‘Wicked’ Musical Finally Set for Movie Adaptation in 2019

Stephen Daldry is directing big screen adaptation of Broadway musical

Universal has set a December 20, 2019 release date for its long-awaited “Wicked” movie.

Stephen Daldry is directing the big screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, which starred Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth in the original production.

“Wicked” is a re-imagining of “The Wizard of Oz” which takes place from the perspective of the two witched, Elphaba and Glinda, as they meet as college roommates. The three-time Tony Award-winning stage musical was adapted from Gregory Maguire’s bestselling novel by book writer Winnie Holzman and three-time Oscar-winning composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz, who are also collaborating on the screenplay adaptation.

The big screen adaptation has been in the works for years and is a no brainer thanks to the musical’s enduring popularity — not to mention the fact that the stage production is Universal’s biggest hit, far eclipsing the sales of any film the studio has ever made.

“It may just be over $3 billion now,” producer Marc Platt told TheWrap in October of “Wicked’s” earnings. “That’s the gross number, but yes, in terms of its profits and the margin, it’s extremely significant in the history of Universal, which is its largest investor.”

“Wicked” is produced on Broadway by Platt, Universal Stage Productions, the Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.

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