Universal's WICKED Films - News & Discussion Thread- Page 114

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 9/26/25 at 2:48pm

Personally found the side characters to be pretty annoying. Will be annoyed if they are shoehorned in more just cause. Why are we talking about an "expanded wicked universe" like there's gonna be a third film?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 9/26/25 at 2:55pm

FWIW, I too found them annoying and unnecessary. It’s not like they ruined the movie for me or anything, but much like Keala Settle’s role, I just thought “why…?”

Updated On: 9/26/25 at 02:55 PM

[HBP]

Posted: 9/26/25 at 8:05pm

I thought Bowen’s lines and delivery were some of the funniest in the movie. 

[MagicalMusical]

Posted: 9/27/25 at 12:22am

AEA AGMA SM said: "In the novel Munchkinland has seceded from Oz, and the shoes have become a symbol of Nessa's leadership as the head of the Free State of Munchkinland. Glinda gives them to Dorothy because she feared that their power, and the fight to get control of them, would ignite a civil war within Munchkinland."

Oh, thank you so much! I just wonder further, so were the shoes a symbol of unwanted leadership of a free state? Like a free state would have a different way of appointing a leader? Or was it just desiring power that could lead to fighting and a civil war?

It is also kinda weird Glinda made them so powerful, beyond merely allowing one to...what did they do for Nessa? Wasn't it just the feeling of "ghost arms"? But the book said magic was kind of an unwieldy thing, right? So maybe the power to travel anywhere would cause fighting? Why didn't Nessa use them to travel anywhere?

Updated On: 9/27/25 at 12:22 AM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 9/27/25 at 6:47am

HBP said: "I thought Bowen’s lines and delivery were some of the funniest in the movie."

Though he had scripted dialogue, Jon Chu ended up using his improvised alternate takes in the finished film.  

[Dreamboy3]

Posted: 9/27/25 at 7:23am

John Adams said: "darquegk said: "The thing I need to see explained more is the timeline. The stage show is extremely vague on whether it's days, weeks or many years that pass between the end of Act 1 and the start of Act 2."

It helps to be familiar with Maguire's book. According to the book, it's about 5 years.

"

Except that in the book Elphaba does actually melt. Not sure the book is a reliable guide. 

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 9/27/25 at 9:22am

There’s also the fact that the events of the book that Act 2 used span about 14 or 15 years. Elphaba and Fiyero reconnect about 5 years after she and Glinda meet the Wizard. After he is attacked she spends 7 years in the mauntery before setting out for Kiamo Ko to try to seek forgiveness from his wife and family. She then spends roughly another 7 years there before the tornado and arrival of Dorothy into Oz.

[ElephantLoveMedley]

Posted: 10/8/25 at 9:12am

Tickets to Wicked: For Good are now on sale.

[MagicalMusical]

Posted: 10/9/25 at 12:29am

AEA AGMA SM said: "There’s also the fact that the events of the book that Act 2 used span about 14 or 15 years. Elphaba and Fiyero reconnect about 5 years after she and Glinjoda meet the Wizard. After he is attacked she spends 7years in the mauntery before setting out for Kiamo Ko to try to seek forgiveness from his wife and family. She then spends roughly another 7 years there before the tornado and arrival of Dorothy into Oz."

Thanks for that reminder from the book! I think Wicked's musical and movie are best when they keep the time vague...

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 10/9/25 at 8:04am

Anyone else braving the double feature on 11/20? I sure am. Can’t wait!

[MezzA101]

Posted: 10/10/25 at 10:20am

What Would Elphaba Grow? The Botanical Garden Has Some Ideas.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/arts/design/wicked-new-york-botanical-garden.html?unlocked_article_code=1.sU8.JY5Z.18njJkdxnxGI&smid=nytcore-android-share

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 10/10/25 at 4:41pm

Just like the first film, Cynthia Erivo will be campaigned as lead while Ariana Grande will be going supporting for the upcoming awards run for the second one.
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Cynthia-Erivo-to-Campaign-for-Lead-Actress-for-WICKED-FOR-GOOD-20251010

[MagicalMusical]

Posted: 10/11/25 at 12:31am

Thanks, Jeffrey. I definitely feel like Ariana and Cynthia are co-leads, but it's great Ariana doesn't mind the one the musical is more about to be nominated as lead and not both of them.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 10/15/25 at 10:22am

WICKED: PART ONE Returning to Theaters Ahead of FOR GOOD

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 10/16/25 at 11:50am

Jon M. Chu Teases Secret Celebrity Casting for Cowardly Lion in WICKED: FOR GOOD

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 10/16/25 at 1:32pm

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "Jon M. Chu Teases Secret Celebrity Casting for Cowardly Lion in WICKED: FOR GOOD"

Bert Lahr?!

[Musical Master]

Posted: 10/16/25 at 3:42pm

The more and more I see of this, the more I have some hope that this movie will largely improve the flawed second act of Wicked which was always a big weak spot in what is otherwise a really good stage musical. I'm really curious about how the two new songs: "No Place Like Home" and "The Girl in the Bubble" will fit into the plot and not feel like they're there for Oscar bait.

[Claudia Draper]

Posted: 10/17/25 at 9:32pm

JOEL GREY? The original Wizard?  Can it be him ?  I’d love it 

[darquegk]

Posted: 10/17/25 at 10:52pm

I can see Grey getting a cameo, but more like the cameos in the first film which winked at the show's mythology in a (mostly) unobtrusive way. It sounds like the Lion is supposed to be a huge get for mainstream audiences that wouldn't recognize Joel Grey by his voice, especially since most of them haven't heard him for fifty years since "Cabaret."

It's going to be a major film and TV star with an instantly recognizable voice; the rumors circulating are Jack Black and Tom Hanks, though people keep noting that the lion LOOKS like Ian McKellen.

[macbeth]

Posted: 10/18/25 at 10:58am

Love the Joel Grey idea, as a nice cameo bookend to his film career. 

Or, 

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 10/18/25 at 5:09pm

Well he says he reached out via Instagram so it's likely not someone older. So I would doubt it's Ian McKellan...

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/18/25 at 5:27pm

"older" people have Instagram accounts.

I am going out on a limb here.....

I am thinking James Earl Jones. A very recognizable voice. The film wrapped about 9 months before Jones passed away. Jones also had an Instagram account that is said to be managed by others since his death. Evidently the lines were recorded remotely. Possible that is the only way they were able to do it if he was not in great physical health at the time. 

I am probably wrong!

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 10/18/25 at 6:28pm

uncageg said: ""older" people have Instagram accounts.

I am going out on a limb here.....

I am thinking James Earl Jones. A very recognizable voice. The film wrapped about 9 months before Jones passed away. Jones also had an Instagram account that is said to be managed by others since his death. Evidently the lines were recorded remotely. Possible that is the only way they were able to do it if he was not in great physical health at the time.

I am probably wrong!"

He also mentioned the actor walking the red carpet, so not somebody who is dead. I'm sure the Lion was not cast until the last few months. 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 10/18/25 at 6:33pm

I'm guessing the Cowardly Lion—seen as a cub in Part 1 and now grown in Part 2, though still fairly young—will be voiced by a much younger actor than most of the names suggested here.

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/18/25 at 6:37pm

TheatreFan4 said: "uncageg said: ""older" people have Instagram accounts.

I am going out on a limb here.....

I am thinking James Earl Jones. A very recognizable voice. The film wrapped about 9 months before Jones passed away. Jones also had an Instagram account that is said to be managed by others since his death. Evidently the lines were recorded remotely. Possible that is the only way they were able to do it if he was not in great physical health at the time.

I am probably wrong!"

He also mentioned the actor walking the red carpet, so not somebody who is dead. I'm sure the Lion was not cast until the last few months."

 

Forgot that part! Oh well, the guessing goes on!