Why The Wicked Movie Took 30 Years To Get Made Explained By Producer

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I’m so excited about the upcoming Wicked movies! For those who don’t know, the musical first hit Broadway back in 2003. It’s based on a book and tells the story of The Wizard of Oz but from the point of view of the Wicked Witch, Elphaba. And now, after over 20 years, they’re making two movies out of it! The first, simply titled Wicked, comes out in 2024, and the second, Wicked: For Good, is scheduled for 2025. I can’t wait to see how they bring this incredible story to the big screen!

Jon M. Chu directed both films, which feature a cast including Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Marissa Bode, Ethan Slater, and Jeff Goldblum. While many have anticipated a movie version of Wicked since the musical became a Broadway hit, producer Marc Platt shared that plans for a film adaptation actually began when the Wicked novel was first published in 1995.

I remember reading Gregory Maguire’s ‘Wicked’ and immediately thinking it had to be adapted for the screen. It’s such a rich reimagining of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ – a fantastic world just begging to be built and explored visually. Maguire’s take on the story felt incredibly relevant and clever. I actually started working on it as a film, but then I had the amazing opportunity to collaborate with Stephen Schwartz, whose work I’ve admired since childhood. He suggested turning it into a musical, and honestly, it was a brilliant idea. It felt like the perfect way to bring the story to life.

The producer explained that the world of Oz is fundamentally joyful and expressive. He pointed out that most people are more familiar with the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz than the book it’s based on, and that the movie’s songs are a key reason it remains popular. According to Platt, musicals also help audiences understand what characters are thinking and feeling.

Platt explained they wanted to explore the contrast between how people appear to the world and how they truly feel inside. He drew a parallel to today’s social media culture, where people carefully curate their online image. He highlighted that musicals uniquely allow characters to express one thing publicly while simultaneously revealing their inner thoughts and feelings directly to the audience, creating a sense of intimacy. This dynamic, he said, is central to the appeal of ‘Wicked’.

Platt originally considered abandoning the idea of a movie, but then it became a hugely popular stage show performed globally. He said that making a film felt like the natural next step, and people at Universal Pictures kept asking when it would happen. However, he deliberately waited, wanting the show’s fanbase to expand first.

Platt was hesitant to start acting in movies because he felt confident in his stage presence and knew the expectations would be high. Instead, he spent time learning the ropes of film production and ensuring he was fully prepared before making the transition.

Platt explained that he wasn’t driven to make the movie, but he was interested in the possibility. He later realized he’d been waiting for the right director—specifically, Jon Chu—to step forward. Chu’s offer to direct was, according to Platt, the best news he could have hoped for.

Stephen Platt’s dedication ultimately proved successful: Wicked was a major success in theaters, and early reactions to For Good have been very positive. The final chapter in the Wicked story, Wicked: For Good, will arrive in cinemas on November 21, 2025.

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2025-11-18 22:50