Wicked Movie Seeks New Director- Page 8

[Owen22]

Posted: 2/6/21 at 10:29am

jlindsey865 said: "I agree with ALL of this. As much as I enjoy the stage adaptation of Wicked (and I really, really, really do enjoy it), there is no way to ignore the major holes and problems within its book. I also hate that they decided to have Elphaba live at the end of the stage show. Full disclosure: I have attempted to read McGuire's book several times, but can never get through it. Does she survive in the book? It seems like such a cheap attempt for applause (which, to be fair, every time I've seen the show, there is a huge applause).

I hope that the film's director will take what is incredibly charming and touching about the stage version while figure out how to patch up the plot holes and flesh out its many one-dimensional characters."

Besides Elphaba "dying" at the end (which I prefer) there are some things the show did better, plot-wise, than the book.  For one example, the Wizard explicitly explains why the Animals are made outcasts...you need to group the populace around a common enemy. If there isn't one, you create one.  That may have been implicit in the book, but I like how it's said out loud in the play.  And politically very astute.

As I Facebooked on the musical's fifteen year anniversary:  "Wicked: Teaching twelve year old girls to fight fascism since 2003"

[Globefan]

Posted: 2/6/21 at 6:58pm

Valentina3 said: "Oh man didn't realize I'd start a critical review book club but this is fun to read. I have never thought that hard about Wicked's plot holes, as glaring as they are - mostly because it's far too much fun to just let the show take you wherever it wants to go. I don't find it confusing because before you can actually think about an issue, they throw something at you which is, to user an earlier poster's word, "charming".

I'm sure they'll have to work out some of this stuff. Plot holes don't fly super well anymore in movies, but the only thing I currently care about is the cast."

Stephen Schwartz said himself that things might work on stage, but won't fly on film. He and Winnie Holzman have spent so much time really honing the screenplay. 

[Kad]

Posted: 2/6/21 at 10:11pm

Well, if they wanted to make it less saccharine, they could bring back the sex club scene from the novel, complete with tiger gigolo.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 2/7/21 at 7:32am

This thread has taken a great turn the discussion of the plot holes in the musical and the analysis of the original novel. Gregory Maguire's novel is one of my favorite books of all time, and I have read it many times. Each time a read it, I find something new. There is no doubt that the musical just took the concept of the novel and watered it down and sweetened it up immensely to appeal to the masses. The novel is extremely dark, political, and violent.

One thing that has always REALLY bothered me about the stage adaptation is that the design is entirely based on the idea of the Clock of the Time Dragon (a pivotal plot point and symbol in the novel), but the musical references the clock only a couple times in passing.

[BwayLB]

Posted: 2/7/21 at 9:09am

^ I was a bit scared of the Time Dragon a little watching

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 2/7/21 at 11:27am

It will be really interesting to see if Chu bases his Oz on Maguire’s fully realised version or like the campy Wizard of Oz version that OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL based their version on.

One of the things I love about the books is how Oz feels like a real country with politics and races and all sorts going on rather than a fairytale land a small girl made up in her head.

In regards to casting I’d love to see Helen Mirren as Morrible or even Miriam Margolyes reprise her role! Emmy Raver Lampman definitely seems like the most obvious choice for Elphaba given that she’s played the role before and has proven she can act on film and TV.

My only concern is how Chu will approach the belting since modern musicals seem to shy away from letting people belt their faces off on screen, with the exception of DREAMGIRLS.

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 2/7/21 at 12:35pm

Plannietink08 said: "My only concern is how Chu will approach the belting since modern musicals seem to shy away from letting people belt their faces off on screen, with the exception of DREAMGIRLS. "

I’m less concerned that the belting will make it in than I am about Glinda’s higher soprano moments. I feel like we hear even less high, borderline operatic singing in modern movie musicals. 

[Globefan]

Posted: 2/7/21 at 6:26pm

NOWaWarning said: "Plannietink08 said: "My only concern is how Chu will approach the belting since modern musicals seem to shy away from letting people belt their faces off on screen, with the exception of DREAMGIRLS. "

I’m less concerned that the belting will make it in than I am about Glinda’s higher soprano moments. I feel like we heareven less high, borderline operatic singing in modern movie musicals."

I think Glinda's soprano pyrotechnics won't be a problem in the film. 

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 2/8/21 at 9:48am

NOWaWarning said: "Plannietink08 said: "My only concern is how Chu will approach the belting since modern musicals seem to shy away from letting people belt their faces off on screen, with the exception of DREAMGIRLS. "

I’m less concerned that the belting will make it in than I am about Glinda’s higher soprano moments. I feel like we heareven less high, borderline operatic singing in modern movie musicals."

ME TOO. Hollywood cannot cast legit sopranos. They'll cast someone with a thin voice and no breath support. Everyone will talk about how it was better because the singer sounded much more "nice and "innocent" because the average person apparently hates well sung high notes. 

Sorry, it's not like I'm bitter or anything...

[Globefan]

Posted: 2/8/21 at 4:25pm

SporkGoddess said: "NOWaWarning said: "Plannietink08 said: "My only concern is how Chu will approach the belting since modern musicals seem to shy away from letting people belt their faces off on screen, with the exception of DREAMGIRLS. "

I’m less concerned that the belting will make it in than I am about Glinda’s higher soprano moments. I feel like we heareven less high, borderline operatic singing in modern movie musicals."

ME TOO. Hollywood cannot cast legit sopranos. They'll cast someone with a thin voice and no breath support. Everyone will talk about how it was better because the singer sounded much more"nice and "innocent" because the average person apparently hates well sunghigh notes.

Sorry, it's not like I'm bitter or anything..."

They should cast a stage actress. Maybe one of the Christine's from Phantom or Brittney Johnson from the Broadway production. 

[a-mad]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 12:19pm

Variety recently posted a very interesting interview with Amanda Seyfried where she said she is actively seeking the role of Glinda in the new Wicked movie:

https://variety.com/2021/film/news/amanda-seyfried-mank-oscars-wicked-glinda-podcast-1234946864/

It went so far as saying she recorded "Popular" and sent it in to Casting.  Also, that she and Samantha Barks have driven around LA singing "For Good"...hoping to be cast as Glinda and Elphaba.

I love Seyfried and think she'd act the part really well.  Not sure if she's up for the vocal demands... but maybe she's improved since Mamma Mia and Les Miz. 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 12:22pm

Samantha Barks and Amanda Seyfried are by far the most exciting rumored casting I have heard so far. 

[Globefan]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 12:36pm

bwayphreak234 said: "Samantha Barks and Amanda Seyfried are by far the most exciting rumored casting I have heard so far."

I personally want Brittany Johnson as Glinda and Ariana DeBose as Elphaba 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 12:39pm

I like Seyfried, but her singing has far too much vibrato - can't stand listening to it.

[NameGreg]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 12:50pm

Personally I can see Seyfried acting the part, but I don’t think she’s vocally up to it. Though I’d say it’s more on her level than Cosette’s operatic music, so maybe she’d be fine.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 1:07pm

I love Seyfried, but she can't sing very well. Very weak voice with that overused vibrato to attempt to mask notes she can't hit.I imagine the Wicked producers are open to creating an auto-tuned soundtrack (pretty much the norm these days). No one in movie musicals nowadays can sing. Well, some can carry a tune but they can't sing the score as written. Their vocals all get fixed and strengthened in the mixing. 

If she wins the Oscar, expect her to get cast. God, if Streep shows up as Morrible (I hope to god she doesn't-give someone else a chance) it will be Mamma Mia 3. 

[BwayLB]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 1:19pm

I do like Amanda in Mamma Mia and she’s naturally blonde. But I have trouble her as Glinda working

[Musical Master]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 2:10pm

Amanda's acting would be really good but I think her singing isn't up for the vocal demands. Maybe Dove Cameron could be a better fit, her vocal range turns out to be very flexible and she was in a production of The Light in The Piazza where apparently she was really good in it.

Also I think Ariana DeBose or Samantha Barks would be great choices for Elphaba. 

[VotePeron]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 2:32pm

Jackie Burns just spoke on a podcast about how she and Kara Lindsay were asked by the lead producers to do solely the LA run of the tour stop a few years ago while they got the Universal film producers to finally sign off on the movie. While I don’t think that means they’ll be in the movie, it might be a good idea of what type of archetype.

All that said, I think Brittany Johnson paired with a super famous actress would be perfect.

[NameGreg]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 2:36pm

Bettyboy72 said: "I love Seyfried, but she can't sing very well. Very weak voice with that overused vibrato to attempt to mask notes she can't hit.I imagine the Wicked producers are open to creating an auto-tuned soundtrack (pretty much the norm these days). No one in movie musicals nowadays can sing. Well, some can carry a tune but they can't sing the score as written. Their vocals all get fixed and strengthened in the mixing.

If she wins the Oscar, expect her to get cast. God, if Streep shows up as Morrible (I hope to god she doesn't-give someone else a chance) it will be Mamma Mia 3."

Well she’s definitely not winning the Oscar, she’s didn’t win the Globe and got snubbed at both Bafta and SAG.

Updated On: 4/9/21 at 02:36 PM

[Globefan]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 3:19pm

Musical Master said: "Amanda's acting would be really good but I think her singing isn't up for the vocal demands. Maybe Dove Cameron could be a better fit, her vocal range turns out to be very flexible and she was in a production of The Light in The Piazza where apparently she was really good in it.

Also I think Ariana DeBose or Samantha Barks would be great choices for Elphaba."

Dove might not be available because she's gonna be playing Bubbles in The Powerpuff Girls live action series on The CW 

[Mrtrobz]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 4:11pm

I've listened to the interview just now and Amanda has stated she has had singing lessons three days a week through out lockdown and its never been better for hitting the notes. She also sings a tiny bit of the intro of No One mourns the wicked "Let us be glad.." nothing at all to judge her by. She also acknowledges that she was not ready to play the part eight years back because her voice wasn't ready for it. 

I think she and Lady Gaga would be a great pairing together, Amanda seems to want Anna Kendrick thought but I think they'll go for a woman if colour to play the part because it's so relative to Elphaba's story.

Updated On: 4/9/21 at 04:11 PM

[Musical Master]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 5:46pm

It's interesting that she's been having singing lessons for a while, maybe her vocals has improved, I guess if she is Glinda we'll wait and see how it turns out.

[Globefan]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 6:34pm

Musical Master said: "It's interesting that she's been having singing lessons for a while, maybe her vocalshas improved, I guess if she is Glinda we'll wait and see how it turns out."

I'd love Kaley Ann Voorhees to play Glinda 

[Mrtrobz]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 6:50pm

Amanda has put the training in it seems.
 

 

Updated On: 4/9/21 at 06:50 PM