After languishing in development for several years, Universal Pictures is finally moving forward with their adaptation of the Broadway sensationWicked. The studio announced today that this long-awaited project has been given a December 20, 2019release date. As of now, the movie’s only direct competition is an untitled live action fairy tale project from Disney.
Deadlinereports that producersMarc Plattand Universal Pictures had initially developed this story as a movie, before changing directions and crafting it as a stage show. The play opened in 2003, and quickly recouped its $14 million budget in 2004, en route to becoming one of the biggestBroadway musicalsof all time. The production has grossed more than $1 billion on Broadway, and over $4 billion worldwide.
The play featured an original cast that includedIdina Menzel,Kristin ChenowethandJoel Grey. Based onGregory Maguire’s novelWicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, the play retellsL. Frank Baum’sThe Wizard of Ozfrom the perspective of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, while offering untold stories of other Oz characters such as Glinda the Good Witch, Prince Fieryo and the Wizard of Oz himself.
Universal first started developing themovie adaptationin 2010, withMarc Plattreturning to produce. At the time, coveted filmmakers such asJ.J. Abrams,James Mangold,Rob MarshallandRyan Murphywere being sought to direct, but in 2012,Stephen Daldrysigned on to direct, and he has been attached ever since. The filmmaker will work from a script byWinnie Holzmanand composer-lyricistStephen Schwartz, who wrote the story, music and lyrics for the play.
Back in 2014,Stephen Schwartzinsisted that the movie adaptation was still coming together, and last year,Marc Plattteased that theWicked moviewas being eyed for a 2016 release date. Since we still have more than three years before this long-awaited stage adaptation hits theaters, it remains to be seen when casting will get under way. While we wait for more details, take a look at Universal Pictures' tweet, announcing the release date.
