Two new songs will be included in the second Wicked movie, according to Stephen Schwartz.
Schwartz teased that he is also revising some of the musical’s current songs in the most recent edition of his Schwartz Scene newsletter as he offered fresh details on the creation of the new movies.
“There are two new songs in the second movie that are complete songs in themselves, and then there are new sections in some of the existing songs in both movies. All the new material, of course, is to meet the demands of the storytelling.”
The Wicked movie will be released in two parts, the first of which will be over the 2024 Christmas season. This was already confirmed. According to Schwartz, the musical’s act one closing, “Defying Gravity,” would probably serve as the last scene of the first movie. The new songs will thus be interspersed with scenes from the musical’s second act.
Schwartz is presently composing rehearsal music for the actors and director Jon M. Chu. Before the movie starts filming in early December, he will go to the U.K. for production. Since Labor Day, the cast has been practicing in the United Kingdom.
Schwartz also shared his thoughts on the movie’s casting, which includes Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard, Ariana Grande as Glinda, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba.
“I think the casting choices so far are very smart. They’re not necessarily whom you would expect, but when you really think about them, you’re like, ‘Oh, that’s a really good idea.’ And I’ve felt that with the whole cast.”
