Universal Pictures has revealed a new featurette for the highly anticipated Wicked film, which shows how the singing was recorded live on the set. For movies, the singing is usually recorded away from the set in a more controlled environment.
In the video, director Jon M. Chu says, “They are the best singers in the world, and so in every scene, they have been singing live.” Cynthia Erivo added: “We chose to sing live because it meant that we would be further connected to the words we were saying and to each other.” Ariana Grande said: “It was an immediate no-brainer for Cynthia and I. We both were like, well, of course, we’re singing live.”
After two decades as one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, Wicked makes its long-awaited journey to the big screen as a spectacular, generation-defining cinematic event this holiday season. The film will open in theaters on November 22 and will be followed by Wicked Part Two on November 21, 2025. It is rated PG for some scary action, thematic material, and brief suggestive material.
Featuring the musical talents from the entire cast of the film, Wicked: The Soundtrack will be released alongside the movie’s theatrical release on November 22 via Republic Records. Wicked: The Soundtrack includes iconic songs “Defying Gravity,” “Popular,” “The Wizard And I,” “One Short Day,” and more.
Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy, and Tony-winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Elphaba, a young woman misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart.
The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads, and their lives take very different paths.
Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power. At the same time, Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself and to those around her will have unexpected and shocking consequences for her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
The film also stars Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh as Shiz University’s regal headmistress Madame Morrible; Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton, Fellow Travelers) as Fiyero, a roguish and carefree prince; Tony nominee Ethan Slater (Broadway’s SpongeBob SquarePants, Fosse/Verdon) as Boq, an altruistic Munchkin student; Marissa Bode in her feature-film debut as Nessarose, Elphaba’s favored sister; and Jeff Goldblum as the legendary Wizard of Oz.
The cast of characters includes Pfannee and ShenShen, two conniving compatriots of Glinda, played by Emmy nominee Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live) and Bronwyn James (Harlots), and a new character created for the film, Miss Coddle, played by Tony nominee Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman).
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights), Wicked is produced by Marc Platt (La La Land, The Little Mermaid), whose films, television shows, and stage productions have earned a combined 46 Oscar nominations, 58 Emmy nominations, and 36 Tony nominations.
The films are also produced by multiple Tony winner David Stone (Kimberly Akimbo, Next to Normal), with whom Platt produced the blockbuster Wicked stage musical. The executive producers are David Nicksay, Stephen Schwartz, and Jared LeBoff.
Based on the bestselling novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked is adapted for the screen by Winnie Holzman, the book writer for the stage production, and legendary Grammy and Oscar-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz. The Broadway stage musical is produced by Universal Stage Productions, Marc Platt, the Araca Group, Jon B. Platt, and David Stone.
Mirko Parlevliet has been reporting on the entertainment industry since 1998 and founded Vital Thrills to provide the latest news on streaming, movies, and TV shows. He previously created the websites ComingSoon, SuperHeroHype, and ShockTillYouDrop.