Universal Pictures brought the magical crew of Wicked to CinemaCon in Las Vegas, a year after the first look was debuted. The team, including filmmaker Jon M. Chu and leading ladies Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, introduced exclusive footage for theater owners. The emotional presentation saw Chu and Grande moved to tears as they recounted finding the perfect performers for the film.
The presentation featured remarks from cast members such as Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, and Jonathan Bailey. Universal chief Donna Langley expressed the studio's faith in the film, dedicating 30 minutes of the presentation to the musical.
The casting process, which lasted months, resulted in Grande and Erivo claiming their roles as Glinda and Elphaba. The duo spoke publicly about Wicked for the first time, expressing their deep connection to the characters and the responsibility they felt to honor them.
The story follows Elphaba and Glinda as they meet at Shiz University in the Land of Oz and forge an unlikely friendship. The footage shown at CinemaCon depicted their early interactions and the development of their complex relationship.
The film adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway musical, based on Gregory Maguire's novel, has been in the works for years. Director Jon M. Chu aimed to create a Technicolor world that feels authentic, using real flowers and live vocal recordings to bring Oz to life on screen.
Wicked is set to hit theaters on November 27, with a sequel, Wicked Part Two, scheduled for release on November 26, 2025.
