Wicked director Jon M. Chu says he was inspired by Steven Spielberg’s Hook when making the upcoming musical adaptation.
Speaking with Vanity Fair, Chu discussed the realistic sets that were used on the set of Wicked, which releases in United States theaters this November. According to the publication, the movie doesn’t utilize excessive CGI; rather, the yellow brick road had actual mud, and a real train was made to bring Glinda (Ariana Grande) and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) to Emerald City.
“I was like, ‘I want to do it the way I dreamed about it as a kid when I watched Hook,’” Chu said. “Behind the scenes, Steven Spielberg was on a dock with a giant pirate ship. I’m like, ‘If this is my one opportunity to do this, I want to do that.’”
What is Wicked about?
“Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony-winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart. The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.”
Along with Erivo and Grande, Wicked stars Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar, Ethan Slater as Boq, Marissa Bode as Nessarose Thropp, Bowen Yang as Pfannee, Bronwyn James as ShenShen, and Keala Settle as Miss Coddle.
Wicked releases in United States theaters on November 27, 2024. A sequel, Wicked Part Two, is scheduled for November 26, 2025.
