A film version of "Wicked" is in the works

this is FAreaking awesome. I am sooooo excited.

But I really really hope Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth are cast for the movie!

well, this news only made my day about 293874x better.

i'll be there opening day no matter what, being the ridiculous fanatic that i am...but to see kristen and idina reprise the original roles might be enough to send me into hot broadway star-induced convulsions. bring it on.

I don't think I'd really want to see Kristin or Idina reprising their Broadway roles in a film version. Not that I don't think they're both absolutely fantastic, but I'd love to see some relative unknowns get the roles, or else people who have played the roles on Broadway. I was once a devoted Chenzel fan, and thought that no-one else could ever come close to the brilliance of Idina and Kristin. I went to see Wicked in Melbourne last week, and Amanda Harrison and Lucy Durack both blew me away. (My girlfriend and I spent essentially the entire performance hissing to each other, "Oh my GOD, Amanda Harrison... I'd so do her.")

However, I wish more than anything that they would turn the novel into a film. It's one of my all-time favourite books. Whenever I read it, I can see certain scenes so clearly in my head that I just know they'd be incredible on film. The characters are so much more multi-faceted in the book, and would require fantastic actors to portray them.

I just about peed my pants with excitement when I saw this.

 I DEMAND CHENZEL!!! because god knows the director of this movie would have hell to pay if they screwed it up and Kristin and Idina are THE PERFECT MATCH!

weeeee!!!

This is from the book, read into it what you will: 

"She put her face against Glinda's and kissed her. 'Hold out, if you can,' she murmured and kissed her again. 'Hold out, my sweet.'" 

 pg. 344 "...Glinda was too fussed t listen that closely.  The Witch in fact alarmed her a little.  It was not just the novelty of seeing her again, but the strange charisma Elphaba possessed, which had always put Glinda in the shade.  Also there was the thrill, basis undetermined, which made Glinda shy, and caused her to rush her words, and to speak in a false high voice like an adolescent. ...

   For when she chose to remember her youth at all ... She could recall far more clearly how she and Elphie had shared a bed on the road to Emerald City.  How brave that had made her feel, and how vulnerable too."

I believe that the book is just laden with hints and references to Glinda having a major crush or love for Elphie.  Its also in the play, but you have to hunt around for it a little more.  I feel that Glinda's feelings are very apparent during the "Defying Gravity" number. 

Italics added by me. 

I don't know much about the singing ability of many of the people I would like to "see" in the main roles, and it's much more important to me how well they sing. I hope they get people who can really sing, instead of trying to teach a popular actress to sing. It is after all a musical, but that doesn't always mean much in Hollywood.

Oh, and there has to be chemistry between Glinda and Elphaba. I too hope it is based more on the book; it is still one of my favorites. Hopefully there are things they can include that were not practical in the Broadway version, with they way movies are filmed. But I want to music included too.......I'm not asking for much!!

Oh, that's totally awesome!  I've never been able to see the musical (*shame*) because the small town I live in is never, ever going to be that cool, but I loved the book (in fact, I feel the need to reread it) so this is beyond cool :)

I'm so stoked :D

I'm not sure how I feel about this...

I remember thinking when it first came out that I really didn't want there to be a movie, cause I think it would take away some of the magic (no pun intended) that's in the stage show.  I guess I always hoped that if they made a movie, they'd do it Into the Woods style and record a live show.

Somehow I don't think this is how it'll go down.  Since it seems as though this is really going to happen, I definitely want the original leading ladies back (are they not the most gorgeous creatures alive?)  It'd be nice if they got Jenna Leigh Green for Nessa, cause I saw her in LA with the touring cast and she was really good (in my opinion) and just the sweetest thing when we met her at the stagedoor.

When I saw the title of the article. OMG this has got to be the BEST news I've heard all week!

I would really love to see Idina and Kristin in it, I never got the chance to see them live. There's total chemistry between Glinda and Elphaba in both the book and musical versions and I bet those two can defnitely pull it off onscreen.

Anyway, I'm still looking forward to the movie version, regardless who plays the leads. I love Wicked! :)

AAAAAHHHH!!! This makes me extremly happy! My obbsession for all things OZ has been satisfied just a tad bit more today! AS for people who I would like to see in the movie, I think I would have to go with the majority of the original cast! Especially Idina and Krsiten along with Carol as Madame Morrible! I would also be estatic if they kept all of the original costuming (since it's AMAZING!) I really truly love the land of OZ! (Espcially Wicked!!!)

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ ____ _ _ _

There is no such thing as Silence

Fantasy suspends the normal and believeable, so why couldn't we enjoy the original actresses in the roles if they are able to reprise them?  I don't think age is an issue with this.  Obviously, the actors in the Broadway show were not teens....none of them were.  So I don't see that as an issue for the movie casting.

I happened to see Stephanie J. Block as Elphie on Broadway and she was the actress who did all the work in the 'trenches' in developing the musical with Stephen Schwartz.  I have to say she has a set of pipes that does surpass Idina (tho I love Idina and would love to see her performance).  Annaleigh Ashford did a wonderful job as Glinda as well.

I am just so happy that they will make this movie and will indeed be happy with anyone who they get for the parts.

But in the meantime.....we can dream....sighhhh

i heard that Idina said in an interview that once she was done with Wicked that she wasn't gonna go back to it...just something i heard...

Like all of you i am a huge fan of the musical and the book, but i don't really know how they could translate it from stage to screen without it looking somewhat comical...i dunno i was kinda hoping that they wouldn't turn it into a movie, but that's just me.

i also read on a broadway site that they were probably gonna release it when the hype surrounding the musical went down, which is what they did for Mamma Mia.

nonetheless, i'll go see it...but they better have an awesome production team and like the best actresses!

for madame morrible: 
1.  alma cuervo (IMO no one beats her madame morrible)

for the wizard:

1.  joel grey because he's 'wonderful' and OBC

2.  pj benjamin

this has just made a mundane day so much more. I seriously hope it is Chenoweth and Menzel. Their chemistry would just kill. *crosses figners*

For the Chenzel lovers out there, I remember not long ago reading on the interweb that both Idina's and Kristin's contracts have a clause that they have first choice of reprising their roles in a movie for Wicked. They would have to be bought out of the contracts if other actresses were chosen to take their roles.

As inappropriate as it would be for the original ladies to play college students, if I remember correctly, the last half of the play takes place at the same time as the Wizard of Oz.  So two teenage girls playing the same roles as Billy Burke (55) and Margaret Hamilton (37) would also be wrong.

If doing magic ages Elphaba and years pass as she terrorizes Oz, then Hollywood can cast two kids to do the first half and Chenowith and Menzel for the second act.  Chenowith looses “Popular”, but “Defying Gravity” and “Because I Knew You” remain intact.   

Oh, the Gelphie. The Chenzel.  <333333

PSST! I hear they're following more to the book for the movie! MORE GELPHIE!

Oh, the Gelphie. The Chenzel.  <333333

PSST! I hear they're following more to the book for the movie! MORE GELPHIE!

 If you wanna see a sexy Elphaba, definitely Teal Wicks....she's the one that gets me goin...(is it weird that I find her hotter in makeup? Not saying she isn't gorgeous without it.)  Of course, no one is hotter than Idina, but Teal is nipping at her heels.  As far as Glinda....definitely  Kendra Kassebaum...Kendra was a standby (understudy?) as Maureen Johnson in Rent, so she wouldn't have an issue being Elphie's lover, I'm sure...plus, she's so cute!

Someone up top suggested Amy Adams as Glinda, and that would actually be a fine choice! She would fit the role well, too.

Great blog!