Samantha Barks as Elphaba? — Page 2

I think you could cast unknowns because Wicked is such a recognizable commodity.

If that were true then Les Miserables, a much more recognizable commodity would have been cast with unknowns.

I wish Dreamgirls had never given Jennifer Hudson the idiotic "and introducing" credit.

Why? Did it really effect you that much?

The thing about Wicked is that it was a complete phenomenon with young people. I'm currently 20 and I remember the complete fanaticism surrounding it by ALL people- not just the theatre kids. And 70% of these kids could not tell you that it was Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth they were singing along to. And 85% probably couldn't name 10 other musicals. So I have to agree that people of MY generation are going to be seeing it regardless of who's in it.

However, like I said before, they will need to pad a cast of talented unknowns with some big names. They could get relatively unknown actresses for Elphaba and Glinda, but then everyone else needs to be fairly famous.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't there something in the contracts of Menzel and Chenoweth that they got first dibs on the movie if they wanted it. I thought I heard they negotiated this once they were in the show and it "blew up" and a movie was expected to come quickly.

Updated On: 1/5/13 at 07:29 PM

If you want to hear riffin' on WICKED songs then get Aretha Franklin to record it....she'll riff and melisma that sucka till yo ears bleed!