Universal's WICKED Films - News & Discussion Thread- Page 81

[MagicalMusical]

Posted: 11/15/24 at 3:21pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Back from a screening of this and just have to say - believe the hype. I went in still not totally sold on this being two parts but yes, it absolutely 100% earns every second of it's run time and Ariana and Cynthia are divine. Ari is doing some truly phenomenal comedic work (I'll be laughing about one of her first lines in the film, for a week) and Cynthia is equally great. I teared up multiple times and not only over Bailey's tight pants. I can't wait for this to release next week to discuss it in detail.

But every added bit of story and songis welcome and nothing at all feels superfluous. Thank God this was done by someone who understands and respects musicals, unlike so many of the directors out there who feel they have change musicals to make them "less musical". Jon Chu can direct every movie musical ever again, for my money."

I always love your reviews. and thank you so much for this one! Fun and informative to read as always, and I feel even more excited to see it!

Rentaholic2 said: "I’ve heard riffing / optioning up in One Short Day, Popular, Wizard and I, Dancing Through Life, and Defying Gravity, just from the trailers and clips. It’s a little much. Is Doctor Dillamond gonna turn Something Bad into an American Idol audition? That’s my one criticism so far, but everything else looks amazing."

You know, I actually like the riffing, but your Dr. Dillamond comment was so funny I LOLed!

[Musical Master]

Posted: 11/15/24 at 3:39pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Back from a screening of this and just have to say - believe the hype. I went in still not totally sold on this being two parts but yes, it absolutely 100% earns every second of it's run time and Ariana and Cynthia are divine. Ari is doing some truly phenomenal comedic work (I'll be laughing about one of her first lines in the film, for a week) and Cynthia is equally great. I teared up multiple times and not only over Bailey's tight pants. I can't wait for this to release next week to discuss it in detail.

But every added bit of story and songis welcome and nothing at all feels superfluous. Thank God this was done by someone who understands and respects musicals, unlike so many of the directors out there who feel they have change musicals to make them "less musical". Jon Chu can direct every movie musical ever again, for my money."

I'm glad you really enjoyed it Jordan! As for the other comments about the review embargo, thanks for having that cleared up. I forgot that Barbie and Oppenheimer had late review embargos as well, and they both ended up with positive reviews. We'll see what happens in about 4 days.

[Theatre Fan3]

Posted: 11/15/24 at 3:57pm

Has anyone seen a 3D screening of the film yet?

[NormasTurban]

Posted: 11/15/24 at 4:46pm

Were there any other cameos Jordan? Beyond the obvious Kristin and Idina.

I read that Kerry Ellis was supposed to pop up.

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 11/15/24 at 4:55pm

NormasTurban said: "Were there any other cameos Jordan? Beyond the obvious Kristin and Idina.

I read that Kerry Ellis was supposed to pop up."

 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

Stephen Schwartz is supposed to have a cameo as well. I read he’s got the “the Wizard will see you now” line in One Short Day.

 

Updated On: 11/15/24 at 04:55 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/15/24 at 4:55pm

NormasTurban said: "Were there any other cameos Jordan? Beyond the obvious Kristin and Idina.

I read that Kerry Ellis was supposed to pop up."

 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

I didn't notice Kerry Ellis anywhere. Alice Fearn had a nice little cameo. And don't read further if you don't want to know about Kristin and Idina. DON'T READ. CLOSE THIS OUT.




 

 

 



They have more than just a little cameo and the theater just ERUPTED with laughter and applause. It was absolutely perfect. But go into the movie and just let it surprise you when it happens.

 

[NormasTurban]

Posted: 11/15/24 at 5:02pm

Interesting! 
I remember hearing a few of the British Elphabas had been invited to film something so it’ll be a shame if they’ve been cut apart from Alice.

[Globefan]

Posted: 11/15/24 at 8:09pm

Maybe Kerry is in the second movie 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/16/24 at 8:54am

Exactly. I was informed that countless cameos are in the film but spread out throughout both films. Both films were shot as one film so filming is complete. Everyone filmed their cameos around the same time and only they know which half of the film their parts will be shown. 

[theatretenor2]

Posted: 11/18/24 at 8:51am

It's the day of the show for many of us! Please do not turn this movie into a sing-a-long unless it is otherwise noted as such on your ticket. As far as I know, there are no such screenings scheduled. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/18/24 at 9:12am

This is going to flop hard. 

It’ll have a nice first week, but most of the reviews will be tepid (save for the two leads’ performances) and it will be overshadowed by MOANA 2 come Turkey Day. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/18/24 at 9:23am

EDSOSLO858 said: "This is going to flop hard.

It’ll have a nice first week, but most of the reviews will be tepid (save for the two leads’ performances) and it will be overshadowed by MOANA 2 come Turkey Day."

[JP2]

Posted: 11/18/24 at 9:26am

EDSOSLO858 said: "This is going to flop hard.

It’ll have a nice first week, but most of the reviewswill be tepid (save for the two leads’ performances) and it will be overshadowed by MOANA 2 come Turkey Day."

I read this thinking it was a quote from over a year ago. Laughable.

[Kad]

Posted: 11/18/24 at 9:29am

EDSOSLO858 said: "This is going to flop hard.

It’ll have a nice first week, but most of the reviewswill be tepid (save for the two leads’ performances) and it will be overshadowed by MOANA 2 come Turkey Day."

You’re basing this prediction on… what, exactly? It’s currently got the second highest pre-sales of the year (behind Deadpool), it’s projected to be making  well over $100m opening weekend, it has extremely pervasive marketing and name recognition, it’s had extremely enthusiastic word of mouth coming out of screenings, and it also seems poised to do extremely well overseas. 
 

Whether it gets get great reviews or not, it does not seem destined to flop, hard or otherwise. 

Updated On: 11/18/24 at 09:29 AM

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 11/18/24 at 9:52am

As this week marks the release of Wicked, I thought it'd be fun to shine a light on trio of actresses who've played Elphaba in different companies. Hear what Christine Dwyer, Laurel Harris, and Kristy Cates all had to say regarding their experiences with the musical.

A WICKED Retrospective

[jlindsey865]

Posted: 11/18/24 at 10:30am

EDSOSLO858 said: "This is going to flop hard.

It’ll have a nice first week, but most of the reviewswill be tepid (save for the two leads’ performances) and it will be overshadowed by MOANA 2 come Turkey Day."

I think you’re about to be proven very wrong.

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 11/18/24 at 10:31am

EDSOSLO858 said: "This is going to flop hard.

It’ll have a nice first week, but most of the reviewswill be tepid (save for the two leads’ performances) and it will be overshadowed by MOANA 2 come Turkey Day."

Box office tracking for the opening is at least $85M, with $150M being the high ceiling for the open weekend. Oscar prognosticators who have seen the movie, have started listing it as a dark horse to get a Best Picture Nomination. 

People are often right predicting a Broadway show turned movie is going to underperform or that a Broadway show shouldn't be turned into a movie. That's not Wicked.

It's one of the most successful Broadway shows of all time and the scope of the story always made more sense as a movie. Elphaba on a riser is cool, seeing her actually fly is cooler. 

The last major Wizard of Oz movie, Oz the Great and Powerful, grossed $493.3 million at the box office; and Wicked is arguably more of a Harry Potter story than the last three Harry Potter universe movies. 

This ain't flopping. 

[Theatre Fan3]

Posted: 11/18/24 at 10:35am

EDSOSLO858 said: "This is going to flop hard.

It’ll have a nice first week, but most of the reviewswill be tepid (save for the two leads’ performances) and it will be overshadowed by MOANA 2 come Turkey Day."

Comment obviously made by someone that has not even seen the film and probably isn't even interested in WICKED either on stage or screen.

[Kad]

Posted: 11/18/24 at 10:36am

And unlike other movie adaptations of major musicals that have fallen flat (Phantom, Cats, Rent), this is actually well-cast and has an appropriate director helming it. 

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 11/18/24 at 10:45am

Kad said: "And unlike other movie adaptations of major musicals that have fallen flat (Phantom, Cats, Rent), this is actually well-cast and has an appropriate director helming it."

Right. Although Rent really does have a great cast, it was just filmed a decade too late. 

[theatretenor2]

Posted: 11/18/24 at 10:49am

Nah, I'm predicting a $125M+ opening week.

Oscar analysts who have seen this film are already putting it in the top 10 for best picture, with many putting it in the top 5 or 7. It is going to EAT. I am predicting 8 Oscar noms.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/18/24 at 10:54am

EDSOSLO858 said: "This is going to flop hard."

It's already got sold out screenings left and right and is tracking for a $90-100M opening weekend, on the lower end of expectations.  What are you even talking about? 

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 11/18/24 at 11:18am

EDSOSLO858 said: "This is going to flop hard.

It’ll have a nice first week, but most of the reviewswill be tepid (save for the two leads’ performances) and it will be overshadowed by MOANA 2 come Turkey Day."

Oh, look! A classic troll! 

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 11/18/24 at 11:27am

EDSOSLO858 said: "This is going to flop hard.

It’ll have a nice first week, but most of the reviewswill be tepid (save for the two leads’ performances) and it will be overshadowed by MOANA 2 come Turkey Day."

This is a movie that has already made at least tens of millions of dollars in marketing deals. You can buy Wicked Rice Krispie treats, dolls, curling irons, designer bags, cake pops, and so much more. Universal has made big money licensing this to high heaven, and all of that helps ensure the Wicked movies break even. Taking the wise marketing decisions into account as well as opening weekend box office tracking numbers between $85-125 million, this movie is already a hit for universal.

 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/18/24 at 11:29am

I also saw photos that G(a)linda and Elphaba are already new characters at Universal Studios.