this!) But then director Jon M. Chu called out two songs to look forward to from Cynthia Erivo, and now I can barely contain my joy over the upcoming film.

When it comes to the Wicked musical, it’s true that the biggest hits are already behind us now that we’ve seen the first movie. We’ll never get to see “Popular” or “Defying Gravity” be performed for the first time by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo again. However, Chu is getting me hyped as he name-dropped two songs from For Good while chatting with Vanity Fair:

As someone who grew up memorizing every note of the original Broadway soundtrack for Wicked, there are so many songs I love, but man, is he right about “No Good Deed” being a banger. It’s one of the songs on the album that you don’t necessarily appreciate from the get-go, but once you fall in love with it, it’s impossible not to listen to it over and over.

Without giving too much away, it’s sung by Elphaba during a fit of rage, and she spends the song weighing goodness versus wickedness. The whole track starts with her belting out a note that I really need to hear Erivo’s version of.

The other song Chu called out was “As Long As You’re Mine.” It is quite a dark and spicy love song between Elphaba and Fiyero that kind of foils Glinda and Fiyero becoming infatuated with each other in the first act through the showstopping “Dancing Through Life” number.

When we left the characters at the end of the first Wicked movie, Elphaba had chosen a life of rebellion as a witch, while Glinda found a way in with Oz. We know that Glinda and Fiyero will get married early in For Good, but I’m so excited to see this love triangle continue to play out with the new movie. Check out the Wicked: For Good trailer below:

The trailer debuted in theaters for a special re-release of the first Wicked before dropping online as well. It features some of the “No Good Deed” early on when Elphaba's singing spells!

The second act of the Wicked production has fewer songs, eight as opposed to the first act’s eleven. However, we know original composer Stephen Schwartz has written two more to pack the movie with more music.

Plus, Chu said they are “necessary in this movie to help tell the story.” Oh, and that's all without mentioning the song the movie is named after, "For Good". I cry every time I listen to it, and I'm going to bawl when Cynthia and Ariana perform it. Yeah, I’m counting down the days until this movie comes out on November 21.

It’s kind of an understatement to say that director Jon M. Chu’s Wicked: For Good is a “hotly anticipated” entry on the 2025 movie schedule. Anyone having doubts about my prediction could easily point to the fact that despite Universal’s 2025 CinemaCon panel showing off some footage of the picture, fans haven’t had the chance to gaze upon a trailer for the conclusion of this Oz-ified musical story yet.

Well, I’ve got some good news and some news you might not be too pleased with, as you’ll be able to see Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in full regalia real soon. However, it sounds like there’s only one way you’ll be able to get back to Oz for For Good's first trailer, and you’ll have to click more than your heels.

Wicked For Good’s Trailer Is Debuting Very Soon, But Apparently Only In Theaters

First, here’s the good news: per a press release from Universal Pictures, the release of Wicked: For Good’s first trailer is set to take place on June 4th! In fact, the event is being billed as something truly “global,” as it’s going to take place “simultaneously in all North American time zones.”

And that’s where the catch comes in, as it sounds like you’ll only be able to see this sizzle reel in theaters. But at least it's attached to special bring-back screenings of Wicked, which you can currently purchase tickets for. So it's not like you're showing up for a preview and then dipping to go back to lawn work.

Now, I'm sure there are plenty of people who aren’t afraid to return to a theater near them to see For Good's first trailer and laugh, cry, and potentially sing along with this meteoric box office hit of 2024. However, one has to wonder how many of those fans are ready to follow through with that desire, especially on a random Wednesday.

While I’m someone who always advocates for the theatrical experience, especially when revisiting old favorites, I’d be foolish not to mention that a Peacock subscription could very easily scratch this itch for some, and right at this very moment.

However, it would seem that Universal has some surprises in store for those who do choose to fly into the western sky once more to see Wicked and its sequel's trailer in theaters.

Wicked’s Screening Event Does Offer A Sweet Bit Of Swag

So if you do go to this Wicked screening on June 4th, there’s apparently going to be exclusive “giveaways” for attendees. While that's a rather vague promise, what’s for certain is that you’ll be able to land yourself a commemorative poster for Wicked: For Good. And it I had to guess, it'll be a print of the image you see below:

Don’t take this the wrong way, but I can practically hear fans weeping over the mere invocation of that title, and the image of Elphaba and Glinda separated by a wide chasm that leads down the Yellow Brick Road. I mean, this is everything you would want out of a teaser poster - and it looks pretty spectacular.

Though I’m not a die-hard obsessive over Wicked, I did really enjoy the first half of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s journey. And while this isn’t a $16K charity performance with Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, I’m inclined to check this out for myself. Provided, of course, that this announcement hasn’t led to another case similar to how Sinners’ second IMAX 70mm run instantly sold out.

So if you’re rejoicifying that Wicked will be back in theaters AND you'll get to see the first trailer for its sequel during this special screening, go grab your tickets now! And don’t forget that Wicked: For Good is set to hit theaters on November 21st; which may lead to some unsurprising double feature events. At least, one could only hope.

For many different reasons, joy seems somewhat difficult to come by on an average day. However, something that made millions of film fans light up in 2018 was one of the best romantic comedies, Crazy Rich Asians. Word about a sequel to the ever-popular movie began nearly as soon as the rom-com took over the box office, but work on the project has stalled several times. Now, star Henry Golding has noted that “things are in motion” with the sequel, and I hope his wish for Jon M. Chu comes true.

What Did Crazy Rich Asians Star Henry Golding Say About The Sequel And Jon M. Chu?

For many (many) months after Crazy Rich Asians (which stars Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, and Michelle Yeoh among many others) debuted and became the biggest rom-com in almost a decade, all people could talk about was China Rich Girlfriend. Based on the second book in Kevin Kwan’s novel series, the proposed big-screen follow-up was announced mere days after the first movie hit theaters, but getting concrete details settled on the who, when, where, why and how of the movie has been a long time coming.

While speaking with E! News recently, though, Another Simple Favor star Henry Golding was asked about progress on the highly anticipated film, and said:

WOW. This is really good news, but, man. I feel like we’ve heard this before. When China Rich Girlfriend was announced, it was noted that Chiarelli and Lim were back on board to co-write, with the director of the original film, Jon M. Chu, set to return to his position, as well. Unfortunately, it was roughly a year later that word of an unequal pay dispute led to Lim leaving the movie (which Chu supported).

The production then searched for another writer of Asian heritage, but eventually circled back to Lim, though she turned them down again, and late March 2022 saw Amy Wang set to pen the story. Golding didn’t confirm whether or not the script is still being handled by Wang, but Lim (who previously directed one of 2023’s funniest movies, Joy Ride, and is set to direct Princess Diaries 3) appears to be on board to direct. And, that leaves us wondering about the involvement of Jon M. Chu.

As Golding noted, Chu and Lim are actually both currently working on a Crazy Rich Asians series for Max, with Lim as showrunner and both executive producing. But, the In the Heights director is not, apparently, currently on board to play any part in the production of the film sequel. After noting that Nina Jacobson (who’s also exec producing the TV show) has returned to help produce the new movie, Golding added:

Honestly, with Chu helping out on the show, I doubt that he wouldn’t take some part in helping to get the sequel off of the ground, finally. It makes sense that he wouldn’t have a lot of time to devote to directing the movie, as his blockbuster success with Wicked last year will be followed up by Wicked: For Good, which is set to hit the 2025 movie schedule on November 21. So, let’s all hope that as he’s prepping that musical for theaters, he has some spare time to contribute his particular brand of movie-making magic to the Crazy Rich Asians sequel!

SPOILERS are ahead for both Wicked movies. (Yes, including the one among the upcoming 2025 movies). Proceed with caution if you’re not familiar with the musical.

When I caught Wicked in theaters last year, I was absolutely floored over seeing one of my favorite musicals recaptured with movie magic years after falling in love and memorizing the original Broadway soundtrack, along with seeing it live when I was younger. I totally agree with our Wicked review: Jon M. Chu absolutely understood the assignment with this incredible take on the hit production. While I absolutely loved seeing all the details I could on the big screen, I knew I missed a lot the first time under the filter of my happy tears.

Now that Wicked is finally streaming on Peacock, I decided to rewatch it at home, and I need to talk about a few key details that I think perfectly nod to what’s coming next in Act II. Let’s get into it:

The ‘For Good’ Orchestrations Hit So Hard At The Beginning Of Wicked

Of course, the first time I saw Wicked I noticed the “For Good” orchestrations after Glinda is asked if the Wicked Witch was her friend during “No One Mourns The Wicked.” I was crying 12 minutes into the movie thanks to the "For Good" music making a quick cameo, but now that I've seen the party sequence (which is easily the best scene in the movie), I was even more of a mess this time around. And, I know it’s going to get me even more emotional once we see the duo sing “For Good” together.

I Confirmed Jeff Goldblum’s Voice Is Used In No One Mourns The Wicked

Also during “No One Mourns The Wicked," I thought I caught Jeff Goldblum’s voice when Elphaba’s mom is being visited by her lover and taking the green potion when I first watched it. Upon the second viewing, I could absolutely confirm that it’s his voice during the lines “Have another drink my dark-eyed beauty. I’ve got one more night left here in town…” While this connection is never revealed in the movie, I love that they used Goldblum’s voice to show it's the Wizard for those who listen hard enough. I can’t wait to see how Part 2 reveals the big twist.

Glinda Also References ‘Something Bad’ Right After She Meets Elphaba

I don’t know how much of this detail was intentional or not, but I noticed this time that right after Glinda and Elphaba meet for the first time, Glinda storms away asking if she did “something bad” while talking to her friends. I might be reading into this, but I think by referring to the song title Dr. Dillamond later sings with Elphaba, it’s foreshadowing to the end of the first movie where she gives into the Wizard’s plans rather than sticking with Elphaba and her anti-Oz uprising.

Elphaba Having A ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ Moment Is Too Perfect

Obviously Wicked wouldn’t be here without The Wizard of Oz, which famously includes the “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” song in the original movie. While some might consider Wicked to be a villain origin story, I think the musical is more of an empowering coming-of-age story from Elphaba’s perspective. When Elphaba sings “The Wizard And I” after racing through the fields and a rainbow shows up in the distance, I think it’s a reminder that she’s the protagonist of her own story here, and while yes, there’s some pain afoot in both movies, she’ll get her happy ending.

Glinda And Elphaba’s ‘What Is This Feeling’ Fight Feels Like Prep For Act II

In Act II of Wicked, Elphaba and Glinda get into an altercation, and in “What Is This Feeling," when they fight each other with long sticks, it feels like they are practicing for later in the story. I do wonder if they’ll flash back to this scene when they go broom to wand in the second half of the story.

I Also Realized Why Elphaba Might Have Chosen To Flee To The West

As a fan of the musical, one element of the movie that hit harder than the Broadway show was Elphaba's love for the animals of Oz. And during the “Something Bad” sequence, Elphaba looks at a map that shows tunnels that go under Oz and to what looks like the west side of the region. I think that explains why she becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, specifically.

Elphaba Telling Fiyero To ‘Get Stuffed’ Didn’t Register The First Time

After watching Wicked again, I’m also definitely more pumped for Elphaba and Fiyero to explore their romance after seeing their chemistry play out. But, what I didn’t notice the first time was how Elphaba tells Fiyero to “get stuffed” after he almost hits her with his horse during their first meeting. It’s clearly foreshadowing how Elphaba will turn him into the Scarecrow during the second act.

I Also Didn’t Clock What Boq Telling Glinda He ‘Cries A Lot’ Refers To

Similarly, I noticed something similar happens for Ethan Slater’s Boq while he’s talking to Glinda in the middle of the “Dancing Through Life” sequence. He says he “cries a lot,” which also foreshadows his fate as the Tin Man, who famously has this characteristic in the original The Wizard of Oz.

I Realized The Lion Cub’s Roar Is Very Reminiscent Of The Cowardly Lion, Too

To round out Dorothy’s friends, who she’ll meet on the Yellow Brick Road during the second act, we also meet the Cowardly Lion as a baby cub in Wicked. While I caught this to some degree during my first viewing, what I didn’t notice is how his little roars already sounds like the cowardly lion from The Wizard of Oz. Perhaps this has something to do with rewatching The Wizard of Oz after seeing Wicked.

And, Elphaba’s Moment With The Grimmery Has Me Especially Excited For ‘No Good Deed’

The last detail I’ll talk about is the moment when Elphaba reads the Grimmery and ends up turning the monkey guards into monkeys that can fly. When she reads the spell from the book, I saw that she was half singing them. It reminded me of one of my favorite songs from the second act “No Good Deed.” I absolutely cannot wait to see how Cynthia Erivo, who absolutely put on green makeup everyday of the production by the way, adapts that song along with really coming into her character of the Wicked Witch.

While, I’ve been a bit stressed about the sequel, knowing that a lot of the greatest moments are in the first half, rewatching it and seeing these small but effective bits of breadcrumbs really made me hyped for Wicked: For Good. I’m officially counting down the days until its release on November 21.

It’s hard to watch Wicked, and not be utterly in awe and immersed in the world. This is particularly the case when it comes to one of two leads of the Wicked cast, Cynthia Erivo and her perfectly green skin. No, Elphaba isn’t CGI green. The actress was in the makeup chair everyday when she went to set to transform into the future Wicked Witch. Let’s talk about how it was done.

Why Cynthia Erivo Wanted To Be Green On Set

First, of course the question is, why would the production of Wicked decide to put Erivo through hours of makeup to turn green. Well, as the Elphaba actress actually spoke to in NBC’s Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises On Wicked documentary, she was actually the one who wanted to do so. Here’s why in her words:

Becoming green day in and day out allowed Cynthia Erivo to really embody the character of Elphaba for herself and all the actors around her on set. The whole movie itself employed a lot of practical sets, so it certainly would have been a different energy on set if Erivo showed up to Oz looking exactly like herself.

How Elphaba’s Green Makeup Was Created And How Long It Took To Apply

Elphaba’s makeup was achieved by Frances Hannon, who has previously worked on a number of Wes Anderson films along with Marvel movies like X-Men: First Class and Eternals. As she told People in an interview, finding the right shade of green for Cynthia Erivo was a process that involved her and her team creating a custom shade of green makeup on their own.

She started by testing the shades on models with a similar complexion color to Erivo prior to when filming began, because the actress was in America and she was in England. Quickly, she ran into the issue of the shade needing to hold up in a variety of lighting and to be able to stay on the actor’s skin. Jon M. Chu also talked about the process to CinemaBlend in the below video:

The production found a discontinued cream eyeshadow made in Canada with a neon base that helped them get started, but Erivo ended up having a coat of custom-made green primer that was applied with a brush or sponge, along with a shade of makeup being airbrushed on her face and body. The makeup that was airbrushed on was described by Hannon as "slightly less fluid than water.” Erivo’s face was also contoured and freckles were added to give the character a youthful appearance. Erivo also had eyebrows drawn on since she shaves hers.

All and all, that whole process usually took around two hours. And, the removal process? About an hour. According to Hannon, Erivo “never, ever, ever once complained, ever”!

As we wait for the Wicked release date of the upcoming second part of the story, it’s as good a time as any to revisit the first movie which we gave a perfect five stars in CinemaBlend’s Wicked review, and is now a 2025 Oscar winner.

Back in August, it was reported that a Britney Spears biopic is officially in development at Universal. Attached to the film as director isWicked director Jon M. Chu, and Spears herself is apparently set to be “very involved.” Biopics can be difficult to make, especially if the subject isn’t happy with the way they're being portrayed. But, according to a new report, Spears is indeed heavily in the mix, and it would appear that the producers can't afford to get this production wrong.

Since Madonna’s self-directed biopic has been gestating for four years and is still not in production, it feels like we should hold off on hopes for a movie about Britney Spears until we see an official movie poster. However, it's been reported that the film is really moving forward and has one thing that the "Vogue" performer's didn't. An insider said this to OK Magazine:

Unlike Madonna’s long-awaited biopic, the Britney Spears movie has the singer’s memoir, The Woman In Me, to use as source material. Universal Pictures reportedly earned the rights to in what was said to be a competitive auction. Of course, now all involved are faced with the task of following through with the project, which could both require a lot of money to make and make a lot of money. On that note, the source also pointed this out:

When it comes to money, there were rumors flying in spring 2024 that Britney Spears was in danger of “going broke” due to blowing her money on lavish vacations. Many of those trips were initiated after her divorce from Sam Asghari and the end of her conservatorship in 2021. However, another source reported that she was “far” from penniless, thanks to the successful sales of her memoir and audiobook.

The bestseller surpassed two million copies sold just three months after it hit bookshelves and is currently in the 100 top selling Amazon biographies and memoirs over a year after its release. So there's quite a bit of interest in the Grammy winner's life, and a movie is sure to continue to garner a lot of buzz.

While it’s been over six months since the Britney Spears biopic was officially announced by Universal, there’s a solid reason why we haven’t heard much about it moving forward yet. Jon M. Chu has been promoting Wicked, which earned $729 million at the worldwide box office. The film was also at the center of a lengthy awards campaign that concluded with it earning 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Ultimately, the musical won two categories at the Academy Awards. On top of all that, Chu's readying Wicked: For Good, which is one of the biggest films on the 2025 movie schedule.

Perhaps once he finishes production on the Wicked movies, Jon M. Chu and Britney Spears will begin the casting process for their film. So far, Millie Bobby Brown has been a popular pick amongst fans and, earlier this year, the now-blonde Brown expressed interest in the role. Other actresses have thrown their hats in the ring, though. For example, Emma Roberts shared hopes to play the singer and when former Disney Channel star Olivia Holt was asked, she was also interested in the idea.

As in the insider also noted, when music biopics are successful, streaming numbers skyrocket, and that would of course be a positive bump for Britney Spears’ bank account. It remains to be seen just how the film will pan out but, with the singer herself and a strong director involved, this production is in good hands.

Musical biopics are a tried and true genre in the film world, allowing fans and moviegoers alike to connect deeper with their favorite artists. While Timothée Chalamet's Bob Dylan flick A Complete Unknown got some Oscar nominations, similar movies are in development. That includes Jon M. Chu's Britney Spears movie, and the public is curious about who might play the Princess of Pop. Millie Bobby Brown has is super blonde now, and now she's being asked about that upcoming musical biopic.

As soon as it was announced that Britney's life would be turned into a movie musical, the public began debating who might play the "Toxic" singer. While fans are hyped or Brown to appear in Stranger Things 5, she's also a popular choice to possibly play Spears... especially now that she's rocking the blonde look. The 21 year-old actress spoke to Access Online about the chatter surrounding her and that role, and said:

There you have it. While she doesn't have the role at this point, it sounds like Brown would be honored to be play the beloved pop star. She's "open" to playing the role, so we'll just have to wait and see what casting decisions Chu and company ultimately land on. Alexa, play "Work Bitch".

In her comments, the star of Stranger Things (which is streaming with a Netflix subscription) made it clear that she wants Britney Spears to be happy with whoever is going to tell her story on the screen. Given Britney's years as a celebrity and very public personal issues, I think most fans would agree with Brown's sentiments. Funny enough, Millie Bobby Brown posted a '90s glam shot on Instagram recently. Check it out below:

Not much is known about Chu's next musical project, but it's expected to be an adaptation of Spears' memoir The Woman in Me. That book chronicled her early life, as well as her being catapulted into worldwide fame as a pop star. The book also peeled back the curtain on her relationship with Justin Timberlake, as well as what it was like when Spears was still under her controversial conservatorship.

Exactly how the book will be adapted for film is unclear, but Britney Spears' beloved catalogue of music is expected to also play a part in the story. There are a ton of hits for Jon M. Chu to include, so whoever lands the lead role will have to have the singing and dancing skills to play the music legend. Whether or not that's Millie Bobby Brown remains to be seen.

A number of movie musicals have won Best Picture over the years, and now there's another title vying for that honor: Jon M. Chu's Wicked. The first movie is nominated for a number of 2025 Academy Awards, and fans are eagerly anticipating the second movie to arrive this fall. While the stage to screen adaptation is a clear success, producer Marc Platt revealed a vision he had that didn't come together. And as a fan I honestly wish it could have.

What we know about Wicked: For Good is fairly limited, although fans of the stage musical know exactly what's coming narratively. While speaking with THR, Platt revealed that he wanted to originally incorporate something even most offbeat musicals include: an intermission. As he shared:

Honestly, this is a fun idea! Many classic movies (including musicals like The Sound of Music) included intermissions, where audiences could run to the bathroom or stretch their legs before diving back into the story. And it could have been a fun way to not at Wicked's origin on the stage.

An intermission for might have made sense if Jon M. Chu and company were trying to squeeze the entire stage musical into one long movie, but Wicked was ultimately split into two movies. And after seeing Cynthia Erivo fly and belt her way through "Defying Gravity", the year-long wait between films is ultimately just one long intermission.

While no intermission was included, the first Wicked movie definitely featured some excellent nods to the show's wildly successful tenure on the stage. That includes cameos by original Glinda and Elphaba actresses Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel. The movie's opening shot of Elphaba's hat was also a nod to the original staging for the opening number "No One Mourns the Wicked". And that's really just the tip of the iceberg.

Wicked might not have an intermission, but that concept was recently brought back to theaters with a new release. Namely Brady Corbet's The Brutalist, which has two distinct acts, an intermission, and clocks in at 215 minutes. I hope Marc Platt at least finds some comfort in knowing another recent project brought them back to theaters!

The pressure is on for Wicked: For Good to deliver when it hits theaters November 21st as part of the 2025 movie release schedule. And that will only increase if the first movie manages to take home any Academy Awards at the forthcoming ceremony in March. Personally I love the second act of Wicked, so I can't wait to see it come to life on the big screen.

After Britney Spears' memoir The Woman in Me became a New York Times Bestseller with over a million copies sold, Wicked’s Jon M. Chu has decided to make a biopic adaptation. Naturally, this involves casting the perfect actress who can resemble the “Princess of Pop”’s rise to stardom and the biggest reveals in Spears' memoir. With fans already speculating who would be the perfect fit, former Disney Channel star Olivia Holt was asked if she’d take on those big shoes portraying Spears, and I really think she should be considered.

The last time we saw a Britney Spears biopic was Lifetime’s non-stop drama version, played by Australian actress Natasha Bassett. Now that the best-selling artist’s life will be portrayed on the big screen based on her tell-all memoir, the film must do justice to Spears’ story by casting an actress who can brilliantly capture the singer’s best and worst of times. At a special screening of the upcoming horror film Heart Eyes, Variety asked former Disney Channel star Olivia Holt if she’d be interested in playing the “Toxic” singer, and here’s her answer:

Please consider her! Olivia Holt would be an ideal fit to play Britney Spears. With the Cloak & Dagger actress being only 27 years old, she and Spears already have a lot in common. For example, the two southern-born stars got their start appearing in TV commercials and have big Disney backgrounds. The Crossroads actress worked with upcoming talent like Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, and Ryan Gosling in The Mickey Mouse Club. Holt also showed off her bubbly, wholesome self on Disney Channel through sitcoms like Kickin’ It, I Didn’t Do It, and the DCOM Girl Vs. Monster.

We also can’t forget the two have stellar musical talent, with the Runaways actress having released four albums and got to play Roxie in Broadway’s Chicago. So, you know the young star has live performance experience like Britney Spears. Plus, Holt has also had dramatic roles, like being part of the cast of Freeform’s Cruel Summer, where she was nominated for a Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards for Best Actress. With all of that in mind, I’m confident Holt can portray Spears’ wholesome start as a performer as well as the personal struggles the pop singer endured.

So far, Olivia Holt has not been contacted to star in The Woman in Me. However, the American actress/singer expressed how complimented she was to be thought of for the major role:

I can imagine the honor of being considered to play such a legendary pop culture icon like Britney Spears. Although, Olivia Holt isn’t the only actress fans can see as the “Oops…I Did It Again” singer. When Millie Bobby Brown dyed her hair blonde, fans were quick to assume it was to portray Spears for the upcoming biopic. The Stranger Things star spoke of how she’d love the chance to play the Grammy winner, feeling her story “resonates” with her.

Scream Queens alum Emma Roberts also believes she’d be a perfect choice for Britney Spears, recalling how she’d make it her mission to “memorize every word” of the hit album In the Zone back when it first came out. The “Gimme More” singer’s ex-assistant seconds the Unfabulous actress’s dream role. Other fan-casting choices follow performers like Tate McRae, Florence Pugh, Sydney Sweeney, Sabrina Carpenter, Addison Rae, and Elle Fanning.

Another element that would make an actress the ultimate choice to play Britney Spears is if she’s already a fan of her music. Luckily, Olivia Holt fits the bill:

It’s awesome that Olivia Holt knows about the many different eras of Britney Spears’ music. This would be good knowledge to have as Spears' singles and albums flawlessly portray the singer’s transition throughout the entertainment industry. She broke into the music industry initially as bubblegum pop growing to a more mature sound that expressed vulnerability, independence, and female empowerment. Now I really want to see Holt cover each hit single and perform that excellent choreography the way Spears would.

After Olivia Holt was asked how she’d feel to portray Britney Spears, this dream casting needs to be a reality. As the Tennessee native grew up during the top-topping singer’s reign and has a Disney/music background of her own, Holt could be the answer to making The Woman in Me both memorable and authentic. Until we get release date news for Jon M. Chu’s newest movie, you can see the Class Rank actress in the 2025 movie release of Heart Eyes in theaters on February 7th.

As the Wicked movie cast and filmmakers had to know before the film's release, Broadway fans have memorized every word and beat of the original soundtrack and would be comparing against it when seeing the movie adaptation. As our Wicked review illustrates, the first chapter of this two-part adaptation absolutely delivers on translating the beloved show, but I know I was curious about one change to “Dancing Through Life,” which the director has acknowledged with an answer that makes sense.

During Fiyero’s big song, he memorably asks, “So, what’s the most swankified place in town?” before Glinda answers, “That would be the Ozdust ballroom” and Fiyero replies with, “Sounds perfect!” This moment, however, doesn’t happen in the movie, and there's a reason why. Here’s what director Jon M. Chu had to say:

Now, this makes sense! In the movie adaptation, Fiyero is a character who approaches Shiz University and immediately says it falls on him to “corrupt my fellow students”. With that in mind, the story would flow better if it's him who introduces the students to the Ozdust Ballroom rather than them already knowing about it. While I love the line in the original Broadway musical, I didn’t necessarily miss it in the movie, and Chu’s explanation, which he shared with BuzzFeed UK, is enough for me.

When looking over at what fans thought about the change, I found that it’s a bit divided, but a lot of people share my viewpoint. One Instagram user said they “understood the reason why they cut it” but “wish they used swankified at least somewhere.” Others had ideas about just how to do that, with one suggesting Glinda could have said it instead. Another person said “it’s not that good of a line tbh. It was okay to be left out!”

Despite any dialogue changes, Wicked has really been embraced by fans and even people who’ve never seen or heard the Broadway production’s music. One of CinemaBlend’s writers even said he liked the movie more than the Broadway play after catching two versions of the live event in the past.

Of course, audiences have only seen half of the musical be adapted so far. Fiyero actor Jonathan Bailey said audiences should be ready for a “tonal shift” with the events of the second half. That’ll certainly be true following the end of the movie where Elphaba decided to “defy gravity” and take Oz’s sacred book of spells from the Wizard after learning the truths about the Emerald City. Fans of the Broadway musical know that Fiyero has a powerful arc coming up and, apparently it will explain why Bailey wears blue contacts for the movie. All the while, we'll also see if there are any more key dialogue changes.

You can catch Wicked in theaters and PVOD keep in mind the November 21 release date for Wicked: For Good. Be sure to also read up on other 2025 movie schedule titles.

Crazy Rich Asians was a phenomenon when it was released in 2018, it's honestly one of the best rom-coms out there, and it's a great movie to watch on an airplane. Now, its director, Jon M. Chu, has opened up about why it's such a great plane film. However, as the celebrated filmmaker shared that thought, he also noted that Glen Powell and his movies might be closing in on the title for best movies to watch in the air.

Jon M. Chu Explains Why Crazy Rich Asians Is The Best Plane Movie

Chu's conversations these days center mostly around Wicked and the upcoming release of Wicked: For Good on the 2025 movie schedule. However, at the Golden Globes' his conversation shifted to one of his older works during a chat with IMDb. This happened while he was on the red carpet to celebrate his 2025 Golden Globe nominated musical, and, during an interview he was asked why Crazy Rich Asians is the best airplane movie.

After journalist Cat Quinn told him the 2018 rom-com was the best film to watch on a plane out there, Chu gave a great answer about why that's the case, saying:

Neither of them are wrong. The whole movie is just so well done–from the ensemble's performances to the storyline that intertwines Wu’s character with Golding’s family–it’s a home run. And since the movie nails every scene and moment of dialogue, it’s a natural surefire choice for inflight entertainment.

However, Glen Powell also has some surefire choices in his filmography that make for great plane movies, and he seems to be coming for Crazy Rich Asians' title.

However, Glen Powell Might Take The Title For Best Airplane Movies

The In the Heights director shared this seniment as he hilariously noted that Powell and his movies may be edging in on the coveted ground Crazy Rich Asians holds. In fact, while on a flight, he caught the relatively new household name on multiple screens in different movies. He shared:

Chu isn’t wrong about Powell. Although the Hit Man star has brought us hit after hit these past couple of years, and now he is following in the footsteps of Hollywood big hitters by taking on more producing projects, it wasn’t always this way. He had to grind to get to this point, and I’m glad to see the 36-year-old gaining traction both in the theaters and on airplanes.

I can just imagine watching the Now You See Me 2 director sitting down and realizing he’s seeing Powell in some of his biggest hits like Twisters (a co-worker saw someone watching this while flying recently), Top Gun: Maverick, Anyone But You or even Netflix's Hit Man in surround. All these movies have been hits in their own rights and they're all mega-crowd pleasers. So, naturally, they all make great plane movies.

The Step Up 2 director shouldn’t sweat it though. Much of the world has been hanging onto every bit of content about the Ozian sequel, its surprise cameos and more. And, as he works through Wicked press he has the Crazy Rich Asians sequel as well as the Britney Spears biopic queued up for him to get going on. All of which sound like they'll one day make for good inflight entertainment.

Time will tell if Powell takes the title from the book-turned-movie modern classic. On the bright side, Chu has plenty more movies in the works that can compete with the Everybody Wants Some!! alum. Plus, let us not forget, if the flights are long enough, viewers can fit a few movies in, Crazy Rich Asians, Twisters and Top Gun: Maverick included.

Movie musicals have a long history in the film world, with a number of musicals winning Best Picture over the years. Rather than an offbeat musical, the latest addition to the subgenre is Jon M. Chu's Wicked, which broke records at the box office. Fans are waiting a full year for the second movie to arrive, as more information about the original keeps trickling out. Case in point: Chu revealed an "emotionally beautiful moment" he had during a screening of the film. And as a fan, my heart is so full.

What we know about Wicked: For Good is limited, but the movie is going to adapt the second act of the Broadway musical for the big screen. Splitting the story into two movies allowed for no musical numbers to be cut, and Chu teased that Wicked 2 will finally give some underrated songs their due. The director recently tweeted out a fond memory he had while seeing the film in theaters, saying:

As a big fan of the musical (and the movie adaptation) this does make my heart feel very full. "I'm Not That Girl" is perhaps the most emotionally vulnerable we see Elphaba in Wicked (aside from her dance with Glinda), and it allowed Erivo to have stillness and show off the bottom of her vocal range. It's nice to hear that audiences connected so deeply to composer Stephen Schwartz's beloved song. And I'm definitely one of them.

"I'm Not That Girl" happens around halfway through Wicked, when things in Oz start going south. After Doctor Dillamond is taken away, students at Shiz are shown a lion cub who will be trained to never speak. Elphaba and Fiyero escape with the cub, and set him free in the woods. That's when Cynthia Erivo's character sings about her unrequited love for Fiyero, who is already in a relationship with her best friend Galinda. And it's one of the most emotionally impactful Wicked songs.

The stakes during the second half of the Wicked stage musical are even higher than Act I, so one can only imagine how invested audiences will be when For Good hits theaters in November. And as such, I assume that Jon M. Chu will get to have a similar experience seeing how folks in theaters respond to the story unfold.

The first Wicked movie is available on digital now, and For Good will hit theaters on November 21st. For now, check out the 2025 movie release dates.

Both 2024’s box office and pop culture at large have been dominated by Wicked-mania, and it shows no signs of slowing down. Not only can you now purchase or rent Wicked at home, but the follow-up, Wicked: For Good, is coming our way at the tail end of the 2025 movie release schedule. The film adaptation is so popular that many fans of the original musical even prefer certain elements of the film to the stage production. This includes the way that Wicked's atmospheric sounds and effects are incorporated into the songs, and when said sounds didn’t make it to the final soundtrack, there was a little bit of fan backlash. But don’t blame director Jon M. Chu, because he seems to agree with them.

I caught up with Jon M. Chu to celebrate the home video release of Wicked, and when I brought up these particular fan complaints, he quickly absolved himself of all the blame. As it turns out, he didn’t have a huge hand in the mixing of the soundtrack, even though he was heavily involved in the mixing of the film itself:

Surely this isn’t meant to bash accomplished composer Stephen Schwartz. As somebody that is very close to the music through the film itself, Jon M. Chu would probably have a hard time approaching the soundtrack from an unbiased perspective. The man is a multi-hyphenate: filmmaker, dancer and choreographer, but one thing he’s not is a composer. Chu is very passionate about Wicked, and for all we know, his version of the soundtrack would just be a rip of the film’s audio, dialogue and all!

But that’s not just my assumption. Jon M. Chu said this about why he wants this type of soundtrack to be so much more than a collection of songs:

While the film may not be as jam-packed with atmospheric sounds as Jon M. Chu would have liked, there are plenty of fan-favorite moments that made the cut! I was on a bus full of Wicked geeks who belted along when Ariana Grande’s now-infamous “Right!” played during the soundtrack version of “Popular.” Notably, along with Ariana Grande’s deviation from the original musical, you can hear the slamming of a book, which really adds to the moment. Chu and I spoke of this moment specifically, and the glee that came across his face when he realized that his work had an effect on the overall Wicked legacy was precious. You can see the interview clip at the top of this article.

What else can I say about this movie? Our official Wicked review gave the film a perfect 5/5 stars, critics still won’t stop gushing about it, and given how much Jon M. Chu is teasing the sequel, it seems the hype isn’t dying down anytime soon. Next is the Oscars, then the release of Wicked: For Good, and then we repeat. You can rent or purchase Wicked at home right now!

During production on 2021’s In The Heights, the musical’s creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and the film’s director Jon M. Chu became close friends. The two are powerhouses in the movie industry, so it’s little surprise that they’ve both had huge films come out at the tail end of the 2024 release schedule. Miranda wrote original songs for Mufasa: The Lion King and Jon M. Chu directed the musical phenomenon Wicked. Even though they’re not working together on said projects, it seems that Chu lifted some choreography from In The Heights, and after Lin called him out in spectacular fashion, the director responded to his “sassy” friend.

I had the privilege of speaking with both men on behalf of their respective projects, and after Lin-Manuel Miranda gave me a message to deliver Jon M. Chu questioning this “homage” in the choreography, I gave the Wicked director a chance to respond:

Sassy indeed! And since the Crazy Rich Asians director was being coy about this specific Wicked choreography, I took his advice, and delivered Lin’s message to Wicked and In the Heights' choreographer Christopher Scott, who said the following:

Of course, the two make solid points, and they both own the somewhat repetitive choreography as an homage to their own work. In all fairness, both scenes take place in a nail salon, and if you have the same choreographer and director shooting nail choreography, it’s going to feel similar. The real question is, did they think anyone would notice or were they trying to slip it under the radar?

That’s the question Lin-Manuel Miranda wanted answered, anyway. If you didn’t catch it when the story first broke, here is what Lin had to say to his buddy and collaborator during my interviews for Mufasa: The Lion King:

Of course, Lin-Manuel Miranda was just teasing Jon M. Chu and Christopher Scott, and they were both good sports about it. Anything else would simply register as jealousy considering that Wicked has become a worldwide sensation! Our own Wicked review gave the film a perfect 5 stars, and now that the year is coming to an end, we can look forward to Wicked: For Good, which will be coming our way at the tail end of the 2025 movie schedule. With that coming, Jon M. Chu cannot stop teasing what’s to come, which seems to include a huge crossover to The Wizard of Oz through Dorothy. Now, I'm wondering if there will be more choreography parallels too...

However, you don’t have to wait for the sequel to get more Glinda and Elphaba, as you’ll be able to purchase or rent Wicked at home starting December 31! Happy New Year indeed!

Wicked is already a smash hit at the global box office and it seems poised to be a strong contender during the coming awards season. Case in point, it's already nominated for Golden Globes and will likely be in the running for multiple Oscars. Speaking of The Academy Awards, the film is likely to be a strong contender for the makeup award specifically, especially when you consider all the work that went into turning Cynthia Erivo green.

Wicked brought Erivo’s Elphaba to life, green skin and all. She really looks incredible. Director Jon M. Chu recently spoke with CinemaBlend's Reelblend podcast about the work that went into making the green look right. It certainly wasn’t as simple as painting the actress’ face, because making it look like face paint was exactly what they didn’t want. Chu explained…

Elphaba had to look like she was green, not simply that she’d been made green, otherwise her character wouldn’t feel real. And since Elphaba is who Wicked is ultimately about, the audience had to be able to relate to her as a character.

But there was more to coming up with the makeup than simply finding a look that came across as real, because it had to look real under a variety of circumstances. Another area where Wicked excels is in its production design, and with all the bright colors and warm lighting, the green had to be something that didn’t wash out in the wrong light, unless they wanted it to. Chu continued…

Chu mentions the green went away in warm pink light, and since Ariana Grande’s Glinda was all about pink, we can guess that was something of a clash. This would mean that, in cases of putting Elphaba in that pink light, they would need to make changes to the light, or the makeup, if they didn’t want the green to get washed out.

Cynthia Erivo spent hours in the makeup chair to get her Wicked look done right. It does appear the work has been appreciated. The movie is a huge hit and fans are eagerly awaiting next year's Wicked sequel.

Check out Chu’s full comments below.

Wicked seems to be a strong contender for the Oscars in both makeup and production design. The movie also has a plan in case both Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are nominated for acting awards. It could be a very good awards season for Wicked, starting in just a couple of weeks, and that's because of all the hard work and detail that went into crafting every element of this film.

Jon M. Chu is one of the hottest directors in the world right now thanks to his smash hit Wicked: Part One. The film is already one of the highest grossing films of the year, and it apparently has a big fan in one of the hottest directors of all time in Steven Spielberg.

Speaking with Jake Hamilton of our own Reelblend podcast, Chu says that Steven Spielberg has lived up to all of his expectations as one of the director's heroes. Spielberg helped launch Chu’s career and the two saw Wicked together recently, and then spent a lot of time talking about it after the fact. Chu explained…

Oh to have been a fly on the wall during this conversation. Steven Spielberg recently made West Side Story, a project that he had long wanted to do because of his personal love of musicals. One can imagine these two had a lot to talk about when it came to the work involved in directing some complex films.

While Steven Spielberg is no stranger to musicals, or to movies with heavy use of visual effects, West Side Story didn’t necessarily have a lot of those, so Spielberg likely had a lot of questions for Jon M. Chu regarding how he brought it all together. One would think Steven Spielberg knows everything thee is to know about making movies, but perhaps it’s his endless curiosity that makes him so good at his job. Check out Chu’s full comments on Spielberg below.

If most of us ever met Steven Spielberg, we’d likely be the one asking him endless questions. Chu admits to being apprehensive about answering some of them for feat that his way of doing things might not meet with the Oscar winner’s approval, but there’s certainly no indication that was the case. At this point it seems likely Wicked will win its own Oscars, as it will likely be in contention in multiple categories.

The closest I’ve ever gotten to Steven Spielberg is seeing his introduction at the beginning of the E.T. Adventure at Universal Studios Florida, but this whole exchange tells me that if I ever did have a chance to meet him or interview him, it would be everything I could possibly hope for.

Both directors have a very exciting future, Chu, of course, has the upcoming Wicked: Part Two set for next year, while Spielberg has an upcoming project of his own, though it's one we know little about. One imagines these two will have plenty to discuss going forward.

While some movie musicals have won the Best Picture Oscar, a number of entries to the subgenre failed to impress. Rather than an offbeat musical, the latest entry was the first Wicked movie, which was wildly successful and scored Golden Globe nominations. The movie has been getting all sorts of praise; George Lucas is the latest director to see Wicked and his response is A+. Let's break it all down.

What we know about Wicked: For Good is limited, but it's expected to arrive in November and adapt the musical's second act. It sounds like George Lucas will be in theaters when it arrives, as he really enjoyed the first film. While appearing on CBS Mornings, director Jon M. Chu revealed that the Star Wars legend reached out to him, saying:

He's not wrong. Wicked was a huge undertaking, with the film full of massive practical sets, millions of planted flowers, and extensive wire work for Cynthia Erivo. All of the elements came together in the end, which is seems to be what impressed George Lucas so much. After all, he broke the mold with his work on the original Star Wars trilogy (which is streaming with a Disney+ subscription).

Bringing such a beloved musical to the big screen was a big ask, but luckily Jon M. Chu was just the filmmaker for the job. He proved his ability to work within this genre with In The Heights, which unfortunately didn't make nearly as much money as the first Wicked film. But he used the same sense of movie magic and reverence for musical theater to make each adaptation a thoroughly enjoyable moviegoing experience.

While the pressure was on for Wicked to stick the landing, the first movie did just that. Critical response for Wicked was overwhelmingly positive, and it ended up breaking records at the box office. As such, the odds of the second film being similarly successful are way higher; moviegoers are eager to see how this take on the story plays out.

There are plenty of questions about the second film, especially related to its music. While two new songs are being debuted, Jon M. Chu hinted that fan favorite tracks like "The Wicked Witch of The East" will finally get their due. Fingers crossed.

All will be revealed when Wicked: For Good hits theaters on November 21st. For now, check the 2025 movie release dates.

Those who have been to the movie theater recently to see Wicked can confirm it is worth the hype… and director Jon M. Chu has confirmed Part Two of the musical adaptation is worth the wait.

The Crazy Rich Asians director is not one to keep secrets from fans. Since production began, he has not stopped sharing Wicked content online and teasing as much as possible without spoiling anything important. A tough task, given how hungry people are to see what happens in Wicked: Part 2, which isn’t scheduled to be released on the 2025 movie schedule until November.

That being said, there is already a rough cut of the film, and Chu’s latest comments in an interview with Empire have me pumped for an equally fantastic, if not better, sequel to Wicked:

This sounds like we are in for an emotional rollercoaster of an incredible film, and I am here for it. Plus, Wicked's box office numbers speak for themselves and Part 1 exceeded expectations, with people saying some musical numbers and key moments were even better than the stage production. So, I think we are in for one hell of a ride with the second movie that's now titled Wicked: For Good.

Of course, a lot of the enchanting nature of the film was due to the pairing of Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda. The two really bonded over the course of filming the two movies back to back, completely immersing themselves in the magic of Oz and the story of Wicked, although they weren’t the only ones.

The main reason I trust the word of Jon M. Chu is because he has shown that he spared no expense in making Oz a reality. Typically a Hollywood blockbuster with such extravagance and grandeur has to be created with a ton of effects, CGI, and animation added in post-production. Not saying all that makes a bad movie, but having things like a real 16-ton train to Emerald City makes a huge difference for both the actors and the audience. Plus, so much thought and detail went into everything from the bead pattern on Glinda’s original pink bubble dress to the blocking for Elphaba's iconic hat.

Thankfully, the buzz surrounding the film’s debut certainly will not die down anytime soon, but many fans are already asking questions about the events of Part 2.

Splitting movies typically doesn’t go over well with audiences, but in this case, it serves an important viewing purpose and is not a dragged-out cash grab. The main reason for the split, besides to avoid cutting material, was to be able to accurately create the literal show-stopping moment that is “Defying Gravity,” arguably the most famous and well-known part of the original play.

So Part 1 followed the yellow-brick roadmap laid out by its reference material's first act, meaning Wicked: Part 2 will pick up with Act II of the Broadway show. This has left many fans speculating online about how the film adaptation will carry out certain canonical events, who is to appear in essential roles, and what might be cut or changed from the play.

In a fun surprise for die-hard fans, the Step Up 2 director has all but confirmed the presence of the song "The Wicked Witch Of The East,” infamously left off the Broadway original soundtrack. Clearly, he is in touch with what fans want to get out of this adaptation, and he also has proven he is a big fan of Wicked himself.

So I’m confident I’m stating the general consensus when I say, I have full faith in Jon M. Chu to carry Wicked to its full potential.

Hey, Jon M. Chu, Lin-Manuel Miranda has a message for you. With both Chu’s film Wicked and Miranda’s Lion King prequel Mufasa on the 2024 movie schedule, the In The Heights collaborators are both on press runs and talking a lot about their respective musicals. However, the Hamilton star’s message has to do with the 2021 movie they worked on together and the choreography that is seemingly featured in both it and Wicked.

During an interview with CinemaBlend about Mufasa, Jeff McCobb told Miranda that he had an interview with Chu coming up, and he asked if the songwriter had a message for the director. In response, he decided to hilariously call his friend and collaborator out for a similarity Wicked shares with In the Heights, saying:

So, here’s the deal. Miranda was referring to the “No Me Diga” number in In the Heights (which you can stream with a Max subscription). The scene takes place in a hair salon, and shows Leslie Grace’s Nina getting a makeover from the salon ladies as they gossip. Toward the end of the song, there’s a moment where a bunch of gals are getting manicures and there’s some very intricate nail choreography.

Meanwhile, in Wicked, during “One Short Day,” Elphaba and Glinda end up in a salon, and there’s also some great and intricate nail choreography.

Are they the same, was it an homage? That’s unclear at the moment. However, it is obvious that Miranda was entertained by the similarities, and he made a great joke out of it.

Notably, both In the Heights and Wicked were directed by Chu and choreographed by Christopher Scott, and the two have been collaborating for a very long time. And while these two films are wildly different outside of both being musicals, they feature choreography and dance that is similar -- and let me tell you, as a longtime fan of Scott, I feel like I can spot his choreo quickly.

Of course, Wicked killed at the box office while, despite wonderful reviews, In the Heights sadly flopped (in great part because of COVID). So, the nail choreo was definitely seen by more people recently, and it’s certainly possible that it was similar or the same to the moment in the 2021 film. Personally, I like to think it’s a sweet homage to the other Broadway adaptation Chu and Scott are best known for, and I hope Lin-Manuel Miranda feels the same way.

Now, I need to hear Jon M. Chu’s response to this call out from his colleague, because I need to know if it was a copy and paste or homage situation. In the meantime, I’ll be seeing Miranda’s latest project Mufasa in theaters and going back to see the wonderful film he made with Chu and Scott, In the Heights.

Then, I’m gonna start getting excited about Wicked: For Good’s release on the 2025 movie schedule, and you better believe I’ll be looking for more similarities between its choreography and the dancing in In the Heights and the first Wicked.

It would be difficult for Jon M. Chu to mount a film adaptation of Wicked without paying some tribute to the Broadway sensation’s original stars, Idina Menzel (as Elphaba) and Kristin Chenoweth (as Glinda). Those of you who have seen the new movie – and based on box office numbers, it’s a large number of people – know that Menzel and Chenoweth appear in Wicked in the third act, when Glinda and Elphaba leave Shiz University and arrive in the Emerald City. They are a huge part of the musical number “One Short Day.” But when we spoke with Chu, we learned that they had different plans for Menzel and Chenoweth, and they changed rapidly as the shoot went on.

Jon M. Chu appeared as a guest on CinemaBlend’s official ReelBlend podcast, where he spoke about the film’s reception, and several elements of the filming of the Broadway musical. And when we brought up the cameo appearances of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, we talked about walking the complicated line of showcasing these talents, but not taking audience members out of the movie that they have shown up to see. As “wickedly” talented as Menzel and Chenoweth are, they have the ability of possibly stealing focus away from Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, whose movie this very much is.

But as Chu told us during this exclusive interview:

I love hearing how major sequences in a big movie like Wicked can change during production. It goes to show that no matter how much you plan in advance, and budget and prepare for a production to go a certain way, you have to be willing to push back when, creatively, something doesn’t feel right. Because, as Joh M. Chu went on to explain to us, things can be fixed rather quickly when you surround yourself with geniuses like composer Stephen Schwartz. Chu explained to ReelBlend:

“Give me one night.” Imagine being able to do that? To just scoot off, and write a song that Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel are going to sing in the Wicked movie? Insane. Make sure you listen to our full conversation with Jon M. Chu, on ReelBlend:

It’s great that audiences finally are getting the chance to see a Wicked movie, as the production had been rumored, started, stopped, paused, rushed, held and then some on its way to the screen. It seems to be a powerhouse, and I wonder if that will carry it all the way to the Oscars. Time will tell.

Potential spoilers ahead for Wicked Part 2. If you're not familiar with the stage musical beware!

Over the years, a number of musicals have won Best Picture at the Oscars, and we have another contender in theaters now with the first Wicked movie. Rather than an offbeat musical, Wicked is a global sensation and Broadway blockbuster that fans like myself grew up with. Director Jon M. Chu just gave us a fantastic tease about my favorite song from Wicked Act II, and I think Broadway fans will be thrilled.

What we know about Wicked Part Two is limited, but fans are expecting a fairly straightforward adaptation of the musical's second act. After all, the first movie didn't cut any songs and only dropped a few well-known lines of dialogue. When it was revealed that Wicked was getting two movies, my biggest question was whether my favorite song "The Wicked Witch Of The East" be included, and finally get a recording after being noticeably missing from the original Broadway cast recording. While appearing in ReelBlend, Chu was asked if that song would make into the film, and therefore finally get a recording on its soundtrack. He responded saying:

Do you hear that sound? It's Broadway fans cheering collectively. This is definitely a hopeful message. While Chu was careful not to confirm anything about the second Wicked movie, he seems to be in agreement that Nessa and Boq's big song from Act 2 deserves a recording decades after the Broadway cast recording was released back in 2003. So if you ask me, that means there's a high chance that "The Wicked Witch of The East" will be included in Part 2.

While Nessa and Boq got to sing briefly during "Dancing Through Life", their big feature in Act 2 is definitely "The Wicked Witch of The East." In it we learn that the sister's father died, making Nessa the new Governor of Munchkin Country. But she's been stripping her constituents of their rights in order to keep Boq close to her, despite how he's very much in love with Glinda. And when the magic of The Grimmerie is factored in, things get crazier.

While Elphaba return to ask her sister to stand with her, their relationship issues explode in a mix of dialogue and singing. Because there is important spoken lines happening between every vocal solo, ones that are integral to big plot twists involving Nessa and Boq. And it's likely for this reason that the song was noticeably absent from the cast recording.

It makes sense for Wicked to try and keep its spoilers under wraps, but since this is Nessa's biggest song I've always been miffed about not having a recording of it. Instead, nerds like me have been forced to watch illegal bootlegs of the song (as well as compilations of different Nessas belting out its ending).

Anticipation for the second movie is definitely high, especially after Wicked's record-breaking success. Critics definitely praised Jon M. Chu's musical (see CinemaBlend's Wicked review here), as did audiences.

Wicked Part Two will hit theaters on November 21st, 2025. While we wait, check the 2025 movie release dates.

Wicked has been an undisputed smash hit at the box office since it opened in November, packing in fans of the Broadway musical (obviously) but also rekindling interest in The Wizard of Oz. As you likely know, Wicked reimagines the story of Dorothy in Oz, making us see the classic characters of Glinda and The Wicked Witch of the West in a new light. This time around, we actually start to symphatize with the latter, now called Elphaba (and played to perfection by Cynthia Erivo). But there are still massive staples of the Wizard of Oz mythology that need to appear in Wicked, even if they cause technical headaches for the production team.

One such classic from the source material is the black, pointy hat that Elphaba wears in The Wizard of Oz, with Wicked giving that article of clothing some backstory. It turns out that Glinda (Ariana Grande) passes the hat down to her roommate, Elphaba (Erivo), after it’s deemed too hideous for the “Good Witch” to wear. Maybe the hat should have been the inspiration for the Wicked popcorn bucket? Because when Wicked director Jon M. Chu appeared on CinemaBlend’s official ReelBlend podcast, he spoke about the hat, the important emotional qualities that it had, and the challenge he had simply keeping the tall hat in frame!

Jon M. Chu told ReelBlend:

Now this has me wanting to go back and re-watch The Wizard of Oz to see how original director Victor Fleming handled the challenge of framing the iconic black witch hat in his frames back in 1939. It had to be a real issue. And I didn’t even think about the challenges a director might face if and when their lead actors are different heights. Though, based on this photo, Jon M. Chu figured out how to line his ladies up.

The more Jon M. Chu talked about the hat, he started to unearth other obstacles that came with it. He discussed the “complicated decisions” that had to be made early in the process, up to and including the brim of the hat. As Chu elaborated to ReelBlend:

These behind-the-scenes stories on the making of Wicked are magnificent. Like, “Why are Fiyero’s eyes blue in this movie?” We need answers from this! Unfortunately, we are going to have to wait until Wicked: Part 2 for that, and more details. But we will wait patiently, so long as the sequel is every bit as good as Wicked: Part 1 managed to be.

When I saw Wicked: Part 1 in theaters I had one big, unexpected takeaway: I suddenly felt the palpable urge to audition for a musical. Now don’t get me wrong, nobody needs to hear me sing, but there's something about the infectious energy of the amazing Wicked cast that feels almost scrappy, as if you’re watching a high school production that just so happens to star some of the greatest actors in the world. Well, as it turns out, that was due to the warmth and personal touch that director Jon M. Chu took when communicating with the cast, and Ethan Slater told me the story behind how Chu established such a positive tone almost immediately.

I recently spoke with the cast and crew of Wicked in celebration of the film’s release. Ethan Slater, who plays Boq in the film, was telling me about his first day on set when this delightful little anecdote came up:

What a statement to make to 100 dancers! It’s one thing to kick off production with such energy, but it’s a whole other thing to keep that consistent throughout the shooting of two, simultaneously produced films. However, Jon M. Chu managed to do just that, as Slater went on to explain:

Well that makes perfect sense! As I mentioned previously, something about the environment feels scrappy, almost as if the enormously talented ensemble cast that makes up the students of Shiz are your peers, despite the fact that you’re watching a film with a reported budget of $145 million. As a Broadway veteran, this is what Ethan Slater was referring to when he mentioned “community” in theater, and that certainly comes through on screen.

This isn’t simply something that I alone noticed, as the cast seems to have felt a similar, wide-eyed, theater-kid energy. Slater went on to tell this anecdote about the film’s own Fiyero and lead of the aforementioned Dancing Through Life number, Jonathan Bailey:

Look at you now! After tons of success on Broadway Ethan Slater is starring in one of the biggest blockbusters of the past decade, and one of the biggest movie-musicals of all time. It hasn’t been the easiest road here for Slater, who has had to handle all of the attention surrounding his highly-publicized relationship with Ariana Grande, which resulted in some messy press when it comes to the release of his first major feature film. Despite all of that, it seems that he’s in high spirits regarding the experience overall.

And why shouldn't he be? The film is a hit! It’s already off to a strong start at the box office, with critics praising the performances and our own official review rewarding the film with 5/5 stars. This is sure to be one of the biggest and most talked about new releases in 2024, and you can head to the theater to check it out right now! To get hyped for your screening, make sure to check out our full interviews with the cast and Jon M. Chu. As far as all other news regarding Wicked: Part 1 and Wicked: Part 2, keep it right here at CinemaBlend for the latest.

After an extended shooting period thanks to the strikes, the Wicked movie is finally in theaters. Critics have been praising the musical, and it's also performed well at the box office over opening weekend. But there's been some criticism thrown at the blockbuster, specifically about its color grading. And now director Jon M. Chu has defended stepping away from the "glorious technicolor" look on the big screen.

Since its release in theaters Wicked has broken records, and there's been endless praise for the Wicked cast's performances. But the film's use of color has inspired some discourse online, eventually leading the Crazy Rich Asians director to directly respond.

What Jon M. Chu has said about Wicked's use of color.

Chu and the cast of Wicked has been doing a ton of press for the movie musical, and it seems like those efforts have really payed off at the box office. But no project is without criticism, and some are taking shots at the musical's use of color grading. During a conversation with The Globe and Mail, Chu explained why he pivoted way from the technicolor look of The Wizard Of Oz (which is streaming with a Max subscription). As he put it:

Case closed. The rich technicolor visuals of The Wizard of Oz are certainly striking, but the movie definitely doesn't feel like it's set in reality once Dorothy lands in Munchkinland. So while Wicked is still a super colorful world, he wanted to make sure the environments felt real for audiences... dirt and all.

The trailers for Wicked showed off the movie's beautiful visual language, and it certainly was a colorful and utterly theatrical experience in theaters. Jon M. Chu's vision for a "real" feeling environment included massive practical sets. They also used the real sun as the light source, shooting outside in Pinewoods Studios in the UK. As Chu shared:

There you have it. Clearly there was a very specific vision for how Wicked would look, and Jon M. Chu has seemingly accomplished what he was shooting for. So while some might be complaining about the color grading of the film, it was all done for a very specific reason.

How technicolor was received in The Wizard Of Oz

1939's The Wizard of Oz is one of the most popular movies of all time, and its use of color was one reason why it remains so iconic. Seeing Dorothy go from Sepia to technicolor upon arriving in Oz is a moment of true movie magic, and the colors remain wildly vivid throughout 102-minute runtime.

While audiences immediately responded to the technicolor of The Wizard of Oz, it definitely complicated the shooting schedule. The lighting and costumes had to be extreme in color in order for the film to function, and the technicolor sequences reportedly took a whopping six months to film. While the movie wasn't the first project to use technicolor, it helped make the process famous at the time.

The first Wicked movie is in theaters now, and the sequel will follow suit on November 21st, 2025. For now, check the 2025 movie release dates.

One of the latest new on streaming releases for those with a Hulu subscription is Interior Chinatown. The series based on the bestselling novel from Charles Yu of the same name discusses the unfortunate realities of Asian-Americans being sidelined in the media as it follows a background character living in the world of a Law & Order-esque show called Black & White. Interior Chinatown’s star, Jimmy O. Yang spoke with CinemaBlend about the first time he felt central to a project in his own career with Crazy Rich Asians.

In Interior Chinatown, Jimmy O. Yang plays Willis Wu, a waiter in a Chinese restaurant whose life on the sidelines changes when he witnesses a woman getting kidnapped. During our interview with the actor, he shared that Jon M. Chu’s ensemble film was the first time he felt he’d broken out of the background of a project in Hollywood. In his words:

Jon M. Chu made cinematic history in 2018 when he adapted Crazy Rich Asians, which marked the first time an all-Asian cast led a modern Hollywood movie in 25 years. It also became the highest grossing romantic comedies in a decade. Even though Jimmy O. Yang had a supporting role in the movie as Bernard Tai, a former classmate to Henry Golding’s Nick, the actor shared he didn’t feel like he was supporting. When I asked how much Chu (who is currently getting all the love for helming Wicked) contributed to that, he said this:

Crazy Rich Asians also allowed actors like Henry Golding, Gemma Chan, Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh and Ronny Chieng to break out as Hollywood actors who have since been nonstop busy with more projects. So much so that the Crazy Rich Asians sequel is still not happening yet.

Chieng joins Jimmy O. Yang in Interior Chinatown as Willis’ colleague at the Chinese restaurant, who becomes a main character in his own right as a waiter while Willis moves up in the ranks in roles of Black & White, such as becoming a “tech guy.” During our interview with Yang, the actor shared how being a standup comedian also has helped him become a storyteller. As he shared:

Jimmy O. Yang has soared so high with his standup that he is currently on a North American tour that will take him to Carnegie Hall in New York City, and the massive Kia Forum in Los Angeles. You can watch Interior Chinatown now, and check out our interview with Chloe Bennet and Ronny Chieng for the series here on CinemaBlend as well.

I always knew I’d love the Wicked movie, but I didn’t expect to love it this much. As a casual fan of the original musical as well as Jon M. Chu’s work – like Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights – I knew the project was in good hands. Plus, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo seemed like slam-dunk casting choices. Turns out, all of that is true. And not only is it one of the year's best movies, but it's an adaptation that could go down as one of the best modern movie musicals.

Wicked, which is the first of two parts, follows the first act of the Broadway musical. We meet Glinda (Ariana Grande) and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) as they both attend Shiz University and are forced to room together. What follows is the development of a beautiful friendship that will serve as an emotional lynchpin in the story of how Elphaba became The Wicked Witch of the West.

Overall, it’s a beautiful story about acceptance, inner strength, friendship, and why “everyone deserves a chance to fly.” On top of that, it’s also been brought to life with an immense amount of love and care that’s infectious.

Cynthia Erivo And Ariana Grande Balance Each Other With Pitch Perfect And Powerful Performances

In the lead-up to seeing Wicked, I heard Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo speak many times about how their voices worked so well together when they sang, and let me tell you: it’s heavenly when they collide. However, it’s not just their singing, it’s their acting abilities too. It feels like these two women were born to play Elphaba and Glinda together, and they balance and juxtapose each other wonderfully.

The moment I found out Ariana Grande was cast as Glinda, I knew we were in for something special. At her core, the pop star is a theater kid, and I already knew she was a Wicked superfan. All of that is on full display in this movie as she plays the good witch with great humor and heart.

The scene that comes to mind that demonstrates all this is the opening number, “No One Mourns The Wicked.” The scene where she’s speaking with the Munchkins is hilarious, but it’s quickly put into question as you see the nuanced emotions Glinda is trying to hide as she talks about Elphaba. Then, she sings, and hearing Grande hit those operatic notes is breathtaking. From there, she thrives as the pinkified lady, and that’s in part thanks to her fellow witch played by Cynthia Erivo.

Now, if you want to talk about a show-stopper, at the screening I attended, Cynthia Erivo’s performance caused two rounds of applause. When she opens her mouth to sing her first number, “The Wizard and I,” I got chills. Her vocal performance only gets more and more impressive as she expresses Elphaba’s greatest hopes and dreams. After that, we see her grow into her power, and by the end, when she sings “Defying Gravity,” she’s a changed and determined witch.

Erivo plays Elphaba with so much power, and she absolutely soars in this role.

So does Grande, which is why they’re a match made in heaven. These two have perfect comedic timing, their voices meld beautifully, and they work through the whole movie to build this sisterhood and make it something you care deeply about.

For Wicked to work, you need two actresses who can inhabit Elphaba and Glinda. More importantly, you need two women who balance each other out as these characters do, and that’s exactly what Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande deliver.

Jon M. Chu And Christopher Scott’s Musical Numbers Show The Power Of Great Choreography

Director Jon M. Chu and choreographer Christopher Scott are also a match made in heaven. The pair have been working together for a long time – the duo and Wicked's cinematographer Alice Brooks all worked on In The Heights, another great movie musical. So, between Scott’s choreography, Chu’s direction and Brooks’ cinematography, we get a movie full of perfectly filmed musical moments.

That’s something many if not most musical movies don’t do well, but when it’s done with intention and understanding, it’s magical, and it can make a film shine.

Wicked has multiple massive musical numbers. Take “Dancing Through Life” as an example: from Jonathan Bailey’s Fiyero dancing with all the students in the library to the Ozdust Ballroom moment where Elphaba gets the spotlight, it’s full of big sweeping shots of the entire ensemble moving in sync.

Like the witches’ magic, seeing these massive numbers on the wickedly cool sets adds to the fantastical fun of this film, and it wouldn’t work without it.

In “Dancing Through Life,” getting the close-ups of Bailey showing off his charm gives us the intimate closeness you can’t get on stage. Meanwhile, when they zoom out and show the entire ensemble dancing and spinning around the library, you get to see the whole room swoon for Fiyero while feeling the power of a massive group dancing in unison that you experience when you see a show on stage. Overall, the choreography helps elevate the stories being told in Wicked, and when it’s mixed with thoughtful cinematography and direction what you get is magic.

Through massive numbers like “Dancing Through Life,” “What Is This Feeling” and “One Short Day,” Chu is able to set his scenes and give us an entertaining in into these characters’ mentalities all while showing off the power and beauty of great dancing.

Wicked Isn’t Just A Movie, It’s An Immersive Experience Thanks To Incredible Set Design And An Ensemble Cast Who Feels Like They Came Directly From Oz

Like the film The Wizard of Oz, Wicked transports you into this magical world via practical sets, and while you are there, you see a cast who look like they’ve always lived there. Overall, the sets – which are beautiful and real – gave these actors a playground to be their best selves and truly transform into the characters that inhabit this magical world.

From Jonathan Bailey waltzing around Shiz University like he’s actually a charming prince from Winkie Country to Michelle Yeoh commanding every room she’s in as Madame Morrible, the entire cast is effortless. Then, when you see them on these remarkable sets, they disappear as actors and truly transform into their characters.

This is especially true for Grande and Erivo. In the performance of “Popular," Glinda and Elphaba’s room is overwhelmingly pink, and Grande moves around it like she owns it. During this song, as she transforms Elphaba, she bounces through her belongings with ease, and comedically uses her props – like her wand to ask for a ballgown – masterfully. These sets are like a playground, and they allow this perfect cast to thrive and transform.

Overall, Wicked is a masterpiece. It builds on its source material and adds a sprinkle of movie magic to an already wonderful musical. In the immediate aftermath, I think it will go down as one of the greatest musicals of all time, and that’s all because of how much love, care and attention the cast and crew gave to this wonderful story.