Universal Studios recently announced that they are moving the release of Wicked Part 1 from December 25, 2024, to Wednesday, November 27, 2024. This change was made to take advantage of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and to avoid direct competition with other Christmas tentpole releases. The release date for Wicked Part 2 remains unchanged and is still scheduled for December 25, 2025.
Directed by Jon M. Chu, the untold story of the Witches of Oz will feature Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as the leads. The film is based on the bestselling novel by Gregory Maguire and adapted for the screen by the book writer of the stage production, Winne Holzman, and the Oscar-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz.
Wicked is a prequel to The Wizard of Oz that explores the story of Elphaba (played by Cynthia Erivo), the green-skinned witch who becomes known as the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda (played by Ariana Grande), who becomes known as the Good Witch. The story is based on Gregory Maguire’s bestselling novel of the same name, which was itself based on L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The latter was previously adapted into MGM’s classic 1939 film of the same name.
Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldbum, Jonathan Bailey, and Ethan Slater also star in the film, with Marc Platt producing through his Universal-based Marc Platt Productions. David Stone is also producing, with Senior Executive Vice President of Production Erik Baiers and Vice President of Production Development Lexi Barta overseeing the project on behalf of the studio.
Wicked first premiered on Broadway in 2003 and has since become a beloved production. The Broadway stage musical is produced by Universal Stage Productions, Marc Platt, the Araca Group, Jon B. Platt, and David Stone.
The move to release Wicked Part 1 during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend is a smart move, as it will give the film more exposure and attract a larger audience. With its star-studded cast, talented crew, and intriguing storyline, Wicked is sure to be a hit with audiences when it hits theaters in November 2024.
