WICKED Film to Enter Development 'Soon'

As producer Marc Platt reported to Entertainment Weekly, "conversations are now starting" about a movie adaptation of the mega-successful Broadway musical Wicked.

"It's still a ways away," he said. "I would expect in the near future to begin the process of development. There will be a movie."

Universal Pictures owns the rights to Wicked, which opened on Broadway in October of 2003, starring Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, and is about to reach its 10th year on Broadway. Boasting two national tours and productions in both Chicago and California, the musical has earned more than $2 billion since its debut. A film adaptation makes a more-than-logical next step.

And as BroadwayWorld previously reported, Universal has potentially begun the process already. This summer, it was revealed that the company was seeking Stephen Daldry to helm the big screen adaptation of the long-running musical. Daldry - who has received Academy Award nominations for his work on Billy Elliot, THE HOURS and more - most recently received a 2011 nomination for EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE.

Winnie Holzman, who penned the musical's book based on Gregory Maguire's novel, will reportedly also write the screenplay. The film has been talked about for some time, but has been slow in production; no casting or further members of the creative team have been announced.

WICKED, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Disney's Enchanted, Academy Award winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Holzman ("My So Called Life," "Once And Again" and "thirtysomething"), is based on the 1995 best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire.

The musical is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello (Take Me Out, Love! Valour! Compassion!, The Vagina Monologues) and features musical staging by Tony Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who's Tommy, How To Succeed...). Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.