Universal's WICKED Films - News & Discussion Thread- Page 93

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 11/25/24 at 8:04am

MezzA101 said: "'Wicked’ Box Office: All the Records the Movie Musical Shattered on Opening Weekend
https://variety.com/2024/film/box-office/wicked-box-office-opening-weekend-records-1236222111/"

Oh what a celebration we'll have today! This is especially exciting because ever since the whole world started coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, there were several movie musicals that didn't do well commercially. Even well received ones like In the Heights, West Side Story, and The Color Purple (despite its impressive Christmas day opening). If any musical nowadays could do better, it would have to be one that is more family friendly, with bigger scope that demands to be seen on the big screen, and adapted from one of the most famous Broadway shows of all time. This especially bodes well for Wicked: Part Two next year.

[sherie_worshipper]

Posted: 11/25/24 at 8:08am

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "The movie languished with Stephen Daldry signed on as director for years. Many release dates were announced and they came and went. Once Daldry left and Jon Chu came on, it was fast tracked. I got the impression that Universal and Marc Platt weren't in much of a hurry while the stage production was doing so well and everyone profiting from it. Universal's LES MIS had an even longer time between its stage premiere and film, and that film did quite well (WICKED will do better)."

When Winnie Holzman was interviewed by Julie James for SiriusXM On Broadway last year, she mentioned how they all knew fans wanted a movie, but none of the creatives were interested for a while. It wasn’t until about nearly a decade into the Broadway run when talks finally began. She also said that Stephen Daldry was their personal choice to direct, but after having been attached for several years, they all realized that he wasn't the right choice. As Stephen Schwartz is friends with Lin-Manuel Miranda, he got in touch with him in 2020 asking what it was like working with Jon M. Chu on In the Heights. Lin responded with “He's a good guy, he’s insanely collaborative, he loves musicals, and he dreams BIG.” Then heasked “Wait is this for Pippin or Wicked or what?” Schwartz then said “Thanks Lin, that’s very helpful.”

Cut to February 2nd, 2021, it was announced that Jon M. Chu took over as director. Lin texted Schwartz with "CHU for Wicked! How great!" He responded with "Well, you had something to do with that. Your recommendation, particularly as to how collaborative you found him to be, was influential. Also very positive things that Alex Lacamoire had to say. Also, I loved the In the Heights movie!"
https://www.instagram.com/p/DCm5qUkTYeS/?img_index=1"

The truth is that Schwartz had chosen Chu way before that. He was just asking his opinion, but of course LMM had to insert himself in the narrative to make it look like he’s responsible for the movie.

Schwartz had known Chu for years and was greatly impressed by Crazy Rich Asians, especially by how he had made Singapore look beautiful on screen - just how he wanted Oz to look like (Daldrey’s take on Oz was supposed to be very dark - almost WW2-like).

It was also Schwartz who chose Michelle Yeoh, by the way. It was all due to CRA, not ITH. That’s why Schwartz said “you had SOMETHING to do with that.” He always checks with his friends before he picks a collaborator, but the decision is always 100% his. Believe me, he texted a lot of friends before choosing Chu, but only one decided to make that public.

Updated On: 11/25/24 at 08:08 AM

[carlisle14]

Posted: 11/25/24 at 8:52am

Amazing movie.  Amazing.  Played homage to the show, added some amazing visual effects.  I was not sold on Grande as a co-lead when she was announced, but she was casted perfectly. I admit I was wrong.  Very, very believable as that egotistical type.. and she has pipes.. Can't believe we need to wait a year for part 2.  I am ready to see the rest NOW.  This one should rake in the awards, IMO.  Masterfully done.  

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/25/24 at 10:01am

Watched the film again (my second time) but this time at a friend's home who works for NBC/Universal and has the film screener on 4K Blu-ray. Have to say, I think I enjoyed it more, thanks to his 100" 4K TV. And yes, I take back my initial cringe of the "No One Mourns the Wicked" assessment based on my first time seeing the film at a movie theater. It was a perfect executed Prologue.

Once again, the film moved at a rapid pace - I purposely looked at my watch minutes into the film and we were already at the 45 minute mark and it felt like we were watching the film for 10-15 minutes. This film is truly glorious on every level. This ranks as one of the BEST film adaptations of a Broadway musical, right up there with the original 1961 WEST SIDE STORY (didn't care at all for Spielberg's non-Jerome Robbins' adaptation) and 1965's R&H's THE SOUND OF MUSIC (both incidentally directed by Robert Wise). Don't know if this 4K Blu-ray transfer I watched last night will be the same one released in March 2025 but if it is - it looks and sounds INSANE. There were no extras just the film on the screener and it did not have the "For Your Consideration" title popping up at any time so it's not an awards season screener.  

[babyjunegem]

Posted: 11/25/24 at 11:01am

I'm in the minority on this, but the film was a flat incoherent mess. I'm probably one of the few people here who has never seen Wicked on stage and is only familiar with some of music and the basic gist of the plot. Taken at face value, the movie makes little sense. The characters' motivations feel obligatory, not earned. Can anyone else chime in about how this movie stands on its own vs. as a companion to the musical? It's kinda like watching Harry Potter movies without reading the books. If you know what to anticipate, the holes aren't noticeable. 

[kdogg36]

Posted: 11/25/24 at 11:21am

sherie_worshipper said: "Believe me, he texted a lot of friends before choosing Chu, but only one decided to make that public."

I'm definitely one of those who agree that LMM has at times been decidedly overexposed, but seizing on this entirely innocuous anecdote to criticize him seems bizarre to me.

[gibsons2]

Posted: 11/25/24 at 11:26am

babyjunegem said: "I'm in the minority on this, but the film was a flat incoherent mess. I'm probably one of the few people here who has never seen Wicked on stage and is only familiar with some ofmusic and the basic gist of the plot. Taken at face value, the movie makes little sense.The characters' motivations feel obligatory, not earned. Can anyone else chime in about how this movie stands on its own vs. as a companion to the musical? It's kinda like watching Harry Potter movies without reading the books. If you know what to anticipate, the holesaren't noticeable."

I'm the minority that found the stage musical to be overrated and very dull. I went to see the movie because of Ariana Grande (I'm still laughing at people who though she didn't have the vocal or acting chops for the role) and found the whole production to be astounding. I think I've finally understood the story because it was told the way it's meant to be told. I can't wait for the Part 2.