Quote:
Originally Posted by AlphaFrog
I don't know where your paper's source is, but in the program from the show in Atlanta, Universal has held all rights to make Wicked into a movie since the book first came out, before the musical was even a thought. As of this time, Universal has no (publicly announced) plans to turn Wicked (book OR musical) into a movie. I don't know where ABC came in, but I don't think that part is correct...and being that ABC is owned by Disney, there's NO WAY they would ever buy the rights to the book but not the musical. I mean, there are like 5 Disney movies that AREN'T musicals...it's where their market is.
So for a movie to be made, Universal would need to sell the rights or get their butts in gear...neither of which I see happening anytime soon, since it just opened on West End, and will still be touring and on Broadway for quite awhile.
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I get the Arizona Republic, and the question about Wicked was asked and posted in the USA Weekend. This was in today's paper, I obviously don't know how current your Atlanta program is, but I'm guessing things have shifted when it comes to the rights.
Here is the question and answer from USA Weekend
"Q: My daughter loved the Broadway show Wicked. I read the book and saw the show. When will the story be made into a movie?
A: There could be two movies, but not anytime soon. Universal, which produces the musical, also own rights to adapt a musical for the screen. ABC owns the rights to adapt the book into non-musical film. Author Gregory Maguire tells us, "the play continues to be thrilling enough, so I am willing to wait" "
And as the author said, he is willing to wait, but I give it between 5-7 years before Wicked will be on the big screen, either musical or non musical version.
As for Disney not buying the rights for the Musical. If the book came out before the musical (which I'm guessing is the case), they probably bought the rights, right then. Then the musical came out and Universal was producing the musical. Being that they are producing the show, they probably got first dibs on the rights to produce a movie version of the musical.