NEW YORK. As Jon M. Chu gears up to release one of the most highly anticipated films of the year, Wicked, he’s embracing the challenge of bringing one of Broadway’s most beloved musicals to the big screen. “Musical” might be a tough sell in Hollywood these days, but for Chu, it’s more than a genre—it’s an art form.
“When words aren’t enough, music is the extension of your expression,” says Chu, whose previous directorial work includes the acclaimed In the Heights (2021). “That’s what movies do, and that’s what musicals do. It’s the most beautiful thing when tied to the characters’ emotions and journey.”
Scheduled for release by Universal Pictures on November 22, Wicked is already considered one of the year’s biggest cinematic undertakings. The film is not only a massive production but has also been split into two parts, with the second installment slated for fall 2025. Chu’s adaptation stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West, and pop star Ariana Grande as Glinda the Good Witch.
The film is rooted in the world of The Wizard of Oz and will trace the backstory of its iconic characters. Wicked, based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, has been in development as a film almost since the Broadway show debuted in 2003. However, previous attempts by directors like J.J. Abrams, Ryan Murphy, and Stephen Daldry never came to fruition—until now.
Chu, whose parents immigrated to America from Taiwan and China, connects deeply with the themes of Wicked. “The story really hits home,” he reflects. “‘The Wizard of Oz’ had such an influence on my family’s journey. We came to America with these dreams, and we’re in a period of cultural change where the Yellow Brick Road may not be the right path for everyone. That’s what Wicked captures.”
Casting Ariana Grande, however, was not as straightforward as it might seem. Despite her global fame, Chu had reservations about whether Grande, in her first major film role, could handle the weight of such a performance. “Ari came in five times to audition. Every time, she was the most interesting person in the room,” Chu shares. “I resisted. I thought, ‘There’s no way Ariana Grande, the pop star we know, can carry this film.’ But she’ll blow your mind—she’s going to break hearts.”
Erivo, on the other hand, was an easier decision. Already a Tony, Grammy, and Emmy winner, Erivo’s raw talent was undeniable. “I knew Cynthia could do ‘Defy Gravity’ anytime, anywhere,” Chu says. “What I didn’t expect was how vulnerable she could be. When she sang ‘The Wizard and I,’ I saw her wounds. That’s the magic of cinema—to see someone so raw.”
The film’s two parts will each focus on one of the witches’ transformations, with Elphaba’s taking center stage in the first, and Glinda’s journey highlighted in the second. “The structure made it easier to split the film into two parts,” says veteran producer Marc Platt, who has worked on films like La La Land and Legally Blonde. “It’s the same story, but each character undergoes a significant change in their respective halves.”
One of the most striking details about Chu’s approach to the film is his commitment to building an immersive Oz. His sets were so elaborate that he even had nine million tulips grown to create the landscapes. “Very few filmmakers get the chance to paint Oz, and I took that responsibility seriously,” says Chu. “We built Emerald City, Munchkin Land, a 16-ton Emerald City train—you could walk around these places and enter the shops. It was a world you could live in.”
With Wicked, Chu is taking a bold gamble, aiming to create not just a film but a theatrical experience that will captivate audiences. He remains undaunted by the weight of expectations, fully embracing the opportunity to tell this story in a way only cinema can. “We had to shoot the moon,” he declares, confident in his team and their vision.
As the November release approaches, fans of both Wicked and The Wizard of Oz will no doubt be eager to see how Chu has brought this magical world to life on the big screen.
