Musical Broadway musical hit 'Wicked' to the big screen

[Silvermoth]

I know that, but I'm just saying that if they want it to be a good movie, they're going to have to make some changes to it, if it's going to work, and I don't think taking a few more ideas from the book is a bad idea. Not anything as dark as the book, but just some of the general themes and characterizations.

Its a brilliant musical but I agree with the above comment. If its made into a movie, it'll need a bit more depth and a slightly slower pace to appeal to movie goers.

I'ld love to see Emily Blunt play Elphaba though! And Kirsten Bell as Glinda would be (wait for it) wicked

 

[Majik1387]

Its a brilliant musical but I agree with the above comment. If its made into a movie, it'll need a bit more depth and a slightly slower pace to appeal to movie goers.

I'ld love to see Emily Blunt play Elphaba though! And Kirsten Bell as Glinda would be (wait for it) wicked

Have you ever heard Emily Blunt sing? Does she sing at all? Bell could get the Glinda part down, and though she sings, I don't know if it's the right direction for Glinda.
Let's not think of casting based on looks for a Broadway musical adaptation.

I think if they'd cast from the show that Eden Espinosa should be Elphaba, though I know a lot of people would want Idina Menzel, for good reasons.

 

[JP]

Idina and Eden are both too old.

 

[Majik1387]

Eh for a fantastical film, filters can be applied to make them younger. Not like X-3, more of a Benjamin Button. Unless they do a double casting of young Elphaba and Glinda to adult Elphaba and Glinda.

 

[ABleedingCorpse]

Idina and Eden are both too old.

By the time they get a production going on the movie, they will be too old, but you're right they're age wont' feel right on screen playing 'younger' characters. On stage it's no big deal, but on screen it shows. With Broadway being down on it's luck right now, I'm sure there are two 20 something singers/performers needing work badly.

 

[Infinity9999x]

By the time they get a production going on the movie, they will be too old, but you're right they're age wont' feel right on screen playing 'younger' characters. On stage it's no big deal, but on screen it shows. With Broadway being down on it's luck right now, I'm sure there are two 20 something singers/performers needing work badly.

I agree. While Idina was great, she won't be convincing at all as a highschool age Elphaba without the aid of some CGI ala Ben Button style. Though I wouldn't be opposed to this, because Idina is a great singer.

 

[JP]

You can't have Idina without Cheno.

 

[Infinity9999x]

You can't have Idina without Cheno.

Of course

The biggest thing I'm concerned with, in this movie, is Glinda's character. I really hope they write her more dimensional than she was in the musical. She wasn't bad in the musical, but in the book Glinda has so many more layers, and I hope they hit on that a bit more. Glinda was a bit too ditzy in the musical for me.

 

[Mutagen]

I went to see with my school, and while it was entertaining, I hated what they did to these characters that thought were good already. I guess it's acceptable in a 'what if' sort of way, I just won't see it.

 

[Infinity9999x]

I went to see with my school, and while it was entertaining, I hated what they did to these characters that thought were good already. I guess it's acceptable in a 'what if' sort of way, I just won't see it.

Are you talking about the play in reference to the book, or to the characters as they were before the book or the play existed?

 

[Mutagen]

Are you talking about the play in reference to the book, or to the characters as they were before the book or the play existed?

The characters before the book and play existed. I don't know, I was just expecting the Witch's side of the story, but without changing everything about every character. I was surprised, that's for sure.

 

[Infinity9999x]

The characters before the book and play existed. I don't know, I was just expecting the Witch's side of the story, but without changing everything about every character. I was surprised, that's for sure.

Well I haven't read the original Oz books, but in the movie, the witch was basically your average one dimensional baddie, so I don't think it's possible to make a movie about that character without having her just be evil the whole time.

However, if you want to see a character closer to the "wicked' Witch, read the book. It's much darker, and much more of an in-depth look at the character of Elphaba. She's not straight out bad, but she's not exactly straight out good either. It's a very interesting novel, it can be very bizarre, but interesting.

 

[Mutagen]

Well I haven't read the original Oz books, but in the movie, the witch was basically your average one dimensional baddie, so I don't think it's possible to make a movie about that character without having her just be evil the whole time.

However, if you want to see a character closer to the "wicked' Witch, read the book. It's much darker, and much more of an in-depth look at the character of Elphaba. She's not straight out bad, but she's not exactly straight out good either. It's a very interesting novel, it can be very bizarre, but interesting.

Thanks, I'll keep it in mind.

 

[DACrowe]

Eh. I'll admit I never liked the show and am saddened to know that it will likely go on to be the most successful broadway play ever produced (if Phantom of the Opera ever dies).

But I'm sure the fans are happy. Well I hope whoever makes this takes a look at how Burton did Sweeney Todd (a musical masterpiece turned into a film masterpiece) or how Marshall did Chicago. They took the essence of those two musicals and adapted them as full fledged films. Unlike say Schumaucher and Phantom of the Opera or Columbus and Rent who tried too hard to put the stage show on screen and forgot they were making movies.

Then again, as long as it is better than Mamma Mia! we can all be thankful. I'll probably see this new Wicked, but let's just say I don't plan on ever seeing it more on stage.

 

[Infinity9999x]

Eh. I'll admit I never liked the show and am saddened to know that it will likely go on to be the most successful broadway play ever produced (if Phantom of the Opera ever dies).

But I'm sure the fans are happy. Well I hope whoever makes this takes a look at how Burton did Sweeney Todd (a musical masterpiece turned into a film masterpiece) or how Marshall did Chicago. They took the essence of those two musicals and adapted them as full fledged films. Unlike say Schumaucher and Phantom of the Opera or Columbus and Rent who tried too hard to put the stage show on screen and forgot they were making movies.

Then again, as long as it is better than Mamma Mia! we can all be thankful. I'll probably see this new Wicked, but let's just say I don't plan on ever seeing it more on stage.

I quite liked the play, but as I said above, if you're looking for something a little less bubblegum-ish, read the book.

However, I will say I'm slightly nervous about this. The plot of musical was actually handled in a fairly deep, adult manor--for a musical that is. (Keep in mind I'm saying this considering it's a play meant for everyone, I'm not comparing it to a play like Sweeny Todd or Repo for example.) Despite this, I think they need to make the plot a bit deeper if they want it to succeed in a film format. Deepen the characterizations and bring back some of the complexity the book had.

For those who have read the book, does anyone think they should expand upon, and show more of Elphaba's childhood in the movie? Or include characters like Nanny, or Elphaba's son?

 

[Majik1387]

I think more of Elphaba's childhood would be good, but I'd say no to Liir's appearance, same with Nanny. It would be good for a Wicked movie, but not the Wicked movie based off the Broadway show.



Also, in reference to the original books' version of Glinda and the Wicked Witch; Both barely had a chapter of involvement, the Wicked Witch looked and acted stupid, and Glinda literally read like she felt she was wasting time explaining how everyone in Dorothy's group will end up in the book.

 

[Infinity9999x]

I think more of Elphaba's childhood would be good, but I'd say no to Liir's appearance, same with Nanny. It would be good for a Wicked movie, but not the Wicked movie based off the Broadway show.



Also, in reference to the original books' version of Glinda and the Wicked Witch; Both barely had a chapter of involvement, the Wicked Witch looked and acted stupid, and Glinda literally read like she felt she was wasting time explaining how everyone in Dorothy's group will end up in the book.

Ha, that's ironic seeing as those two characters would later become huge pop culture icons. I've been meaning to get around to reading the original Oz series for a while now, but I just haven't had the time.

I do hope one thing they expand upon more in the Wicked movie is the animal sub-plot. They touch upon it pretty well in the musical, but I would really like to see more of an emphasis on it, like in the book. Though I think I might leave

Spoiler

Dr. Dillamond's fate[/quote] the same as it was in the musical. I found that to be almost a worse tragedy than what actually happened to him in the book.

 

[Majik1387]

I agree, I liked the whole animal subplot. I think Madame Morrible should have a bigger role in the school as she did in the book. It was a nice air of mystery during that timeframe.

 

[Silvermoth]

Have you ever heard Emily Blunt sing?

 

[Infinity9999x]

I agree, I liked the whole animal subplot. I think Madame Morrible should have a bigger role in the school as she did in the book. It was a nice air of mystery during that timeframe.

Definitely, I thought she was a much better villain in the book. She seemed more sinister, and much more mysterious.

 

[Majik1387]

Ok she does have a good voice, but its not powerhouse enough for Elphaba, she seems like she could make a decent Nessa Rose

Definitely, I thought she was a much better villain in the book. She seemed more sinister, and much more mysterious.

Definitely. Been a while since I read the books, but didn't she also kill someone? Or was it that she put them in a catatonic state?

 

[Silvermoth]

Spoiler warning for those who haven't read the book.

Spoiler

she smashed Madam Morrible's face but she was already dead at that time

and Kirsten Bell can sing too...

 

[Majik1387]

Ah that's right, thanks. I think that should definitely be in the movie, would add more weight to her announcement of Elphaba being Wicked.

Oh I know Bell can sing; I love Reefer Madness, but the only songs I can see her bring to life are the school era songs, Popular, and For Good, the rest of Glinda's songs call for a more mature, semi-operatic type of voice.

 

[Infinity9999x]

Ah that's right, thanks. I think that should definitely be in the movie, would add more weight to her announcement of Elphaba being Wicked.

Oh I know Bell can sing; I love Reefer Madness, but the only songs I can see her bring to life are the school era songs, Popular, and For Good, the rest of Glinda's songs call for a more mature, semi-operatic type of voice.

He wasn't actually referring to Morrible when he said

Spoiler

She smashed her face in

That was actually Elphaba. Morrible on the other hand was

Spoiler

she was accused by Galinda's maid to have ordered her tic tok robot to kill Dr. Dillamond. She is also shown to have tried to hypotize Elphaba, Galinda, and Nessa Rose into being "generals" for her, at all different corners of the globe to keep Oz under control. At the end of the book Elphaba wonders bitterly weather Morrible got just that, because Elphaba acts as the witch who everyone fears of the west, Galinda is the representative from the North, and Nessa Rose ends up controlling Munchkinland. It's also heavily implied that Morrible may have been the proverbial "spider" at the center of the web, orchestrating many of the events in Elphaba's life behind the scenes.

 

[Sgt.Pepper]

Stephen Daldry Close to Helming Wicked

EXCLUSIVE: While Disney is at Comic-Con today to unveil some details on its Sam Raimi-directed Oz: The Great And Powerful, Universal is finally moving forward with its screen adaptation of the cash cow musical Wicked. I’m told that the studio is courting Stephen Daldry to direct the film, and I’m optimistic that he’ll make a deal. At the same time, Jon Favreau is in negotiations to direct Jersey Boys. Both Wicked and Jersey Boys are among the top-grossing Broadway musicals on a weekly basis.

Favreau has been the rumored front runner for some time to helm Jersey Boys, but Daldry is a surprise. Universal and the musical’s producer Marc Platt have been meeting with helmers since last year, as this was one of the most coveted gigs to come along in a long time. Wicked, a Wizard of Oz prequel, is based on the Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life And Times Of The Wicked Witch Of The West and focuses on the early relationship between Glinda the Good and Elphaba, a green-skinned beauty before she ended up flying on a broomstick. Wicked began as a movie development project with Platt and Universal, before they changed course and took it to the stage first. It was an immediate sensation, quickly recouping its $14 million capitalization in 2004 and becoming one of the biggest-grossing tuners of all time, with the Broadway show and eight touring companies. The Broadway musical routinely tops the weekly gross charts — $1.4 million per week is average, but the musical has broken the $2 million mark more than once. The musical shows no signs of winding down and its global following has Universal feeling this could be another Mamma Mia!, which became one of the studio’s highest-grossing global films ever.

Daldry most recently helmed Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close, and before that The Reader and The Hours. He won a Tony for directing An Inspector Calls.

Never seen the musical (but I've always wanted to) and the book is one of those books I'd get around to reading but never did. Anyway, Daldry is an outside the box choice and I'm curious to see him adapting Wicked.