Film Version Of Wicked In The WorksAt long last comes news that
Universal Pictures, which serves as a producer for the worldwide megahit stage musical
Wicked, has plans to bring the backstory of Elphaba and Glinda to the big screen.
According to
Variety, the movie version of
Wicked won't happen anytime soon since the global phenomenon is still riding a wave of popularity that has not yet begun to crest. Already, the tuner has taken in over $1 billion around the world via its eight productions on four continents (and in three languages).
Variety reports that while producer
Marc Platt is in "early" discussions with Universal,
Wicked's librettist
Winnie Holtzman will write the screenplay.
Variety quotes Universal's production president Donna Langley:
Our goal now is absolutely to make the Wicked film, but much like Judy Craymer wouldn't give up screen rights to Mamma Mia! until the stage show had reached its pinnacle, Marc and Stephen Schwartz are very mindful of the right timing. But we're dying to do it.
Meanwhile, Platt remains a very busy man. He's not only producing the upcoming Broadway revival of
Pal Joey, but he's also helping shepherd three other movie musicals, including the upcoming
Rob Marshall-helmed
Nine (filming begins this fall in London), a big-screen remake of
Jesus Christ Superstar and a biopic of
George Gershwin.
I'll report on any further developments on
Wicked's silver screen incarnation as they become available. Perhaps we can finally start prognosticating on who would comprise our dream cast. Anyone?
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Related Stories:One Short Day, In Universal's Emerald City (June 27, 2007)
Wicked To Finally Land In Oz During 2008 (May 26, 2007)
Wicked World (March 19, 2007)
Hollywood Becomes Wicked (February 21, 2007)
Five Times More Wicked (July 17, 2006)
Labels: Film, First Word On New Movie, Marc Platt, Universal Studios, Wicked, Winnie Holtzman
One Short Day, In Universal's Emerald CityEver since first hearing the strains of the song "One Short Day" from the mega-hit musical
Wicked, I figured it would eventually end up in a commercial for the tuner's financial backer
Universal Studios. After all,
Stephen Schwartz's zippy song sounds more like an advert jingle tailor-made for a theme park than a Broadway showtune.
Now, Universal Studios Hollywood has announced that beginning tomorrow, it is launching
Wicked Wednesdays.
Carol Kane, who currently plays Madame Morrible in the LA cast of
Wicked, will take to the Blues Brothers stage for an "exclusive performance" as part of the special summer series that also features autograph-signing sessions, photo opps with the cast, face painting, karaoke contests and sale of its ubiquitous
Wicked merchandise and tickets.
Clearly, as the
Wicked franchise continues to grow both domestically and
internationally, the added attention will not only drive demand for even more tickets, but it will also create more momentum as Universal undoubtedly moves toward a film version.
No word yet on whether "One Short Day" is being used to advertise
Wicked Wednesdays.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for Universal Studios Hollywood tickets. Click here for Wicked Broadway tickets.Click here for Wicked Chicago tickets.Click here for Wicked London tickets.Click here for Wicked Los Angeles tickets.Click here for Wicked - Die Hexen Von Oz Stuttgart tickets.Click here for Wicked Tokyo ticket information.Click here for Wicked U.S. Tour ticket information.Related Stories:Wicked To Finally Land In Oz During 2008 (May 16, 2007)
Wicked (The SOB Revisit) - London (April 17, 2007)
Theatre For A New Age (April 8, 2007)
Wicked World (March 19, 2007)
Were London Critics Mourning West End Wicked? (September 28, 2006)
West End Wicked Opens Tonight (September 27, 2006)
Wicked Witch of the West End Takes Flight Tonight (September 7, 2006)
Five Times More Wicked (July 17, 2006)
Wicked's West End Witches Update (May 17, 2006)
Worldwide Wicked Casting News (May 5, 2006)
Encore: Spotlight Week Ending April 30, 2006 (April 30, 2006)
Labels: Broadway, California, Los Angeles, Musical, Stephen Schwartz, Universal Studios, Wicked
Wicked World
While I had been predicting an expansion into the lucrative Australian market -- and
that apparently is now a certainty for 2008 -- little did I realize that the production would first be ready to branch out into non-English speaking countries. In fact, the team behind
Wicked has now announced plans to expand with new productions in both Japan and Germany.
In Deutschland, look for the German-language Wicked: Die Hexen Von Oz (rough translation: "The Witches of Oz") to land at Stuttgart's Palladium Theatre on November 15.
All of which makes me continue wondering when Universal Studios, the film studio bankrolling this theatrical juggernaut, will finally announce firm plans for a silver screen version. If Wicked succeeds in both Tokyo and Stuttgart, I'm hazarding a guess that the announcement will come by the beginning of next year. Any other guesses?
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for Wicked Broadway tickets.Click here for Wicked Chicago tickets.Click here for Wicked London tickets.Click here for Wicked Los Angeles tickets.Click here for Wicked U.S. Tour ticket information.Related Stories:For Good: Wicked Wins LA Critical Praise (March 1, 2007)
Hollywood Becomes Wicked (February 27, 2007)
Were London Critics Mourning West End Wicked? (September 28, 2006)
West End Wicked Opens Tonight (September 27, 2006)
Wicked Witch of the West End Takes Flight Tonight (September 7, 2006)
Jaaku or Neikan? Wicked Set for Japanese Translation (July 24, 2006)
Five Times More Wicked (July 17, 2006)
Wicked's West End Witches Update (May 17, 2006)
Worldwide Wicked Casting News (May 5, 2006)
Encore: Spotlight Week Ending April 30, 2006 (April 30, 2006)
Labels: Broadway, Chicago, First Word On New Show, Germany, Japan, London, Los Angeles, Musical, Touring Production, Universal Studios, Wicked
