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Exclusive: The stage adaptation of musical movie The Greatest Showman, which starred Hugh Jackman portraying the early life of entertainer P.T. Barnum, will have its world premiere in the British West Country city of Bristol around March 2026, ahead of its launch in the West End and on Broadway.

Full of exotic beasts, bearded ladies, strapping giant strong men and dare-devil acrobats, along with the likes of Zendaya, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson and Zac Efron, the 20th Century film grossed $459 million worldwide after it hit theaters in 2017.

But, it’s fair to say, that audiences went giddy over the songs and the film’s embrace of its disparate characters who bonded as a family, rather than its storyline.

Songwriting duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the Egot winners who won a Golden Globe and a Grammy and received an Oscar nomination for the film’s pop classic “This Is Me,” have...

Angela Deem from 90 Day Fiance was thought to have been fired by Tl.C. But, despite a petition by angry fans, it looks like she is returning to reality TV. Read on to find out the new details that emerged over the weekend.

TV Star Lost Popularity

Angela Deem recently told her followers on TikTok that she would be back in front of the cameras. The video that came in the announcement showed a lot of throwback pics of Michael Ilesanmi’s ex. While she didn’t speak, her caption told her loyal fans the good news.

Yessss Coming Soon On Your Screen TV. #Stillqueeniofreality

Not everybody was thrilled to hear that news. After all, she had been accused of being abusive towards her ex, Michael Ilesanmi. Nonetheless, she does have a core of loyal fans who would love to see more of her. Perhaps she plans a movie, as...

It’s been a while since 90 Day Fiance viewers saw Angela Deem on their TV screens.

The contentious reality TV star hasn’t appeared on television since Season 8 of 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After?

Viewers watched as Angela and her soon-to-be ex-husband, Michael Ilesanmi, finally ended their tumultuous marriage.

Since then, Angela has been active on social media, particularly TikTok.

In one of her latest TikToks, the 59-year-old grandmother teased her fans and followers about a return to the small screen.

In the video, Angela shared a collage of throwback photos, which were set to the soundtrack This Is Me by Keala Settle & The Greatest Showman Ensemble.

Angela didn’t speak in the video, allowing her caption to do the talking.

“Yessss Coming Soon On Your Screen TV,” she wrote, adding “#Stillqueeniofreality.”

@angeladeem1.27

yessss Coming Soon On Your Screen TV #Stillqueeniofreality

♬ This Is Me – Keala Settle & The Greatest...

Last night, producers Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley Jackson hosted Concert for America, a bi-coastal Inauguration Day benefit that included musical and comedic performances from the brightest stars of stage and screen, with inspiring stories and messages from those on the front lines, advocating for freedom and justice for all.

The event, which featured live programming from both New York and Los Angeles, raised funds for the California Community Foundation, an organization supporting wildfire recovery efforts to aid those most in need.

Ali Stroker, Anika Larsen, Ann Harada, Arielle Jacobs, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Cecily Strong, Hennessy Winkler, Ingrid Michaelson, Jessica Vosk, Judy Gold, Judy Kuhn, Julia Murney, Julie Benko, Keala Settle, Kelli O’Hara, Lili Thomas, Lilli Cooper, Liz Callaway, Lorna Courtney, Merle Dandridge, Nina West, Norbert Leo Butz, Paul Castree, Pearl Sun, Peppermint, Piper Perabo, Samantha Williams, Shayna Steele, Ta’Nika Gibson, and more appeared live on stage at The Town Hall in New York City,...

An Oscar win for Wicked star Ariana Grande-Butera could be historic. Although she is best known as a pop star (using the name "Ariana Grande"), she began her career as an actor in projects like Nickelodeon's Victorious and Sam & Kat. With 2024's Wicked, she made her triumphant return to acting three years after an appearance in Netflix's Don't Look Up. In the Broadway musical adaptation, she plays the popular and seemingly shallow Glinda, who forms an unlikely friendship with Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), the future Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz.

Ariana Grande-Butera is a front-runner for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nod at the 2025 Oscar nominations, having been nominated in that category at many other major awards shows, including the BAFTA Awards, the Critics Choice Awards, the Golden Globes, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. So far, only the Golden Globe has been presented,...

Taran Killam will no longer be appearing the New York City Center’s upcoming Encores! production of Urinetown after he tragically lost his home in the Los Angeles Fires.

The former Saturday Night Live actor was set to lead the production as Officer Lockstock, but the role will now be played by Broadway star Greg Hildreth.

City Center confirmed the casting change in an email sent to ticketholders on Friday (January 17).

Keep reading to find out more…

“Unfortunately Taran Killam, previously announced to play the role of Lockstock, has been impacted by the devastating fires in Los Angeles and is no longer able to participate in the production,” the statement read.

Jordan Fisher, Stephanie Styles, Keala Settle, Rainn Wilson, and Christopher Fitzgerald are all starring in the upcoming production, which runs from February 5 to February 16. Tickets are on sale now!

So many celebs have lost their homes in the tragic fires.

Producers Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley Jackson announced today that their next Concert for America fundraising event will take place at The Town Hall in New York City at 7:00pm on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2025.

First presented on January 20, 2017, Concert for America includes musical and comedic performances from the brightest stars of stage and screen, with inspiring stories and messages from those on the front lines, advocating for freedom and justice for all. This year’s event will feature appearances by Ali Stroker, Anika Larsen, Ann Harada, Arielle Jacobs, Brenda Braxton, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Bryce Pinkham, Cecily Strong, Charlotte d’Amboise, Hennessy Winkler, J. Smith-Cameron, Javier Muñoz, Jessica Vosk, Judy Gold, Judy Kuhn, Julie Benko, Keala Settle, Kelli O’Hara, Lili Thomas, Lilli Cooper, Liz Callaway, Merle Dandridge, Nina West, Pearl Sun, Piper Perabo, Rosie Perez, Scarlett Strallen, Shayna Steele, Susie Essman and many more. Tickets are now on sale at www.

This article contains potential spoilers for "Wicked: For Good."

The first part of the film adaptation of "Wicked" was a massive success at the box office, a certified fresh title with critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and has even become an unexpected darling in the middle of awards season. While plenty have debated the decision to divide the Tony Award-winning musical into two films (this writer is personally in favor of the split), this has given fans plenty of time to speculate about what to expect in "Wicked: For Good." Well, that is, fans who have never read "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West," the book by Gregory Maguire that would inspire the stage musical that serves as the basis for the film.

However, as a prequel to "The Wizard of Oz," there are certain things that fans know will be coming following the end of the first "Wicked" film.

Wicked came home just in time for the new year, and ScreenRant celebrated its release in Napa Valley. Part 1 is now available to purchase or rent on Digital and includes bonus features such as extended scenes, deleted scenes, BTS clips, and more. Based on Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman's Broadway musical of the same name, and Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, the film is led by Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande-Butera as Glinda.

In addition to Erivo and Grande-Butera, Wicked stars Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Keala Settle, Peter Dinklage, Aaron Teoh, Grecia De la Paz, Colin Michael Carmichael, Adam James, Andy Nyman, Courtney Mae-Briggs, Sharon D. Clarke, and Jenna Boyd. Part 2, titled Wicked: For Good, hits theaters on November 21, putting a one-year gap between the films.

Plenty of incredible movies in 2024 featured astounding performances that exceeded audience expectations. Whether it was long-awaited adaptations of beloved stage shows, biopics of legendary musical figures, or surprisingly effective horror sequels, lots of talented actors managed to go above and beyond in their roles and give some of the best performances of the year. From major names to relative newcomers, it was impressive how actors managed to deliver exciting performances that nobody saw coming.

While audiences sometimes go into movies with sky-high expectations, it’s always nice to leave a theater being genuinely surprised by the performance seen on screen. Looking back on all the films released in 2024, it's striking just how much up-and-coming talent there is in Hollywood and how older, beloved figures have also maintained their relevance even after decades of performing. All of these movie performances achieved something special, delivering unforgettable moments that reminded viewers why cinema...

Brian Stokes Mitchell, Cecily Strong, J. Smith-Cameron, Javier Muñoz, Rosie Perez and Susie Essman are among the performers of the Broadway stage and screen appearing at this year’s Concert for America fundraising event, set for Inauguration Day, January 20, at New York’s The Town Hall.

Produced by Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley Jackson (Stars in the House), the concert fundraiser will highlight a number of national organizations working to protect human rights including the Sierra Club, Southern Poverty Law Center, Black Theatre United, The National Immigration Law Center, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, and more.

Representatives from each of these groups will participate in the program, sharing their stories and letting audiences know how they can help with easy calls-to-action to do on the day of the event and in the future.

“We did our first Concert for America on Inauguration Day 2017 and we were thrilled,” said Jackson. “Not...

The hit musical Wicked had several key nominations at the Golden Globes following its immense success upon release in December. Ultimately, the movie picked up just one win, but it's a coveted one.

At the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday evening, Wicked won the award for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement. This award was just launched in 2024 when Barbie became the first-ever recipient, making Wicked the second-ever film to get the honor. The newer award was created to help recognize the year's "most acclaimed, highest earning and/or most viewed films that have garnered extensive global audience support and attained cinematic excellence." Requirements to be eligible include earning at least $150 million (including $100 million domestically), and the titles are voted on based on excellence.

Related Wicked Director Received Surprising Call From Star Wars Director to Rave About the Musical

May the force start defying gravity?

The other nominees for this year's...

The musical adaptation Wicked, based on the same-titled Broadway musical stage play, has a length of 2 hours and 40 minutes, with a second part to come out in November. However, even with the generous length, director Jon M. Chu didn't use all the scenes they filmed for the film.

Wicked was released on digital on Dec. 31, and the VOD came with bonus features and many deleted scenes. The director further explained that he had to cut many scenes he loved to focus on telling the story that led to the fateful moment in Emerald City. Speaking with Variety at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, lead actors Ariana Grande-Butera, who plays Glinda, and Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba, revealed which scene they were sad to see cut.

Related Wicked Deleted Scene Shows Ariana Grande's Glinda Meeting Her Devoted Minions

Dear Galinda, you are just too good.

"I love them all,...

Based on the Broadway musical, which was inspired by Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel, Wicked stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande-Butera as Glinda. The story is split into two parts, and Wicked: For Good is slated to premiere on November 21, 2025. While fans have nearly a year to wait for the conclusion, Part 1 will be available to purchase or rent on Digital starting December 31. The home release includes bonus features such as behind-the-scenes clips, deleted scenes, and more.

Wicked left fans with several lingering questions, which director Jon M. Chu teases may be answered in Part 2. While he admits that everything is done with intention, Chu wants the audience to come to their own conclusions after watching the film. In addition to Erivo and Grande-Butera, Wicked stars Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Keala Settle, Peter Dinklage, Aaron Teoh, Grecia De la Paz,...

Wicked premiered in theaters on Nov. 22 with an impressive length of 2 hours and 40 minutes, and a second part is set to premiere in November 2025. However, even with the extensive length, director Jon M. Chu wasn't able to fit in all the scenes he wanted to.

Early in Wicked, right as Ariana Grande's Glinda starts her throwback to her beginning at Shiz University, she meets her devoted minions: Bowen Yang's Phannee and Bronwyn James' ShenShen. The two, however, go way back, and the newly released deleted scenes will show them exploring their joint past at Miss Cringable’s Twirling Academy, which makes them lifelong friends. As per a clip exclusively shared on Entertainment Weekly, the unofficial queen of Shiz starts her journey with two supportive friends.

Related 'It's Just Been a Dream': Jon M. Chu Teases More Exciting Musicals After Wicked and In the Heights

Exclusive: Following the success of Wicked,...

Amid its dominant run, Wicked just crossed a major milestone at the box office. Inspired by the Broadway musical, the movie stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp alongside Ariana Grande's Galinda Upland. It debuted to exceptional reviews and featured a runtime that was the same length as the original play, though it featured only half of the musical's story. A sequel, the upcoming Wicked: For Good, is set to be released on November 21, 2025. After the success of the original movie, it is poised to see immense success.

After all, according to a report by Deadline, the blockbuster musical just became the highest-grossing stage musical adaptation of all time. With a global estimate of $634.4 million through the weekend, it passed Mamma Mia!'s $611 million total for the title. Wicked's total comes from a split that featured $424 million in the domestic box office and $210 million internationally. Mamma Mia!, by contrast,...

Wicked has passed a major box office milestone after more than a month in theaters. The 2024 movie, which has been nominated for four Golden Globes, is an adaptation of the hit Broadway musical of the same name, which is in turn adapted from the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel about the origin of The Wizard of Oz's Wicked Witch of the West. After the movie opened the weekend before Thanksgiving, the record-breaking Wicked box office quickly climbed past $500 million worldwide in addition to surpassing 1978's Grease to become the highest-grossing Broadway musical adaptation in domestic box office history.

Per Deadline, Wicked has passed a major milestone at the domestic box office over Christmas week as its at-home release quickly approaches on December 31. As of Saturday morning, the movie musical, which was directed by Jon M. Chu, is projected to earn a 3-day total of $19.85 million over the traditional weekend and...

It's been a major question on everyone's mind since we first saw the initial teasers for Jon M. Chu's adaptation of Wicked: who in the world is going to play Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz? As fans of the Gregory Macguire novel — or even the Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman musical stage adaptation — well know, the second half of the book and the events from the classic film (and in turn the L. Frank Baum source material) converge in extremely important and exciting ways.

And in a new interview with Cinemablend, the director has teased a bit more about Dorothy Gale's future appearance in Wicked: For Good. As it turns out, we may be getting more of the character — made famous by Judy Garland — in the second installment than anyone initially anticipated.

Per Chu:

Well, we definitely did cast Dorothy. You see her in some of our teasers.

Since its premiere on Nov. 22, Wicked has become a cultural phenomenon that has swept the nation, and broken a number of records along the way. Now it can add another achievement to its growing list of accolades, as the adaptation of the hit Broadway musical has managed to topple an MCU favorite to enter the list as one of the 50 highest-grossing movies of all time at the domestic box office.

Starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, Wicked explores the complex friendship between Elphaba and Galinda before Dorothy’s arrival in Oz, and how they would go on to become the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda the Good. Thanks to its pre-Christmas day haul of $3.2 million, Deadline reports that Wicked has now earned $392.4 million in North America, which is enough for it to take the #49 spot in the top 50 highest-grossing movies at the domestic box office, beating Tom Holland...

Wicked is now one of the 50 highest-grossing movies of all time at the domestic box office. Since its November 22 debut, the long-awaited adaptation of the Broadway musical has been a massive box office hit.

As per Deadline, Wicked has now earned $392.4 million domestically. This makes it the 49th highest-grossing movie of all time at the domestic box office, surpassing Spider-Man: Far From Home, which previously held this spot at $391.4 million.

More to come...

Source: Deadline, The Numbers

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Wicked 9/10

Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Release Date  November 22, 2024Rating  PGRuntime  160 MinutesGenres  Musical, Adventure, FantasyCast  Colin Michael Carmichael,...

Since its premiere, Wicked had a delightfully positive reception, with the musical receiving stunning reviews from critics and the audience alike. However, per Jon M. Chu's words, he received surprising support from other filmmakers, as well.

In an appearance on CBS Mornings, Jon M. Chu revealed he received an unexpected call from George Lucas. The director revealed the Star Wars director called him from the mall right after seeing Wicked and praised him for the result. The musical, which is an adaptation of the beloved Broadway stage musical based on Gregory Maguire's same-titled 1995 novel, stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in the leading roles.

Related 'Salma Hayek Had Some Interest': Potential Cast Revealed for Unmade Wicked Movie in the 90s

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande star in the blockbuster Wicked movie, but these other stars nearly played the roles on-screen first.

Chu, whose previous directing credits include 2018's...

Long before Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande signed on to star in Wicked, several other big stars were considered for the lead roles in the film adaptation of the book and musical.

According to Variety, Wicked was nearly adapted for the big screen with Ghost and G.I. Jane star Demi Moore considered for the lead role of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. Wicked producer Marc Platt explained that the project had been with Universal for decades before finally making it to the screen in 2024. Platt shared, “I am going to try and get the timeline right if I can remember, but I believe when I became the president of production at Universal, the project was already here. It had been optioned initially by Demi Moore’s company.” Gregory Maguire, author of the 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, was reportedly interested...

Earlier this week it was announced that Wicked - Part 2 was undergoing a name change before it hits theaters next November, and now star Ariana Grande has revealed the unexpected reason for the surprising shift. Wicked is, of course, the hit adaptation of the Broadway musical that has thus far managed to gross more than $520 million at the box office in just its first month, and come awards season, is expected to take home a number of trophies to add to its growing list of accolades.

Speaking with Variety, Grande – who portrays Glinda – spoke about the name change from Wicked - Part 2 to Wicked: For Good, mentioning that she and other cast members kind of expected things to go that way for one simple reason: it was printed on their scripts. Despite a number of ideas being bounced around for a possible title for the sequel, the filmmakers decided...

“Whatever way our stories end, I know you have rewritten mine by being my friend.”

Universal Pictures has announced that Wicked: Part Two has been given a new title, and will now be known as Wicked: For Good.

As fans of the hit Broadway musical will no doubt be aware, the song “For Good” is the second to last tune in the show, a duet between Elphaba and Glinda.

The first movie is still going strong at the box office after a month on general release. Director Jon M. Chu's critically-acclaimed adaptation remained in second place with $22.5 million from 3,689 venues in its fourth weekend in theaters, and is currently sitting at $359 million domestically and more than $524 million worldwide.

The sequel is also set to release slightly earlier than previously advertised, on November 21, 2025.

You will be changed. Wicked: For Good, only in theaters November 21, 2025.

The Wicked follow-up film has gotten a new title ahead of its release in theaters next year. This follows the first movie reaching immense success upon release in November.

Per Variety, Wicked: Part Two has been retitled to Wicked: For Good. The film is scheduled to bow in theaters on Nov. 21, 2025. It will mark the second chapter of a two-part saga that serves as an on-screen adaptation of the hit Broadway show. The film has earned over $359 million domestically with a worldwide total that has reached $524 million. Its earnings make Wicked the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation in the history of the domestic box office.

Related 'It's Called Entertainment': Kristin Chenoweth Defends Wicked Amid One Million Moms' Boycott

Wicked's success ruffled some moms' feathers.

Potentially, Wicked: For Good could have an even better performance, given the positive response to the first film. The first movie scored an approval rating of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes,...

Rebecca Ferguson doesn’t think ‘The Greatest Showman’ needs a sequel.The 41-year-old actress appeared opposite Hugh Jackman, 56, in the 2017 musical movie as Jenny Lind - the opera singer who abandons P.T. Barnum’s Circus - though has now stressed the film shouldn’t get a follow-up because it “should just be left” as a standalone.When Collider suggested the idea of a sequel to the ‘Dune’ star, she said: “No! Stop that. Come on!“Sometimes things should just be left … also because I’d be jealous. I feel like my character was kind of cast aside. I’ll come back as a juggler.”‘The Greatest Showman’ - which also starred Zendaya, Zac Efron, Keala Settle and Michelle Williams - follows visionary showman P.T. Barnum (Jackman) on his journey to become a global star through his revolutionary circus.Ferguson had previously insisted ‘The Greatest Showman’ was “beautiful in its...

The Greatest Showman songs remain iconic since the movie's release in 2017. The Greatest Showman sees Hugh Jackman star as entrepreneur P.T. Barnum, and he excels, leading an impressive supporting cast that features the likes of Zendaya, Zac Efron, and Michelle Williams. When the Barnum biopic was first announced, expectations and excitement were modest. However, The Greatest Showman performed strongly at the box office, earning $438,550,994 worldwide (via Box Office Mojo), although the reviews were mixed. In the years since its release, though, the movie has only gained in popularity, becoming something of a sensation, especially through TikTok.

While it might have glossed over the less savory elements of Barnum's life, The Greatest Showman delivered in terms of the sheer spectacle, the uplifting fun, and the music. The lasting popularity of The Greatest Showman's soundtrack (by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul) arguably eclipses the film itself, delivering a string of musical...

Universal Pictures today announced Christmas Day Wicked sing-along screenings as the box-office phenomenon continues its record-shattering theatrical run. More than 1,000 theaters throughout the United States, Canada and select international markets will host interactive Wicked sing-along screenings, which will feature on-screen lyrics and a special introduction from stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

The announcement arrives as Wicked continues to shatter box-office records, becoming the highest-grossing Broadway musical film adaptation in domestic box-office history, surpassing a benchmark held by Grease for 46 years.

Featuring Grammy and Oscar winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz’s songs from the generation-defining stage musical, the film’s groundbreaking soundtrack has made history, debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. With more than 270 million global streams, it has achieved the largest streaming week ever for a stage-to-screen musical film soundtrack and stands as the No. 1 soundtrack debut of the decade.

A special sing-along version of the soundtrack...

For longtime Wicked fans, the thought of a film adaptation Not including at least a nod to the original Broadway stars — Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth as Elphaba and Glinda — was damn near impossible. And thankfully, the film's director (and self-professed musical fan) Jon M. Chu agreed.

But how did their extended cameos come together in the big screen adaptation starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as Glinda and Elphaba (respectively)? Well, in a new interview with CinemaBlend managing editor Sean O'Connell, the details of how Menzel and Chenoweth's roles evolved in the film are finally available for us normies who didn't work on the biggest film of the year.

Needless to say, if you haven't seen the film and don't want to be spoiled any further, do not read on!

How Did Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth's 'Wicked' Cameos Come To Be?

In the interview, starting at the 17-minute mark,...

Wicked's director said Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo never met for script reads during auditions, so their chemistry together was never tested. Both were standout picks for Glinda and Elphaba before they even met.

Director Jon M. Chu knew Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were perfectly cast for Wicked the moment they all met. "They came to my house to meet for the first time," he told Entertainment Weekly. "[Composer and lyricist] Stephen Schwartz was there, and he started playing 'For Good' on the piano. They just went up there and started singing. At that moment, their voices intertwined, and I knew it was right." That was also Grande and Erivo's first meeting after an arduous audition process; they did test reads with other actors but the chemistry wasn't there.

Related 'Absolutely Not': Ariana Grande Had One Request for Playing Wicked's Glinda and It Paid Off

Ariana Grande was already "popular...

Director John M. Chu's blockbuster film Wicked shines with musical star power, particularly that of its two lead actors, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. For the most part, it makes full use of the Wicked movie cast's musical prowess, making for an incredible cinema experience. However, the film barely utilizes the talents of a notable Broadway star in its supporting cast: Keala Settle. Settle is best known for performing as Lettie Lutz, the bearded lady from Hugh Jackman's hit musical film The Greatest Showman.

In Wicked, Settle portrays Miss Coddle, the headmaster of Shiz University. Despite being a high-ranking member of the staff at Wicked's Shiz University, Coddle hardly appears in the film or its large, exuberant musical numbers. This role is a far cry from her much larger one in the wildly successful The Greatest Showman. By the end of Wicked, the film failed to showcase Coddle's true talents on the big screen,...

Is Wicked about to become the latest movie to be banned in one of the Gulf States?

After Barbie was banned to protect “public ethics” and for portraying “ideas and beliefs that are alien to Kuwaiti society and public order” last year, Variety is reporting that Universal and director Jon M. Chu's adaptation of the hit Broadway musical has been removed from cinema listings in Kuwait on the eve of its local theatrical release.

No specific reason was provided, but the trade notes that this "is an evolving issue," and sources have speculated that the decision comes down to the fact that the movie features some LGBTQ+ cast members.

Cynthia Erivo, who stars as Elphaba, openly identifies as queer, as do co-stars Jonathan Bailey, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode and Bronwyn James.

Kuwait has become the strictest of the Gulf states when it comes to film censorship.

Wicked opened in...

Wicked has taken home a major prize in the early days of the 2024-2025 awards season. The new movie musical, which was directed by Jon M. Chu, is based on the Broadway show of the same name, which in turns adapts Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel telling the origin story of The Wizard of Oz's Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba. The Wicked cast includes Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Ariana Grande-Butera as Glinda, Jonathan Bailey as the charismatic prince Fiyero, Michelle Yeoh as the sorceress Madame Morrible, and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard of Oz.

Per Variety, Wicked has been named the Best Film of the year by the National Board of Review. It won a total of two awards, as Jon M. Chu was also awarded Best Director. Additionally, Ariana Grande-Butera and Cynthia Erivo were given the NBR Spotlight Award for their "creative collaboration." As this Best Film award...

Last year, Mattel gained a lot of popularity with the live-action Barbie film, and it continued to bank on its dolls to appeal to adults and children. Unfortunately, its attempt to create a doll for the adaptation of Wicked failed miserably and now Mattel is in the midst of several legal issues.

Ahead of the film's premiere on Nov. 22, Mattel has released a line of merch to promote Jon M. Chu's feature adaptation of the Broadway musical. However, fans soon discovered that the merch for the dolls inadvertently led consumers to an adult entertainment website. The Nsfw mistake led to Mattel apologizing for the mishap, but consumers weren't pleased with that, and, per Variety, Mattel found itself with a lawsuit on its hands.

Related Wicked Crewmember Reveals the Biggest Problem Caused by Those Major Cameos

Costumer Paul Tazewell reveals the big problem created by those major cameos in the Wicked movie.

Universal Pictures is putting an end to the rumors that there was a major pay discrepancy between Wicked stars Cythina Erivo and Ariana Grande. Despite Wicked opening to $112 million in its first three days and earning rapturous reviews from critics and audiences alike, not all has been good in the land of Oz. Rumors started circulating online through TikTok and Reddit that Ariana Grande was paid $15 million for playing Galinda, while Cynthia Erivo was only paid $1 million for the lead role of Elphaba.

Universal Pictures, via Variety, has denied the $14 million pay difference between the two Wicked stars. A spokesperson for Universal released a statement on the matter, saying, “Reports of pay disparity between Cynthia and Ariana are completely false and based on internet fodder. The women received equal pay for their work on Wicked." Universal did not disclose how much Erivo and Grande were paid for the movie.

The...

Spoiler Alert: Spoilers follow for Wicked

Quick Links ‘Wicked’ Deconstructs the Land of Oz What Does It Mean to Be Wicked? 'Wicked' Defies Gravity — And Our Expectations

After spending almost two decades in development hell, the Broadway musical Wicked finally made it to the big screen. By all accounts, it was worth the wait — it’s been a smash hit with critics and audiences alike, all on top of debuting to the third-biggest opening weekend of 2024. Best of all, the film lives up to the overwhelming hype; it’s one of the best movie musicals of the last decade, brimming with utter joy in its craft and never feeling anything less than a labor of love from the creative team.

Much has also been written about Wicked’s surprising political relevance. In the aftermath of one of the most contentious presidential elections in recent (and distant) memory, the...

The film adaptation of Wicked soared on its theatrical debut last weekend. Now, after just 8 days on release, the movie has defied gravity and every expectation to become the highest grossing Broadway musical adaptation of all time at the domestic box office. The Jon M. Chu-directed film has managed to avoid the traps it could have fallen into and captured the hearts of both fans of the Broadway musical, and those new to the prequel story to The Wizard of Oz.

Premiering in theaters on November 22, 2024, Wicked debuted to some staggering box office numbers, especially considering the unpredictability of theatrical releases and underperformance of musical movies such as Cats, Steven Spielberg’s West Wide Story remake, and Chu’s own In The Heights. It earned $114 million in its opening weekend, easily seeing off the challenge of Gladiator II. Now in just eight days, Wicked has overtaken Grease’s (unadjusted...

One Wicked star, Marissa Bode, is speaking out against insults and hurtful jokes relating to her disability. Bode plays Nessarose Thropp, and she is featured prominently as the sister of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo). Ever since a car accident when she was 11 years old, Bode has been using a wheelchair as a mobility tool. She began acting prior to the accident, and she has continued in the industry in a variety of shorts. Wicked is her first major on-screen production, and the upcoming Wicked: Part Two will be her second.

After the massive debut of her movie, Bode took to TikTok to offer a short monologue about her experience. While she admits that anyone can dislike Nessarose's personality, she has drawn the line about insults and jokes about her wheelchair. She has been cleaning her social media feed by moderating ableist comments, but she admits that even having this conversation is difficult and intimidating.

Quick Links The Cast of 'Wicked' Weighs in on the Singing Controversy Save the Sing-a-Long for 'Wicked's Streaming Release

With the star-studded fantasy musical Wicked taking moviegoers all across the world by storm, the internet has been buzzing over proper theater etiquette and whether audiences should sing along to their favorite tunes featured in the dazzling adaptation. Moana 2 star Dwayne Johnson decided to weigh in on the hot-button topic when walking the red carpet for the U.K. premiere of the highly-anticipated Disney sequel, telling BBC that fans should be able to sing along while watching their favorite movies and adding, "Especially if you love music, that's the fun part."

The 2016 animated blockbuster notably featured a slew of fun and catchy songs like "How Far I'll Go" and "You're Welcome," with Grammy winner Lin-Manuel Miranda helping compose the film's electrifying soundtrack. Johnson feels that audiences should...

Wicked added another $20 million to its box office take on the Thanksgiving holiday and in less than a week after its theatrical release, passed another box office turning point. Per Collider, with the extra $20 million, the movie passed the $150 million mark in domestic theaters and has gone over the $200 million milestone worldwide. With those numbers, Wicked made Thanksgiving Day the second-biggest day at the theaters since July 26, after Deadpool & Wolverine.

This weekend alone, the John M. Chu-directed Wicked, starring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Jeff Goldblum, is expected to earn another $60 million. Stretch that figure over the five-day holiday weekend, and that number goes up even further to nearly $100 million.

Related 'Get Off [Their] Backs': Moana Voice Actor Shares Support to Wicked's Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo

Moana 2's voice actor wants both Wicked and her animated sequel to succeed.

The Film Could Earn Over $200 million By the End of This Weekend

By Sunday,...

The release of Wicked has been an unquestionable success, with the film soaring beyond all expectations in both its box office performance and reviews. However, there has been one continuing niggle that refuses to go away: to sing, or not to sing. From the moment the film arrived in cinemas last week, the Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo-led Broadway adaptation has been the subject of a debate over whether it is or isn’t Ok for audiences to sing along with the movie outside the special sing-along screenings. Now Erivo has offered her view on the matter, and further murkied the waters.

Fans have been ecstatic with the Jon M. Chu-directed movie, but bringing such an iconic musical to screens has the adverse effect of bringing out plenty of spirited theater kids who just want to belt out the big numbers of the movie, including the climactic show-tune to end all show-tunes,...

Wicked is out in theaters and the movie is breaking records, enchanting the hearts of millions, and delighting the critics. Since the Jon M. Chu-helmed musical is based on an internationally famous musical, it has started a worldwide conversation: is it okay to sing the songs?

This has sparked a very heated debate online about theater etiquette. Some people feel entitled to show off their love for the source material and excitement about the new adaptation on the big screen, while others want to enjoy the film itself and hear the professional actors. While it was perfectly fine to sing in the theater for Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour and Beyoncé's Renaissance concert films, even those had people complaining about people singing. They complain even worse about people singing during musicals. In a new interview with TVLine, Wicked star Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba, weighed in on the debate.

Universal Pictures is claiming rumors that spread over the weekend of a pay disparity between Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are "completely false." Troubling reports went viral over the weekend stating Grande received $15 million for her performance in the movie adaptation of one of the 21st-century's most celebrated musicals, while Erivo only took home $1 million. The issue has now ballooned to the point that the studio feels the need to comment on it.

According to TheWrap, who reportedly spoke with a Universal spokesperson, the two leads received equal pay. They even referred to the reports as "completely false" and "based on Internet fodder." Despite originating from dubious sources with little to no evidence to back up these claims, several outlets picked up the reports, which helped the rumors gain even more traction.

Related The Biggest Differences Between 2024s Wicked and the Stage Show

Adaptations aren't always faithful, even...

Quick Links Bridging the Gap Between Broadway and Film with 'Wicked' The Original 'Wicked' Cast Doesn't Take Away From the New Cast What Other Surprises Could Fans See in 'Wicked: Part 2?'

Wicked has finally arrived in theaters, and the first of the two-part film has some surprises lined up for fans. The film successfully adapts the iconic musical, and the stellar cast ensemble gives incredible performances. The chemistry between Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba and Ariana Grande's Glinda was reminiscent of Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth's performances as the original Elphaba and Glinda in the 2003 Broadway production. Erivo and Grande made the beloved roles their own while honoring the legacy of Menzel and Chenoweth. Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum are among the many other incredible actors joining the legacy of Wicked.

Directed by Jon M. Chu, the film, as many fans have noticed,...

The release of the film adaptation of Wicked has been nothing short of an incredible success, with the film soaring to the top of the box office, but that doesnt mean it hasnt been without the odd glitch being pointed out by some moviegoers. One such issue saw the movies director, Jon M. Chu, respond on social media to a number of complaints about problems with the sound quality that saw some of the lyrics being drowned out by the orchestral music, or dialogue being too soft to hear. However, Chu has suggested how this can be negated for anyone finding the same problem.

Wicked is not the first movie to suffer complaints about either visual or audio choices made by the director, and while Chu has been asked to give reasons for some of the aesthetics of the musical film, it seems that the sound is something that he...

Jeff Goldblum, best known for his role as Ian Malcolm in the Jurassic Park franchise, recently spoke to Entertainment Weekly about his role as The Wizard in Wicked. Wicked, based on Gregory Maguires novel adaption of L. Frank Baums The Wizard of Oz tells the story from the perspective of The Wicked Witch of The West.

The book, adapted to a highly successful Broadway play, shows The Wicked Witch - Elphaba - not as a villain but as a persecuted liberator seeking to dethrone the wizard who is, in fact, the true villain. In the film, Goldblum plays this role and does so well, primarily as he feels hes had some experience within the arena of an abuser of power before.

Related Wicked Earns an A CinemaScore After Universal Praise From Critics & Audiences

Wicked garners a near perfect CinemaScore only a day after the Wizard of Oz prequel musical's theatrical release begins.

Jeff Goldblum, the ever-charismatic mainstay in the industry, continues to surprise audiences with his diverse and unique performances. Recently, he played Zeus in Netflixs dark comedy series Kaos. But in his latest role, Goldblum has taken on the mantle of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the record-breaking film adaptation of the musical Wicked. The character is one he intriguingly compares to his role as the Grandmaster in the MCU.

Wicked adds a layer of complexity and realism to the untold stories of Ozs universe and, as far as Goldblums portrayal of The Wizard of Oz goes, it is as eccentric as it is sinister. As a conman who has seized all power and wants to satisfy his impulses by using magic and creating a totalitarian regime in Oz, his character is a manipulative force in the movie. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Goldblum discussed the similarities between The Wizard and the Grandmaster.

Movie-themed popcorn buckets and other merchandise have become more popular as of late, and Wicked is the latest movie with merch ending up on reselling sites like eBay. Per TMZ, one of the most popular items up for re-sale is the combo of the Wicked Witch hat cup and popcorn bucket that was exclusive to Regal Cinemas.

The Regal Wicked combo, which seems to be the most popular item for sale on eBay, is going for $85 from one seller who has already sold 25 sets. The popcorn bucket on its own sold for $35 on the Regal Cinema Store website, but it is sold out. Another eBay seller has the combo up for $100 (or best offer) and has sold nine sets with more than 40 people watching the listing for the set.

A set of Cinemark-exclusive merchandise containing two popcorn buckets and two wands is going for $200. For about the same price,...

Movie auditions are stressful enough, but nothing is more nerve-wracking than showing up and reading for the wrong part. For Ariana Grande, who stars in the upcoming two-part Wicked movie as Glinda, that nightmare became a reality. Before eventually earning her dream role as the popular good witch, the film's director, Jon M. Chu, recently confessed that she accidentally sang for Elphaba during her original audition.

Wicked's film adaptation is based on the 2003 Tony Award-winning musical that follows The Wizard of Oz's prequel journey of witches Glinda and Elphaba from Shiz University students to the latter becoming the Wicked Witch of the West. The show combined Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel of the same name and the musical genius of Stephen Schwartz. The classic story is finally coming to the big screen and also features Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, and Bowen Yang. As the film's release nears,...

The wait is over. The time has come. The world of movie magic is finally expanding, and it is with no other phenomenal project than the long-awaited musical fantasy film Wicked. Based on the widely celebrated Broadway musical of the same name, which itself is based on Gregory Maguires novel, Wicked follows Elphaba as she starts her journey of turning into the Wicked Witch of the West with an unexpected companion. Her classmate Glinda, who initially isn't too fond of Elphaba, becomes a close friend, and they both significantly impact each other's lives.

Wicked is one of the biggest movies of 2024, but even though its release day marks such a special time of the year, its not necessarily the story of Glinda and Elphaba that is the topic of conversation. Much rather in focus upon the release of the musical fantasy movie are the Glinda and Elphaba actors, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.