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 this musical back in early 2021, with Jon M. Chu, who directed Crazy Rich Asians and In The Heights, being confirmed as director for the new movie. 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 in September 2022.
We’ve already waited such a long time for the movie, 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).
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 December 25, 2025.
In March 2023, fans got some news about the Wicked movie coming sooner than we first thought. Wicked Part 1 will now arrive for Thanksgiving in the US on November 27th, 2024. Part 2 is still slated to release on December 25, 2025, but this could change, according to Variety.
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. “So, we decided to give ourselves a bigger canvas and make not just one Wicked movie, but two! 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.”
Wicked movie cast
We couldn’t be more excited about the cast of the Wicked movie! Pop sensation Ariana Grande, who has also starred in her fair share of TV series and specials like Hairspray Live, Victorious, and Scream Queens, will be taking on the role of Glinda.
She’ll be starring opposite Cynthia Erivo, who, as well as recently appearing in the live-action Disney remake of Pinnochio, also received two Academy Award nominations for Harriet — not only for her role as Harriet Tubman but also for co-writing and singing the movie’s original song, ‘Stand Up.’
We can also look forward to seeing Bridgerton cast member Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero and the likes of Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum in supporting roles.
Who’s in the Wicked movie cast?
- Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba
- Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero
- Ariana Grande as Glinda
- Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible
- Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard
- Marissa Bode as Nessarose
- Keala Settle as Miss Coddle
- Ethan Slater as Boq
Wicked plot
The plot for Wicked is set to closely follow that of the Broadway musical of the same name.
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.
Wicked will centre 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 at Shiz University right up until the events of the adventure movie 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.
Plot-wise, the musical made few notable departures from the novel, and given that the Wicked movie is an adaptation of the musical rather than the novel, it is likely that it will follow suit.
So, if you care to find me, I’ll be waiting to see the Wicked movie in cinemas. But if you want to go back and see where it all began, you can rent or purchase The Wizard of Oz on streaming service Amazon Prime, or stream with a subscription on HBO Max.
