Jon M. Chu shares his creative vision for the highly anticipated Wicked musical adaptation, accompanied by fresh images featuring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, and more. The power of divas working together should never be underestimated. When Erivo and Grande join a Zoom call, their exuberant greetings overwhelm the speakers and momentarily disrupt the sound. Erivo humorously suggests that their simultaneous screaming might be the cause, while Grande sweetly apologizes for their enthusiastic entrance, explaining, “We were excited.”

Like theater enthusiasts worldwide, they have eagerly awaited the big-screen adaptation of the Wicked musical for over 20 years. Various directors, including J.J. Abrams, Ryan Murphy, and Rob Marshall, were linked to the project at different times, and rumors circulated about actresses like Lea Michele and Amy Adams being involved. Stephen Daldry was initially attached as the director, but that version fell through. So why did it take so long? According to producer Marc Platt, who was instrumental in both the Broadway production and the film, the pressure of transitioning from one medium to another played a role. Platt shares, “Maybe subconsciously, I was like, ‘I’m not quite ready for that, emotionally.'” Wicked, a prequel to The Wizard of Oz based on Gregory Maguire’s novel, tells the story of the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba, and the good witch Glinda before Dorothy’s arrival in Oz. The Broadway show wowed audiences with its grand scale and iconic songs like “Popular” and “Defying Gravity.” Therefore, the film’s director needed to present a worthy vision. Enter Jon M. Chu, known for his work on Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights. Chu, an original Wicked fan, saw the musical during its pre-Broadway run in San Francisco and recalls thinking, “Oh, wow. It feels like a movie already.” In fact, Chu envisions the story spanning two movies to allow it room to soar. The first part is set to release this Thanksgiving, followed by the second part a year later.

Initially, Chu considered casting unknown actors for the roles that Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel made iconic. However, the production landed superstars instead. Grande playfully admits to persistently “stalking” Platt for the role of Glinda, expressing her eagerness to start preparing for the audition years in advance. When the opportunity finally came, she remained dedicated, arriving at audition sessions at least 30 minutes early, much to Chu’s surprise. Erivo, who had previously won an Emmy, Grammy, and Tony, initially doubted she would even be seen for the role of Elphaba and was one of the last candidates to be considered. Once she received the call, she trained diligently, likening her preparation to that of a boxer. Chu recalls, “After she sang, Marc and I looked at each other and we’re like, ‘We’re done.'”

Creating the world of Oz for the film didn’t rely heavily on CGI, contrary to expectations. Chu aimed to bring his childhood dream of Oz to life, drawing inspiration from Steven Spielberg’s approach in Hook. Chu explains, “If this is my one opportunity to do this, I want to do that.” The yellow brick road was built with real mud, and the witches are transported to the Emerald City on an actual train. As for the singing, Chu affirms that the vocals are performed live, with the actresses opting to forgo pre-recorded tracks. Chu questioned the feasibility of singing live due to potential challenges posed by windpipes, but Erivo and Grande were undeterred, confidently declaring, “Yeah. That’s what we do.” During the filming of “Defying Gravity,” Erivo soared through the sky, belting high F’s while harnessed. Grande recalls the demanding experience, saying, “She had a harness pulling and pushing and yanking and tugging on every nook and cranny that there is.” Erivo reciprocates the compliment, reminiscing about Grande’s performance, where she jumped on a chandelier above her head while singing. The camaraderie between the two stars is evident, and their friendship mirrors the bond between Elphaba and Glinda, which faces public scrutiny.

 Chu acknowledges the potential for egos when two big stars collaborate, but Erivo and Grande developed a relationship that positively impacted them. Erivo expresses her admiration for Grande’s talent, stating, “I don’t think people realize how brilliant this person’s brain and voice and talent is,” while Grande becomes emotional and compliments Erivo’s singing, revealing her desire to perform with her someday.