Photo: Evans Vestal Ward/NBC/Getty
Another big name is making his way to Oz:Bowen Yang.
Keala Settle, a breakout star fromThe Greatest Showman,has alsojoined the cast as Miss Coddle, perVariety. NewcomerMarissa Bodewill play Nessarose, Elphaba’s sister, andBrownwyn Jameshas been cast as ShenShen, another one of Elphaba and Glinda’s classmates, per Deadline.
On Thursday, it was announced thatMichelle Yeohwillplay Madame Morribleand reunite with Chu, 43, who directed her in 2018’sCrazy Rich Asians. Additionally, Broadway actor Ethan Slater (SpongeBob Squarepants: The Musical) is set to joinWicked’s cast as Boq.
Ariana Grande/Instagram
BridgertonleadJonathan Baileywas also announced to play Fiyero in September.Jeff Goldblum’s name has also come up, withVarietyreporting that he’sin talks to play the Wizard.
Few details have been revealed about the film adaptation so far, apart from the fact thatWickedwill besplit up across two filmsthat bring “even more depth and surprise” to the famous Broadway musical’s story, Chu said.
In a letter he shared on social media in April, Chu explained, “As we prepared this production over the last year, it became increasingly clear that it would be impossible to wrestle the story ofWickedinto a single film without doing some real damage to it. As we tried to cut songs or trim characters, those decisions began to feel like fatal compromises to the source material that has entertained us all for so many years.”
RELATED VIDEO: Idina Menzel CongratulatesAriana Grande, Cynthia Erivo on Wicked Casting News: ‘So Much Love’
In recent months, Grande, 29, has hinted that filming will begin soon. Shedebuted her blonde hairin October for her transformation into Glinda, and evenshared some behind-the-scenes photoswith Erivo, 35, on Instagram.
Wickeddebuted on Broadway in October 2003 withIdina Menzel,Kristin ChenowethandJoel Greyas the original Elphaba, Glinda and the Wizard, respectively. The show went on to win threeTony Awardsand even aGrammy Award.
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Based on Gregory Maguire’s book of the same name, the musical tells the story of Elphaba’s life prior to becoming known as the Wicked Witch of the West from L. Frank Baum’sThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz(which was adapted into the classic 1939 film starringJudy Garland).
Wicked: Part OneandPart Twoare scheduled to hit theaters on Christmas Day in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
source: people.com
