The upcoming two-part film adaptation of Broadway's Wicked has found its Madame Morrible: screen star Michelle Yeoh, according to Variety. Additionally, Jeff Goldblum has been confirmed (by The Hollywood Reporter) to be starring as The Wizard of Oz after earlier reports that the stage and screen star was in contract negotiations for the role.
Yeoh is currently the subject of much Oscar buzz for her performance in Everything Everywhere All At Once, in which she shares the screen with Broadway alums Stephanie Hsu and Aaron Lazar. She's also been seen in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; Crazy Rich Asians; and Tomorrow Never Dies.
The pair join a cast full of stage and screen stars, led by Tony winner Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and pop star (and Broadway alum) Ariana Grande as Glinda. West End Company Olivier winner and Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey is set to star as Fiyero, and SpongeBob SquarePants star Ethan Slater was recently announced as the film's Boq.
The two-part film adaptation, which will include new songs by Stephen Schwartz, is scheduled for release December 25 of 2024 and 2025, with In the Heights screen director Jon M. Chu at the helm. Wicked book writer Winnie Holzman is penning the screenplay, and Tony winner Paul Tazewell will design the costumes.
Wicked, injecting a new backstory onto the classic tale The Wizard of Oz, debuted on Broadway in 2003 and continues to be an audience favorite at the Gershwin Theatre. Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, the musical features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. The original cast included Tony winners Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth as Elphaba and Glinda, respectively. The musical has subsequently been performed in more than 100 cities across 16 countries, and, in October 2019, surpassed Les Misérables to become the fifth longest-running production in Broadway history.
READ: 11 Elphabas Reflect on Playing Broadway's Not-So-Wicked Witch
The show won 2004 Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Musical (Menzel), Best Costume Design (Susan Hilferty), and Best Scenic Design (Eugene Lee).
