Don’t blame the girl with the bucket of water this time…
Industry trade paper The Hollywood Reporter has broken the unfortunate news: director Stephen Daldry as quit the movie version of the musical Wicked, due in theatres next Christmas.
Related: THEATER: Dan Savage & Ben Cohen Get “Wicked,” Merman Reincarnated, “Rebecca,” And More
Daldry (who, incidentally, identifies as gay), the twice-Oscar nominated director of Billy Elliot and The Hours had spent years attached to the film version of Wicked, overseeing the project through years of development Hell. Now Daldry has quit the film, apparently due to schedule demands on the part of the studio, Universal Pictures. The COVID-19 pandemic caused major production delays, and Daldry was unwilling to commit to a new schedule.
Universal has now taken the film off its release calendar, signaling that audiences won’t see the movie anytime soon, if at all. Wicked has had a troubled development period, with a film version announced on and off since the musical debuted in 2003.
Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, the musical version of Wicked reimagines The Wizard of Oz told from the point of view of the Wicked Witch of the West. The musical, with book by Winnie Holsman and music by Stephen Schwarz, won three Tony Awards and continues to play on Broadway more than 10 years after it opened.
Tombear
Saw Wicked on Broadway with the original cast. Rue Mclanahan as Madame Morible. The play is always better than the movie.
Kangol2
I think it was actually Carole Shelley (RIP). Carol Kane played that role in the original US tour cast, but Shelley later performed on that first tour.
Joshooeerr
And in this case the original book was infinitely better than the stage musical. They changes they made (mostly in service of a happier ending) pretty much destroyed the point of the whole thing.
Mister P
They should have written their own story and left The Wizard of Oz out of it.
Tombear
I have just been corrected by my show queen friend. Blanch Deveraux was not in the original cast
Liquid Silver
Given that the book was so-so and I was…not impressed…by the Broadway play…perhaps this is best left before it became 2022’s “Cats.”
I agree with Mister P here. Next time, please try coming up with something original and leave Mr. Baum out of it.
wooly101
Oh I am so crushed. Maybe I should join a support group or something.
michael_totzke
I have never seen it, nor have I listened to the CD – but it seems to me, from what I DO know about it, it would make a GOOD MOVIE, if done right.
ronniebs
Tough loss. Daldry is an accomplished director. I think they’ll eventually make it. Covid has been tough on everyone, including the film industry.
Preppy1000
Hated the book but loved the Broadway show. A FAITHFUL movie adaptation of the show would be great.