Universal's WICKED Films - News & Discussion Thread — Page 107

‘Wicked’ Earns $70 Million in First Week of Digital Release



https://variety.com/2025/film/news/wicked-digital-sales-vod-record-70-million-1236271096/

In a new interview at Variety, Ariana Grande reveals how playing Glinda has changed her life and her longtime obsession with ''Wicked.''

Grande, who made her Broadway debut as Charlotte in Jason Robert Brown's ''13,'' wants to see more Broadway musicals on the big screen:

“I’d love to see ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ and ‘Spamalot’ as movies,” she says. She goes on to name “Next to Normal” and “Avenue Q,” the show that beat “Wicked” at the 2004 Tony Awards. ”But we need to update it a little bit.”

(Back in 2009, I had a brief celebrity brush with a 15-year-old Grande. I had invited Graham Phillips, the star of ''13,'' to sing at our ''Leading Men IV'' benefit for Broadway Cares at Birdland. The two of them were dating then, and I remember her hanging onto Phillips' arm for dear life. They were adorable, and we even took a backstage photo. I couldn't never guessed Grande would become a pop star and now an Oscar contender for ''Wicked.'' Brava!)

https://variety.com/2025/film/awards/ariana-grande-wicked-2-original-song-eternal-sunshine-deluxe-release-1236271770/

Updated On: 1/12/25 at 12:48 PM

I'd love a remake of My Fair Lady with Ari as Eliza

I was an original naysayer for this movie. It bothered me that it was being split into two films…and a year apart.

i finally watched it last night and, for the most part, i was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I have always had a chip on my shoulder when it comes to Cynthia Erivo…mostly from reading negative posts about her over the years on this board. After about 20 minutes, she sold me and I thought her performance was wonderful. Ariana Grande was really good, too.

The film was visually spectacular…almost too much so for me. It was so scrubbed and polished to a somewhat sterile sheen that it bothered me. However, nitpicking aside, I will admit I was wrong about this film. It’s an amazing achievement and I look forward to Part 2.

binau said: "Maybe it goes deeper than this but my understanding RE: Cynthia Erivo backlash is it's more to do with her aggressive online personality, I don't think many people can deny her talent? I always think best to separate the artist from the person."

Hard to forget her effort in closing Comet.

Wicked earned 10 Academy Award Nominations including Best Actress (Cynthia Erivo), Best Supporting Actress (Ariana Grande), and Best Picture.

It also gets a nom for Production Design, Costumes, Editing, and Score (this one is a lovely surprise).

Big congrats to the cast and crew for Wicked with its 10 Oscar nominations! Best Score was a pleasant surprise and one where it makes sense for it being nominated. It's so refreshing to see a film adaptation of a Broadway musical to be a box office hit and an awards darling at the same time. The last time that this happened to my knowledge was Chicago.

Not being nominated for best director is ridiculous.

From Clayton Davis in Variety on why ''Wicked'' was able to score an Oscar nomination for its music:

Some on social media have wondered how the adaptation of the Broadway musical “Wicked” was eligible for original score, especially considering the controversy of Hans Zimmer’s “Dune: Part Two” being deemed ineligible.

The Academy’s rules stipulate that a score must comprise at least 35% of the film’s total music. With “Wicked” clocking in at 160 minutes, it required 56 minutes of original music. The film’s 11 songs total approximately 54 minutes, leaving plenty of room for Stephen Schwartz and John Powell’s score to qualify and make a lasting impression.

Also, I’m sure ... Schwartz’s nine prior Oscar nominations and three wins also played a role in swaying voters.

Updated On: 1/23/25 at 06:07 PM

BwayLB said: "I think Idina Menzel should be the Narrator in that Joseph movie Jon M Chu and Andrew Lloyd Webber are trying to get off the ground."

You don’t want her in Sonic the Hedgehog 4?

Voter said: "Another joke of a group of Oscar nominees. Wickedis literally a Marvel movie with music. No Chu wasn't snubbed, the award is for best direction, not most direction. His conceptionofthis was exhaustingly restless and endlessly slow. I like Erivo, but she forgets how to act anytime the song intros end andthey pickup in tempo. Grande is doing a Chenoweth impersonation, except she sounds like **** on the high operatic notes."

Okay Oscar Expert - Take away all the nominations that offend your little soul and tell us who you would have nominated instead. Be specific.

Matt Rogers, you're unnecessarily rude. And me naming movies doesn't add anything to this.



Wicked was overwhelmingly busy and ugly for it. Not to mention the film getting nominated for VFX. It's impressive Chu can put all this together, but it doesn't make it good.

BwayLB said: "I think Idina Menzel should be the Narrator in that Joseph movie Jon M Chu and Andrew Lloyd Webber are trying to get off the ground."

"We all Ndream a laat, some are Nlucky, some are Lnaat"