The opening ceremony to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris were a theatre-lover's dream: boats coming in to the Phantom of the Opera overture, a French rendition of "Do You Hear the People Sing" from Les Miz, and a new Wicked trailer. The upcoming film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical released its newest trailer during the commercial breaks, featuring new footage and more of Cynthia Erivo's rendition of "Defying Gravity." Watch the trailer above.
Wicked hits movie theatres November 22, with Wicked: Part Two set to follow Thanksgiving 2025. It stars Erivo and Ariana Grande as Elphaba and Glinda, respectively. The films are directed by Jon M. Chu.
Joining them in the cast are West End Company Olivier winner and Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, SpongeBob SquarePants star Ethan Slater as Boq, Emmy winner Peter Dinklage as Dr. Dillamond, 2023 Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard, and newcomer Marissa Bode as Nessarose, the first wheelchair-using actor in the musical's history to take on the role.
Stage and screen star Keala Settle, SNL's Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Aaron Teoh, and Colin Michael Carmichael also play roles new to the musical's screen version, with Settle as Miss Coddle, Carmichael as Professor Nikidik, and Yang, James, and Teoh as Shiz students Pfannee, ShenShen, and Avaric, respectively.
READ: 15 Swankified Easter Eggs in Wicked's Official Trailer
The screen adaptation will include new songs by Stephen Schwartz. Wicked book writer Winnie Holzman has penned the screenplay, and Tony winner Paul Tazewell designed 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 Schwartz and a book by 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 is now the fourth longest-running production in Broadway history.
The show won 2004 Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Musical (Menzel), Best Costume Design (Susan Hilferty), and Best Scenic Design (Eugene Lee).