Wicked...musical to movie?
 

I've read it on a couple of websites, so who knows if it is true or not....

imdb.com
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1262426/

-actually has Kristen and Idina and "rumored"

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Wicke...ovie-9530.html

I'm not sure how I feel about this. Now if I hadn't been able to see the play I would be thrilled for it to be in movie form. The play was just amazing. I can't even put into words how wonderful it was. LOL.

But on the other hand I think a movie would be great for the people who would love to see Wicked but don't have the means (money) or opportunity. I was lucky this time. The first time Wicked came to Phx it was here for a week (like in 2006) but it sold it in one day. This time around I deliberately bought season tickets so that I could get my Wicked tickets literally a year ago (I saw the play on 7/12). I know people who would have loved to have seen it this time around but couldn't justify the 75 bucks I paid for balcony seats (and those suck).

I kind of see both sides of the coin.

Although it is fun to read that some people are like "you have to cast famous people". I guess I'm picky but when I see a musical I kind of, hmm, want people who can CARRY A FRICKIN TUNE!! This is why I have NO desire to see Mamma Mia. I don't care if Pierce isn't singing long the fact that they have the man in a musical when he can't sing is just an atrocity (impo).


Thoughts?
Comments?

This has been rumored since (roughly) late 2004. It has gained some legs in the past few years with rumors over directors and such, but it's still pretty questionable.

I really don't know how I feel about this. As cheesy as it is, Wicked lead me to my current career path (acting). It was the first show that I became obsessed with, and it led me to peruse theatre myself. It would need an amazing screenplay. And they better not screw it up like they did with Rent. But I feel it would really be difficult to translate. Really- can you imagine Defying Gravity with closeups? The grandeur of that song comes from the sheer spectacle that you gain in a theatre- a lot of that would be lost on the screen.

As much as I love Idina and Kristin, I don't know if they're young enough to play these parts anymore. They were pushing it during the original run- now, five years later, they're both in very different places. I bet that they'd love to get away from the show, unless they are both desperate for parts. And, because Idina is pregnant and Kristin is an Emmy nominee, I don't believe that's the case for either of them. Personally, I'd love to see some unknowns as the leads. However, you could gain major star power by casting some of the other (smaller) roles with big names- the Wizard, Madame Morrible, ect.

But, that would require a screenplay to already been written. Which I don't believe it has.

i hope this isn't true, i still haven't seen the play!

I hope this IS true..I read the book but dont have the cash for the play.

^^^Same here.

I never got to see Rent on Broadway, either, but I loved the movie. (I know the purists are probably shuddering right now...)

the movie was good, but I think it was a bad idea for them to use the original cast. They were all too old I think to play the roles they had.

I read the book first (along with most of Maguire's other books) and was somewhat disappointed in the musical. Not that it was a bad musical but because there was just so much that had to be left out or edited to turn such a deep story into a musical production. I'm not sure how I would feel about a movie based on the musical. I think that I would prefer to see a movie based on the book. Allow the musical to remain more entertaining and try to fit more of the symbolism and social commentary into a movie.

Also, I totally understand the cash issue. I spent $90 on a ticket to go alone because I didn't expect my frineds to pony up the money to see it with me.

I saw the book in Hastings today & considered getting it. I haven't seen the musical either, but it's touring here this month. Hmmm...

For you fans, should I settle for the book or try to get to the musical? The tickets are reasonable for Austin, TX.

^^^Both? I tried to read the book but only made it halfway through. It's very deep and political and a lot of it went over my head. I'm going to see the musical on my birthday! I'd never spend that much money on myself otherwise, but it's a special day. Anywho, I think KC is right, a movie would be great based on the book, but based on the musical would be a no. But if Defying Gravity isn't in the movie, people will be pissed because that's what they associate Wicked with. It's a Catch 22.

LOL ditto. I actually hated the movie until "Over the Moon." I laughed so hard I fell off the bed. I've been in love with the movie ever since.

Book or Play? First one, then the other : )
 

Soror, Read the Book ...then go see the Play! You will appreciate the storyline so much more when you 'get' the backstory on character development and the subtexts to the plot. The book is really wonderful :D

What others have said. As is often the case with plays/movies based on books, they are quite different, at least in mood and details. I heard a reviewer once compare them to Mozart -- the book is Don Giovanni (ie, heavy, dark, layers of meaning), while the show is more Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) (ie, lighter and funnier, but still meaningful and thought-provoking).

I would read the book first, though.

Lovelovelove the book, lovelovelove the musical soundtrack (I have the original Broadway cast recording downloaded on my computer), and am DYING to see the musical in person...so, yes, I would LOVE a film adaptation! I'm a big musical theatre dork. And I love movie musicals.

Yes, this. A movie based on the book rather than the musical would be a much better fit.

I'm sold. I'll check it out :)

I found the book at Half Price Books for $3.98+tax!:D

I just was looking at IMDB.com and it was 'announced' on the website where it didn't list that last time. It actually still lists Kristen and Idina as "rumored" for the roles of Glinda and Elphaba but it lists an unknown as Elphaba as well. I have no clue who the other people listed as "rumored" are. Again, hopefully they can all SING!!!!

But it also lists a "teenage Galinda". So it makes me wonder if they are somewhat adapting the book with the musical, since the book is years.

Who knows. It is listed as coming out next year. We shall see.

Here's the link...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1262426/

Hey I would love, love, love to see Lea Michele as Elphaba! (I say this because I just finished listening to the Glee version of Defying Gravity. LOL)

Meh, I'd take this page with a boulder of salt. Anyone with IMDBpro can create pages and edit them, kind of like wikipedia. It seems like someone's wishful thinking really - I know Kristin Chenowith said in an interview she'd never do it (because by the time they made it she'd be old enough to be Morrible! :D), so scratch her off, at least.

Also, as far as I know Stephen Schwarts has not, and has said he won't any time soon, released the music rights. Most of the original characters (Dorothy et. al) have their film rights owned by (IIRC) Turner Entertainment, the Baum estate owns the rights to the Wizard of Oz, etc. Trying to get all of these signatures would take a lot of time and a ton of cash ..

You can't even do Wicked as a school play yet, it's still so popular professionally. 9 times out of 10, a movie's made out of a Broadway musical to bolster falling ticket sales (Hairspray, anyone?) and Wicked is DEFINITELY still way above that point.

If it was to happen, though - I'd really much rather see the book made into a film then the musical. I love the play, but the book is PHENOMENAL and so much is left out of it in the stage show. It'd get real political and way inappropriate for kids thought, so it'll never happen. :(

I didn't even think about the issue with all the rights. It makes me wonder how, if it is true, they could possibly get this all done by next year. I guess it is someone's wishful thinking.

I guess for me, if I hadn't seen the play, I'd be like "woo hoo movie". Which I can totally understand for those people who want to see it and either 1) the traveling company hasn't come to their city 2) they couldn't get tickets when it did come. But having seen the play, I think that a movie would take so much from it.

I have read the book, a bit confusing with the language, but I did enjoy it. It would be interesting to see the book as a movie. But again you are dealing with issue on rights (since the book does talk about Dorothy and all the Wizard of Oz characters).

Question- has anyone read Son of Witch?

I did read Son of a Witch and liked it a lot, too! Not quite as good as the first one but still a very, very interesting read that does tie up a lot of loose ends from Wicked. I definitely recommend it if you haven't read it. The third one, though, A Lion Among Men? I was not a fan. It just didn't seem to connect very well with the first two books in the serious.

Which was sad - in general, I like Gregory Macguire. His book Lost was very interesting, also, if you're looking for good books to read. Mirror Mirror was good too, and Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister was okay but very different.