What is the Wicked movie release date? Something has changed within me, and that isn’t just because of the dodgy sandwich I had at lunch. After years of whispers and production hell, the legendary stage show Wicked is finally getting a big-screen, live-action adaptation.
The wheels officially started turning on a move to turn Broadway hit Wicked into one of the best musicals on the big screen back in early 2021, with Jon M. Chu, who directed Crazy Rich Asians and In The Heights, being confirmed as director for new movies based on the stage show. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s casting was revealed later that year, and hype reached a fever pitch after Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey was confirmed to be taking on the role of Fiyero.
We’ve already waited such a long time for what could be one of the best movies ever for musical fans, so it’s no surprise everyone is curious about the Wicked movie release date. Well, we hope by providing you with that knowledge and more, we’re gonna be popular (sorry).
What is the Wicked movie release date?
The Wicked movie is being released in two parts. Wicked: Part 1 will be released on November 27, 2024, while Part 2 will land a year later on November 26, 2025.
You know how you wait years and years for a Wicked movie, and then two come along at once? Wicked was initially meant to be just a standalone movie, but in a statement on his Instagram, Chu explained he decided to split the story in half in order to make it as faithful to the Broadway adaptation as possible.
“As we tried to cut songs or trim characters, those decisions began to feel like fatal compromises to the source material that has entertained us all for so many years,” he wrote. “With more space, we can tell the story of Wicked as it was meant to be told while bringing even more depth and surprises to the journeys of these beloved characters.”
In July 2023, Chu confirmed on Twitter that production had been paused due to the Actors Strike, with just a few days left to shoot. He made it clear that the release date shouldn’t be affected, but watch this space.
Who’s in the Wicked movie cast?
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo will be leading the cast as Glinda and Elphaba, respectively, while Bridgerton heartthrob Jonathan Bailey will be playing Fiyero.
All three of these stars have serious musical pedigree, so we’re excited to see what they can do with their roles. We also have the small matter of Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh as The Wizard and Madame Morrible, respectively, alongside The Greatest Showman’s Keala Settle.
Here’s the confirmed Wicked movie cast list:
- Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba
- Ariana Grande as Glinda
- Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero
- Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible
- Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard
- Marissa Bode as Nessarose
- Keala Settle as Miss Coddle
- Ethan Slater as Boq
What will the Wicked movie be about?
The plot for Wicked is set to closely follow that of the Broadway musical of the same name, following Elphaba and the events that made her into The Wicked Witch of the West.
The musical itself was an adaptation of the 1995 novel ‘Wicked’ by Gregory Maguire, which acts as a part-prequel, part-retelling, and part-sequel to The Wizard of Oz.
So, Wicked will center on Elphaba, the woman who later becomes known as The Wicked Witch of The West and her friendship with Glinda — who later becomes known as the Good Witch of the North. The musical follows the pair’s relationship after they meet as roommates at Shiz University right up until the events of one of the best adventure movies ever, The Wizard of Oz.
It provides a new perspective on the story we all know so well and includes already-established characters like The Wicked Witch of the East, the Wizard, and Scarecrow, as well as some brand-new ones.
Is there a Wicked trailer?
Sorry, there isn’t a trailer for the Wicked movies yet, but we expect that we might see a first look early in 2024.
In the meantime, watch the original Elphaba, Idina Menzel, singing the musical’s signature song: Defying Gravity. We can’t wait to see what a vocal powerhouse like Cynthia Erivo can do with this classic track.
Where can I watch Wicked?
Both parts of the Wicked movie will be exclusive to cinemas and, let’s face it, they deserve the biggest screen possible.
Wicked Part 1 and 2 both have Thanksgiving releases, so we can expect them to both be holiday season blockbusters. Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of time to get your ticket. So, if you care to find me, I’ll be waiting to see the Wicked movie in cinemas.
If that’s not enough from your trip to Oz, learn more about the Wicked movie filming locations and find out how Wicked inspired a terrifying childhood memory for Jeff Goldblum. Or change pace completely and check out what Patrick Wilson said about an Insidious musical.
We’ve also got everything you need to know about upcoming musicals, including the Wonka release date and the Frozen 3 release date.