MULTI-Oscar-nominated musical Wicked could be coming to the small screen — with talks for a new TV series based on the original book.
The hit movie was up for ten Academy Awards at last night’s ceremony in Los Angeles.
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Now, the author of the novel on which it is loosely based — Wicked: The Life Times of the Wicked Witch of the West — has revealed there is interest in retelling the original tale, which is far more X-rated than the musical.
Gregory Maguire, 70, told The Sun: “For many years there has been talk of a non-musical, original TV movie or a streaming series based on Wicked the novel, not Wicked the musical.
“While we came pretty close several times to having such an operation greenlit, it hasn’t happened yet.
“It may happen one day.
“So those who like to live in hope don’t need to find a new address.
“You never know.”
His 1995 book is much more sordid than Universal Pictures’ family-friendly film — with incest, rape, bestiality and orgies.
Demi Moore — nominated for Best Actress for her role in The Substance — originally tried to bring the story to the screen more than two decades ago.
Gregory said in 2020: “When the book was published, it almost immediately got optioned by Demi Moore and a production company she ran, which had a relationship with Universal, and there was a chance for it to be a big-budget film almost right away.
“But the film never quite crystallised.”
Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo star in Wicked
The movie’s nominations last night also included Best Picture and Best Music.
Brit star Cynthia Erivo, who played green witch Elphaba in the film, is up for Best Actress while Ariana Grande — good witch Glinda — was in the Best Supporting Actress category.
More success is sure to follow this November when the second part of the musical is released — Wicked: For Good.
The adaptation of the Broadway musical was split into two after director Jon M. Chu deemed it too long as a single film.
Gregory has written and released sequels to the original novel and a prequel — called Elphie — will be published later this month.
Studios are believed to be interested in developing the idea following the massive success of the first movie.
Wicked was the third-highest grossing film in the UK last year and made £580million at the box office worldwide.
Its stars Cynthia and Ariana opened last night’s Academy Awards — held at LA’s Dolby Theatre — with a musical performance from the hit film.
Conan O’Brien hosted the ceremony, where Spanish-language Netflix musical Emilia Pérez led nominations with 13.
However, the film has since fallen out of favour after it emerged trans star Karla Sofía Gascón previously posted a series of offensive tweets.
The Brutalist had ten nominations, while A Complete Unknown and Conclave followed with eight apiece.
There had been uncertainty over the ceremony going ahead after the area was hit by wildfires in January, with more than 100,000 residents forced to flee their homes.
United Talent Agency and William Morris Endeavor scrapped their typically lavish after-parties out of respect and said they would instead be donating to fire relief causes.
However, the main Vanity Fair soiree — as well as parties thrown by Beyoncé, Jay-Z and Madonna — still went ahead.
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Wicked review: With magical casting this Wizard of Oz-based tale proves there is no place like the cinema
By Grant Rollings
(PG) 160mins – 4/5 stars
THIS Wizard Of Oz origins movie proves there is no place like the cinema.
If you want to be carried up and away to another reality, where animals talk, brightly dressed citizens dance in the streets and student sorcerers sing like angels, then get a ticket for this musical.
Wicked, based on the hit stage show, is far too monumental to be viewed on the small screen.
Emerald City towers magnificently, a Hogwarts-style university enchants at every turn and the final scene pulls you this way and that like a tornado.
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo seem born for the roles of Glinda Upland and Elphaba Thropp respectively.
Their stage, acting and musical CVs made them obvious choices, but it’s their emotional warmth for the characters which will keep you bewitched.
The film tells the story of how Glinda became the young Good Witch of the North and Elphaba the Wicked Witch of the West.
The pink-obsessed and privileged Glinda is like something out of Mean Girls, but in Ariana’s hands she remains likeable when she could be annoying.
Cynthia bristles with the daily injustice faced by Elphaba, who is shunned for being green, and the oppressed animals.
The anger that is perfectly contrasted with Glinda’s blissful ignorance.
If any of that sounds a bit serious, don’t worry, it is not.
Director Jon M Chu, whose films include Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights, handles everything with a deft comic touch.
There are plenty of knowing winks from the cast, with Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey excelling in this as the playboy prince Fiyero Tigelaar.
Adding to the fun are Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard of Oz and Michelle Yeoh as Elphaba’s magic lecturer Madame Morrible.
Unfortunately, in an effort to fulfil the heart’s desire of studio executives to make as much money from this as possible, Wicked will come in two parts.
This first one is two hours and 40 minutes, which is about as long as the entire stage show.
If the theatre version could fit every key scene into that time, I’m sure the film could have as well.
Wicked ends at a satisfying point in the story, which won’t compel you to see part two next November.
But there is little chance of audiences not wanting to come back for more.
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