"Wicked" movie

[surefinewhatever]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 6:52pm

I've heard speculation about a Wicked movie . . .any truth to that?

[broadwaybound3]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 6:55pm

ee... in time possibly.... but not this soon. Its only been out a year or two- it took rent almost 10.

[surefinewhatever]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 6:57pm

yea. .. but that was because it took awhile b4 movie musicals like chicago and moulin rouge (if that even counts as a musical) became hits. now that movie musicals are back in and they're making "the producers" and "rent", it could happen sooner, especially since Wicked was produced by WB studios

[Carl Magnum]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 6:59pm

The wicked movie is going to be based on the book and not that musical. IF it happens and that is a big IF. Besides, the musical and it's book wouldn't hold up on the screen. The audience would fall through the holes. If this happens it will be based on the original book.

[Expressboy69]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 7:56pm

I don't know, there is a good chance the musical will be made into a musical because of it's popularity!

P.S. I don't want to sound like one of those uptight people that correct every single mistake, but just for further reference Wicked is produced by Universal, lol Now that I told you that, Surefinewhatever, I am sure you can sleep better at night lol!

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 7:58pm

i hope there is a movie!! that would be cool!!

[bjivie2]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 8:01pm

Hold up. Y'all are uninformed. The book was originally supposed to be made into a movie by Universal instead of a musical. Then Stephen Schwartz approached Universal and convinced them to produce a Broadway musical version instead.

Now if there is a movie version, I would be VERY surprised if it is NOT based on the musical. And I'm sure they realize the wholes in the script. A stage script hardly ever makes it to the big screen without revisions.

[Justice]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 9:38pm

And might I remind you folks that Chicago and Moulin Rouge were both succesful, but Phantom was a bomb. People won't see just any movie. Chicago and Moulin Rouge were also succesful because of the names (Renee Zelweiger, CTJ, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah.) Those names exceed Broadway and reach out to the theatre illiterate. As did Moulin Rouge (Nicole, Ewan, and John Leguizamo). But Phantom? Who the hell is Emmy, Gerard and Patrick? The only two recognizable names to mainstream non-theatre folk was Minnie Driver and Miranda Richardson, and even they aren't huge box office draws. If they make Wicked into a movie, hopefully Idina will be huge (which she isn't, despite what you may think - I work across the street from Wicked, and whenever I mention Idina, I have to tell them she's Taye's wife.) But, as I was saying, the movie would never be huge if they had Kristin, Idina or even Jennifer, as sad as that sounds. An example - My Fair Lady. Audrey was the bigger star at the time which is why they used her. No one outside of NYC and LA had heard of Julie Andrews. Hollywood is all about the bank, and if you want to sell a movie to an audience that doesn't know what they are getting, you better use some very familiar household names. So, is Wicked going to be made into a movie? Not anytime soon.

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 9:43pm

I wouldn't be surprised if they make a Wicked movie in the near future. I think it will depend alot on how well RENT and The Producers do considering they are the first broadway plays to be turned to movies in a while. If they do well, I'm sure they will try to make a Wicked movie but I at least hope they try to bring back the original cast for that if they do.

[BEKA531]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 9:45pm

bringing back the OBC is a new thing... columbus took a big leap with that, especially in rent, which celebrates the tragedy of the YOUTH...

[surefinewhatever]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 9:47pm

i hope ur right. . .it would be so cool if they made a wicked movie w/ idina and kristen. .. i've seen idina in the show, but i never had the chance to see kristen.

[luvliza89]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 9:51pm

I still don't see how you can call "Phantom" a bomb. I don't remeber "Chicago" being high in the to 10, esp. when the movie hasn't been released nationwide. Everyone I've talked to who has seen the movie around here has gone back a second and thrid time to see it, and believe me the folks round here are hardly into musicals.

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 9:52pm

I have never seen either in the show and if I ever go see Wicked it will probably be starring Shoshana and Jenifer. I've heard Idina and Kristen on the sountrack though and I'd love to see them perform it. Id also love to see Christopher Fitzgerald, Michelle Federer and Norbert Leo Butz. Yeah I can see how they took a big leap with using the OBC for RENT but most of them havent aged that much since the show (or at least you cnat tell they have) so it probably wont be that much of a problem.

[Stagerage2003]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 9:55pm

Here are my two cents....

If they make Wicked into a film it won't be until the decade is over. The reason why is because Wicked is the single most expensive show ever produced on broadway and only the second done by Universal. I have heard that if wicked will only pay off its debt if it sells out every night for the next ten years.

I think Universal will wait to see some of the returns on Wicked. I would like to see what happens with a new Elphaba in town. My take is that if Wicked proves to be as timeless as something like "Phantom" or "Chicago" THEN and only THEN will they even Consider a film version.

And sorry but by that time Idina will not be Elphaba Material. :)

I give it till 2010 before any proven, solid news.

[Justice]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 10:00pm

I said POTO was a bomb, because (and I am comparing), when Chicago opened here in NYC, it was a limited release, and the movie was a Hit. It was all the rage. Everyone was seeing it left and right. I mention POTO to someone and the reaction I get is "Oh, they made it into a movie?" Yeah, it's only been out the last couple of weeks.
Also, the night I saw it (which was less than a week after it opened), there were but three or four people in the audience. The sales will also tell you that the movie is lacking.
And correction: Chicago was the number one movie in America at the time it opened.

Updated On: 1/11/05 at 10:00 PM

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 10:01pm

Most likely that is the realistic view on the thing. it would take TONS and TONS of money to make the sets, costumes, effects, soundtrack etc etc. And they will want to wait for a long time to see how popular the show really is with the new cast. Probably why they waited so long with RENT.

[commasplice]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 10:18pm

"And correction: Chicago was the number one movie in America at the time it opened."

Do you mean the first weekend in theatres, or the first weekend in wide release? The first weekend it was in theatres, it was ranked 13th (I would look up wide release, but that requires subscribing to BoxOfficeMojo and I really don't want to join the site...).

[CapnHook]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 10:28pm

I haven't read all the replies, but:

Universal was considering a movie version of WICKED - the novel. NOT the Broadway musical.

This was during the development of the musical for San Fransisco.

Plans have not been developed any further. Last I heard, Universal wasn't happy with the draft of the script.

[Becky]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 10:41pm

I have heard that if wicked will only pay off its debt if it sells out every night for the next ten years.

Wicked has already recouped its investment. That happened not long ago. (article below)

Also, Kristin has said in interviews that they either have to use her in the movie or pay her out. So I'm assuming she has some kind of deal already. Or at least I'm guessing.......

Wicked article on Playbill - re: recoups investment Updated On: 1/10/05 at 10:41 PM

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 1:40am

A take on the book would be very interesting as the play doesnt really follow the book too strictly but it sounds like there is no move to make the movie anytime soon.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 1:50am

I think it's totally premature to predict a Wicked movie. I wouldn't be surprised if it's on the minds of Universal, but it won't happen for a few years. But I wouldn't be surprised if it happens in the next 5 years. What with movie musicals coming back, and Wicked be very identifiable (either with the book, the musical or The Wizard of Oz), it's a natural to produce on the big screen. And I also wouldn't be surprised IF they used both Idina and Kristin for the movie. Kristin may be getting a full-time gig with The West Wing along with the myriad of movies she's working on. And Idina is going to be in the RENT movie, which will get her great exposure.

As for Phantom, you can't judge whether it's a hit or a flop yet. It has a much wider audience base, and it really isn't that bad, so I don't see why it wouldn't be a hit. Then again, it's not that good, so I don't see why it doesn't flop.

[sipos]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 2:22am

I work at Universal in Orlando, and there was a giant WICKED billboard on one of the soundstages facing a guest area. With the Broadway logo. It's gone now (or moved somewhere I haven't noticed yet). It disappeared around the Halloween Horror Nights event in October. Ooooooooh. But I wondered about a movie too. someday.
Could be. could be.

[musicalfandukie]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 2:23am

just because a movie isn't raved about as much as chicago doesn't make it a bomb. the movie hasn't been out long enough for anyone to call it a bomb yet. phantom is not being raved like chicago cause it's harder for regular audiences to like it cause its more for musical lovers...chicago was an easier movie for non musical lovers to like. not to mention the huge star power in it. Updated On: 1/11/05 at 02:23 AM

[Parks]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 9:00pm

If Wicked were made into a movie, I think they'd still make a ton of money using Idina and Kristin. Wicked-as I'm sure a few of you know...-is quite a popular musical-even for those people who haven't seen it yet. Seeing how big of a hit it is, I'm pretty sure most people would go see it in theaters regardless of who stars in it.

An observation I've made recently is that people seem to be wanting to see movies more based on what they are about-rather then who stars in them. For example: Napolean Dynamite...anyone ever heard of the main characters in the movie? Napolean Dynamite made MILLIONS of dollars-and I don't even remember hearing of anyone famous star in that movie... It used to be common for many people to just go and see a movie because their favorite actor/actress was in it. Now it's not as big of a deal.

Also-advertising-another good example-Up until a few years ago, several people used to buy products because a "hot" celebrity used that product. Now, people don't really care who is buying what...they just buy what they want. Hopefully you see my point.

Updated On: 1/12/05 at 09:00 PM

[idinarocksmysocks!510]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 9:45pm

I hope they make a movie and use the original cast!