Stage musical "Wicked" might finally hit movie theaters.
Speaking to Film Divider, "Into the Wood" producer Marc Platt has revealed that a "Wicked" movie is being planned to be released in 2016. He however noted that "it is not yet set in stone."
"The process of developing that movie has begun, we're working on it, and whether it makes 2016 or not, I'm not so sure...It's a loose goal. But the bar is very high for the creators of Wicked. Our show is still so strong everywhere, and we just set a record in both London and Edinburgh last week, and in Los Angeles, and we did on Broadway. Audiences enjoy that show so much that we are intending to move forward on the movie but aren't going to do so until we're satisfied in the material we have as a screenplay, and that the film will be every bit as satisfying as what we have on the stage," he further said.
He said that they don't like to rush things. He cited the cases of "Into the Woods" and "Les Miserables." He noted that it took 27 years to make "Into the Woods" a movie from its original stage prodution. As for Les Miserables, it took 30 years. "2016 is the goal, but I don't know whether we'll make that goal or not. We will make the movie, but like I said, the bar is really high. We're going to scrutinise our work on the screenplay and our prep on the movie, and when we feel like it's ready, okay. We're not going to shoot a release date is what I'm saying. It's in the works, it's not in a rush," he emphasized.
Platt also revealed that the movie's script is now being written by Winnie Holzman. He also divulged that a director has already assigned to it, in the person of Stephen Daldry, who is known for the movies "The Reader" and "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close."
Broadway musical "Wicked" which is based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel, "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West," premiered in 2003. It tells the story of two witches Elphaba and Glinda. It is also somehow a retelling of the famous classic "The Wizard of Oz." Several "Wicked"-inspired movies have been released in the past. This includes "Oz the Great and Powerful," and "Maleficent." Screen Rant says it sees a Winter Holiday release for the "Wicked" movie. Cinema Blend on the other hand speculates on who will get the lead role. Would it still be Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel or maybe other actresses? As for now, we have to wait as an official announcement is surely underway.