First Wicked movie to be released earlier than originally planned 

The first Wicked movie will be released earlier than originally planned. 

Leading the film are Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as Elphaba and Glinda, with Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard, with Ethan Slater as Boq. 

LA-based Marissa Bode (No Roles Written, Little Shop of Horrors) will take on the role of Elphaba’s sister Nessarose, with SNL break-out star Bowen Yang as Shiz University classmate Pfannee and UK-based performer Bronwyn James (The Dig) as student ShenShen.

Also in the cast are Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman) as Miss Coddle, UK stage star Aaron Teoh (But I’m A Cheerleader: The Musical) as Avaric and Colin Michael Carmichael (Snow White) as Nikidik.

Director Jon M Chu said today: “We are deep into production on Wicked and everyday we get more and more excited to share with you the mischief we’ve been up to. So…We’ve decided to get it to you all a little earlier than planned. Our new release date is 27 November 2024! A little Thanksgiving treat!”

Based on the hit novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, Wicked tells the story of two unlikely university friends in the land of Oz, one destined to become Glinda The Good and the other, the Wicked Witch of the West.

2023 will also mark the 20th anniversary of the original Broadway production, while the show is currently in its 17th year in the West End, where it has been seen by 11 million people.

Universal Pictures plans to release the second part of the film in time for Christmas 2025. Wicked writers Winnie Holzman (book) and Stephen Schwartz (score) are collaborating on the screenplay.

A UK tour will also launch in late 2023, so it’ll probably be quicker to see it on stage than in cinemas!