Printer Friendly - WICKED film to enter development
Posted by bobs3 2012-12-13 23:47:30
Okay, I want you guys to start proposing Broadway ensemble members for the leads so I can have a good laugh at your expense when Taylor Swift and Sarah Hyland get the roles.
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by Jordan Catalano 2012-12-13 23:52:01
?
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by Wynbish 2012-12-13 23:52:32
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by faithzilla 2012-12-13 23:53:33
Just...no.
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by Wynbish 2012-12-13 23:53:52
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by CapnHook 2012-12-14 00:02:33
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by CurtainPullDowner 2012-12-14 01:06:52
Anne has dibs on Elffie and Taylor is auditioning wih SOM for Galinda.
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by OperaBwayLover 2012-12-14 16:08:30
I'll believe it when I see it. Wasn't In the Heights announced for film development as well, several years back?
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by WiCkEDrOcKS 2012-12-14 16:12:46
Well, the WICKED movie will definitely happen. At some point. It's one of the biggest Broadway hits of all time and it's backed by Universal and Mark Platt.
The IN THE HEIGHTS movie is pretty much not gonna happen at all at this point, I would assume.
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by James885 2012-12-14 16:45:51
This is basically a non-story. Just because it enters development doesn't mean it's going to be made any time soon.
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by castlestreet 2012-12-14 16:50:15
With Les Miz already looking like a critical darling, and probably going to do well at the box office, don't be surprised if several movie musicals get fast tracked into production- see Chicago
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by CurtainPullDowner 2012-12-14 16:52:39
Hollywood and the Movie Industry can be so stupid at times. The mere thought that LesMis will be a major hit will get people talking about lots of Musicals making it to the screen.
Instead of carefully planning anf taking time with casting etc. (which it seems LesMis did) they rush into productions with the flavor of the month.
They'll never learn.
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by Anthony Fremont 2012-12-14 20:36:55
"Producers" soon or "Phantom" soon?
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by Princeton Returns 2012-12-16 07:18:35
If it were to be made in next year or so id go for
Sam Barks as Elphaba
Justin Timberlake as Fiyero (think he could just get away with it age wise)
Judi Dench or Helen Miran as Morrible
No idea on Glinda
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by best12bars 2012-12-16 07:34:56
There is an article in this week's Entertainment Weekly that says, basically, "Wicked" is still years away from a film version, but that its producer Marc Platt says the time has come to start the development process now.
That doesn't start with casting, folks. It starts with story and script development, which means hiring a writer or writers and possibly bringing a director on board to work with the early development as well.
That can take years, especially if (as Platt says), he is in no rush to get this to the screen. Your movie leads are probably all in the sixth grade right now.
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by ucjrdude902 2012-12-16 10:15:10
If this all happened in the next 2-3 years I'd like to see Anna Kendrick and Anne Hathaway take it on.
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by Jungle Red 2012-12-16 10:24:05
I don't see a WICKED movie happening at all, frankly, especially with this newest OZ movie. Give the audiences a break for a year or two before we release another OZ themed movie, please!
Honestly, why see the WICKED movie when you can just see it in NYC or one of the tours (if there are any)?
The magic of WICKED can't be created on film. It ain't gonna happen. No matter how well they film "Defying Gravity", it won't be as awesome as it is on stage. Also, people are going to complain either way - either it's too close to the stage show or it's not close enough and they've changed too much and blah blah blah. You guys know how it is.
It won't happen but I would love for them to mix up the musical with the darker source material. I read the novel about once a year and it's one of my favorites.
Because it is film, they're going to have to start with scratch. RENT doesn't work as a movie because the script relied too much on the stage show.
I could go on and on but I'll stop now.
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by ucjrdude902 2012-12-16 10:40:59
Because you can pay $60 dollars to sit in the very last row at the Gershwin or $12.50 to pick the seat of your choice.
Because if done right, cast well and promoted like it should it'll make more money in a month then the show does in a year. I could be wrong, but when this does become a movie, I see it being HUGE despite if the critics like it or not. There are people who can't get to New York or afford the tour that would go to the movie hoping to experience the same magic.
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by Jungle Red 2012-12-16 11:03:55
"hoping to experience the same magic"
Then they will be severely disappointed. You can't create that pre-curtain buzz or hearing the overture start on film, no matter how hard they try or how much money they spend.
I'm really not trying to be a Debbie Downer because I do agree with most of what you said, ucjrdude. People who go in expecting the same as the stage show are going to be, again, disappointed.
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by darquegk 2012-12-16 12:43:57
Hmm... is your essential position that musicals don't work on film at all, because the experience of live music, singing and performance is what drives the show, not the actual plot, music or performances simply BEING? If so, do you think any other movie musicals work, or are musicals best left to the stage?
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by Jungle Red 2012-12-16 13:00:24
My position is that fans should expect to see a movie, not a recreation of their favorite musical on film. That doesn't work.
Rabbit Hole works because they made it in a movie. Proof didn't work because it was too much like the play.
I think Hairspray, Dreamgirls, West Side Story, Chicago work as a movies because the filmmakers understood the needs of the films. I haven't seen Nine or Rock of Ages so I can't say why those didn't work.
We'll see about Les Miserables.
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by faithzilla 2012-12-16 13:17:23
No matter what, Wicked is going to be a cash cow. I mean, people who have never seen a real theatre production can belt out (poorly) Defying Gravity and Popular. Everyone will see it. So I don't think there's any question that it will be made.
I'm just thinking and hoping it goes as best12bars said. If they don't rush it, the movie could be amazing.
JungleRed, it's interesting that you said RENT doesn't work as a film. That bodes well for a Wicked film, as I was in 8th grade when RENT came out and it was a huge hit with all middle/high schoolers. I would suspect a Wicked movie would have a similar young following.
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by James885 2012-12-16 14:22:52
No matter what, Wicked is going to be a cash cow.
Folks said the same thing about the Phantom film, and while it didn't do to badly (total domestic + worldwide gross was $150 million), it didn't set the box office on fire.
I also remember people saying similar things prior to Rent movie coming out and that filmed bombed at the box office.
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by SpaceOpera 2012-12-16 14:24:27
I find it interesting that the point was made that the upcoming Oz film would negatively affect the release of a Wicked film. If Oz is successful, I foresee that jumpstarting production on a Wicked film adaptation. If Universal thinks that Wizard of Oz films are making money, they'll want to cash in on that while it's hot.
That said, a film version of Wicked actually has TWO sources to draw from. They can adapt both the stage musical as well as the novel from which the musical is based. Because of this, if done well, a film version of Wicked can most definitely work. It doesn't have to be a straight up translation of the musical like Rent, as one poster suggested. It will all depend on whether those developing the film choose to use both sources.
Wicked WILL be a film. Most likely it will be wildly popular. We just have to wait and see if it is also made well.
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by Brave Sir Robin2 2012-12-16 15:46:48
Folks said the same thing about the Phantom film, and while it didn't do to badly (total domestic + worldwide gross was $150 million), it didn't set the box office on fire.
I also remember people saying similar things prior to Rent movie coming out and that filmed bombed at the box office.
But those were horrible movies - the word of mouth helped kill them off. I think, if done well, Wicked could be the biggest movie musical of all time. It has so much potential and I hope it lives up to it.
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by fingerlakessinger 2012-12-16 17:18:57
^I agree. They have tons to draw from. I think they will do what Les Miz is doing and take some stuff from the book. Then on top of that, they have the Oz films, the Oz novels. We as a society LOVE Oz in general. Then add to the fact the musical has (IMO) an incredible score and fantastic book, I think it could do magically at the box office.
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by ucjrdude902 2012-12-16 17:33:49
Let me break this down for you, producers don't care "what fan expect to see" in a movie. Producers are wanting the general public to come and see the movie and hopefully more then once.
You're right, there is nothing like the pre-curtain buzz but I will tell you this. When I saw "Hairspray" in theaters there was "buzz" and when Nikki finally said "AND IM TRACY!!!" the crowed roared like we were in a Broadway theatre. Same goes for "Dreamgirls", it was the ONLY time I have ever been in a movie theatre when 75% the audience gave a standing ovation after J-Hud finished "And I Am Telling You"
Producers are not sitting around a table thinking to themselves, "What can we do to make the fans love this movie. They have been so good to us we need to make sure above anyone else that they are happy". I also think, the producers are smart enough to realize, that it going to have to be made into a "film" and it's going to be a "recreation" because like you pointed out, the complete stage version won't transfer onto film well. I am sure characters will be added, songs will be cut, etc. They'll do whatever it takes to make sure the film is a hit and brings in the dough and hopefully if done right it'll be reflected at the box offices across the world.
I think, it'll be a hit (like I said earlier). Like someone else said, we as a society love Oz. I am an Oz fan and people know that. You'd be surprised how many times someone has said to me "Did you hear about that new Oz movie"??
Wicked will be a cash cow, they know that and are probably just going to make sure that its going to be an endless cash cow.
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by TheGingerBreadMan 2012-12-16 17:52:18
We all know that the Wicked movie will do well in the box office. With Wicked being in my top 10 favorite musicals, I will most definitely see it multiple times. I think that they should stick to the basic plot of the musical, but pull some of the finer details from the novel that the musical doesn't quite portray. They should use some of the bigger songs from the musical, such as "Defying Gravity", "Thank Goodness", "One Short Day", and "The Wizard and I", and cut some of the less important songs such as "Something Bad" and "Sentimental Man". They could extend the story line a bit too, I think. The book has so much detail that the musical never even touched.
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by ucjrdude902 2012-12-16 21:22:36
I agree, I would hope they'd cut some of the boring songs and possibly bring in some that were cut in the creation process that didn't work on stage but could work on film. I've seen the show three times and the song Glinda singsĀ
it's slipping my mind. It's after intermission I believe, but it's way to boring.
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by fingerlakessinger 2012-12-16 21:40:15
^Thank Goodness.
I like that song personally. The song I could do without is "Sentimental Man"
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by PositivelyEmerald 2012-12-16 21:45:05
I like Thank Goodness as well. It's one of the few songs Glinda sings that shows more depth to her character. I personally have never liked dancing through life, but I'm sure they'd keep that. Something bad and Sentimental man might just be turned into dialogue.
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by TheGingerBreadMan 2012-12-16 21:56:52
^^ I agree with the smaller songs being turned to dialogue. I hope they keep Thank Goodness, I really like it.
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by fingerlakessinger 2012-12-16 22:02:54
Me too. Some of the smaller songs can be replaced or cut entirely and like you said replaced with dialogue. Actually, I think "Something Bad" can be removed and made into a moving scene between Dillamond and Elphaba. I believe an earlier incarnation of the WICKED script included this before it went into a song.
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by TheGingerBreadMan 2012-12-16 22:10:52
^^ I agree completely.
I also think that Madame Morrible's lines in the middle of Something Bad can be cut entirely, whether they keep it a song or not.
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by ucjrdude902 2012-12-16 22:12:29
I would hope when they do this that the "second act" of the movie, takes a darker turn. Almost what they try to convince you to believe on stage.
WICKED film to enter development
Posted by TheGingerBreadMan 2012-12-16 22:16:47
I feel like the book is too dark and the musical is too happy. If the movie could meet somewhere in the middle it would be great. I like what the musical does with Doctor Dillamond not being able to talk and then dissappearing and briefly coming back later in the show, but I also love how he was killed off in the novel. Not quite sure which I would prefer the movie to do. I guess it would be nice to have him die in the movie, so it won't be too close to the musical.
