Deon Cole hosts the 57th NAACP Image Awards on February 28th. Photo: Paramount+.
Preview:
‘Sinners’ took home the big prizes at the 2026 NAACP Image Awards.
‘Paradise’ and Cynthia Erivo were also among the winners.
The event took place Saturday night at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
Following the difficult, insulting moments of this year’s BAFTA Awards, the NAACP Image Awards, hosted by Deon Cole, which took place Saturday night at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, were a chance to balance things out.
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And Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners’ proved to be the big winner, going home with 13 awards following a nomination count of 18. Star Michael B. Jordan himself won both a Best Actor award and was honored with Entertainer of the Year.
The ceremony also paid tribute to the late Rev. Jesse Jackson, with NAACP CEO Derrick Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson honoring the late civil rights activist, whose family was in attendance at the ceremony.
(L to R) Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba and Jonathan Bailey is Fiyero in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Preview:
Universal wants to keep going to the ‘Wicked’ well.
The company is looking at other stories to tell within the land of Oz.
No details have been provided yet.
As Universal says “thank goodness” for the success of 2024’s ‘Wicked’ and this year’s follow-up, ‘Wicked: For Good,’ the company already has one eye on the future of the franchise. Even if it all remains clouded in secrecy for now.
Universal Studios’ chief marketing officer Michael Moses said this to Vulture about the potential for more stories set in the land of Oz:
“Because of ‘Wicked’s’ success but also the fanship, we have almost a responsibility to figure out how we can continue in this universe. Have we figured it out yet? No. But there are things underway.”
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So, yes… we can expect more trips to the land of Oz, even if the likes of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) seem unlikely to show up in anything more than cameos.
Who else has been talking about more ‘Wicked’ projects?
Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
It’s not just the studio that has been hinting at future ‘Wicked’ ideas in the works.
Stephen Schwartz, the award-winning composer (who pushed to make the story into a stage show years ago and crafted all the songs, including the new entries in ‘For Good’) told the Ankler newsletter that he and Winnie Holzman –– who wrote the book for the musical and co-wrote the screenplay for both movies –– have been conjuring something up themselves.
Here’s what Schwartz said:
“I think the Glinda and Elphaba story feels complete — but there are other aspects that could be explored. Gregory Maguire, the original ‘Wicked’ novelist, has several books, for example. But there’s another idea that Winnie and I are discussing: not a sequel, but an adjunct. Let me put it that way.”
What shape could a ‘Wicked’ spin-off take?
Jeff Goldblum is The Wizard of Oz in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
While the story of the ‘Wicked’ movies themselves does indeed feel like it has been told, there is no shortage of other material to draw from.
As Schwartz notes, Maguire has written eight sequel novels. His most recent book was published this year and was an Elphaba prequel story titled “Elphie: A Wicked Childhood.” A Glinda prequel is scheduled for 2026.
Universal may well look to television also, with the potential for stories set on the small screen –– and let’s not forget that the company has its theme parks, where there may well be the chance for guests to interact with Ozians to a greater degree now that the movies are such a hit.
(L to R) Jonathan Bailey is Fiyero and Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
List of Movies and TV Shows Based on the ‘Wizard of Oz’:
(L to R) Ariana Grande (as Glinda), Director Jon M. Chu, and Cynthia Erivo (as Elphaba), on the set of ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Continuing the epic story of magic and friendship begun in last year’s ‘Wicked,’ follow-up ‘Wicked: For Good’ returns us to the land of Oz, where witches Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) are still trying to save their home from the machinations of the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum).
Moviefone was in attendance at a virtual press conference for the epic film, which featured director/writer Jon M. Chu, and stars Grande and Erivo.
1) Ariana Grande had to keep a handle on where Glinda was in the story
Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Since ‘Wicked’ and ‘Wicked: For Good’ were shot together, the cast had to make sure they knew where each scene fit on their character’s journey, and Ariana Grande also wanted to explore more about Glinda.
Ariana Grande: “We filmed both at the same time, which I know is insane. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday of the week we would be filming part one, and then Thursday, Friday, Saturday, we’d be filming part two, so it was simultaneous. I just wanted to make sure that I knew who she was as well as possible before we even got there. So even things about her that you never got to see on screen, if they weren’t referenced in a scene, talked about or performed, I just wanted to make sure that, even in the first film, beneath the shiny, perfect exterior, her you know, bubble of privilege, as I call it, there’s a person underneath that has a lot of insecurities, a lot of little wounds that, you know, contribute to her need for all of that external validation.”
2) Cynthia Erivo wasn’t prepared for how the first ‘Wicked’ movie and its characters have been embraced
Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba (center) in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Cynthia Erivo: “I don’t think I could have fully prepared for what has happened since, since the first movie, and what is happening now. I knew that it would be a life-changing project from the beginning. But I don’t think I quite know the gravity of – please excuse the pun – of what it would be. I knew it was something that would challenge me. I knew it was something that would change the way I see my art, or increase the love I have for it.”
3) Ariana Grande was nervous performing one of the two original songs for the new movie
(L to R) Bowen Yang is Pfannee, Bronwyn James is Shenshen, and Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Ariana Grande: “It was daunting and also so incredible, the privilege of a lifetime to originate a Stephen Schwartz song. But of course there’s a scary element, it’s a new piece. To be trusted with that was all of the right kinds of nerve-wracking, and also just such an honour. But what I love most about it is that it’s such a narrative piece for her. I’m so glad that we get to see her experience that moment of change, that to make that choice to begin the chapter of being truly good.”
4) Cynthia Erivo is proud of one song in particular in ‘For Good’
Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Cynthia Erivo: “I’m really proud of ‘No Good Deed,’ because we shot it in the space, but it was me on my own, there was no-one there. I’m shooting against really a blue screen and a plinth and fire and rocks. And so the dynamism with which we had to shoot it, looking back at the memories, looking back at things that had gone past, none of that was there to look at, it’s all in the mind. So I was really proud of being able to do something that was that big, that grand, and still be able to hone into the feeling, the moment.”
5) Director Jon M. Chu worried about the smallest detail – even down to the shade of the Yellow Brick Road.
(L to R) Cynthia Erivo (as Elphaba), Ariana Grande (as Glinda), and Director Jon M. Chu on the set of ‘Wicked For Good’.
Jon M. Chu: “I want to walk away from this beautiful experience, look back and say, “wow, the whole thing was great, and the world saw us and saw our work as well.” Every day I thought about that in the edit room. Even colour. Yellow, we talked about yellow so long, and then you go from [color tones] P3 to Rec709, and the yellow’s all over the place again. I had to make sure that it’s the yellow we talked about three years ago. So those are the things that keep me up at night, and whether people saw it or not, I don’t know, but I really wanted it to be something we could be proud of.”
‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu, opens in theaters on November 21st.
What’s the story of ‘Wicked: For Good’?
As an angry mob rises against the Wicked Witch, Glinda and Elphaba will need to come together one final time. With their singular friendship now the fulcrum of their futures, they will need to truly see each other, with honesty and empathy, if they are to change themselves, and all of Oz, for good.
Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Following a pop cultural behemoth such as ‘Wicked’ was never going to be an easy feat, and the challenges were more than the simple fact that the second film was shot at the same time as the first with no room for course correction if anything didn’t click with audiences.
As with the second half of the show, which doesn’t feature quite the same level of memorable music as the first (save perhaps the emotional finale which gives this new movie its name), ‘Wicked: For Good’ suffers some in comparison with the 2024 movie, but it still manages to be a fitting, heartfelt adaptation.
Script and Direction
(L to R) Ariana Grande (as Glinda), Director Jon M. Chu, and Cynthia Erivo (as Elphaba), on the set of ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Screenwriters Winnie Holzman (who wrote the book for the musical) and Dana Fox have once again expanded on the stage show’s basic plotline, taking advantage of the different medium to flesh out certain elements. Some work wonderfully –– the characters of Nessarose and Boq in particular get meatier material, while others feel less necessary, such as flashbacks that feel like filler and, in one moment, what is meant to be a callback to Elphaba’s glimpse of her younger self during “Defying Gravity” that here comes off as a repetitive rip-off.
The two new songs by composer Stephen Schwartz are good but don’t really hold a candle to the original showstoppers.
Cast and Performances
(L to R) Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba and Jonathan Bailey is Fiyero in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Once again, and unsurprisingly, this is really all about Ariana Grande’s Glinda and Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba, with the former given more of a character arc this time. Both actors are excellent, offering powerhouse musical performances but also finding the nuance when needed.
Of the supporting cast, Jeff Goldblum’s Wizard is still a quirky delight, while Marissa Bode and Ethan Slater take full advantage of more to do with Nessarose and Boq. Dorothy, meanwhile, is treated much like the stage version: very much a shadow presence.
Final Thoughts
Jeff Goldblum is The Wizard of Oz in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
To say ‘For Good’ isn’t as good as ‘Wicked’ is not to try and tear it down. Make no mistake, this is another soaring, spectacular trip to the land of Oz, and nails the landing.
‘Wicked: For Good’ receives 85 out of 100.
Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
What’s the story of ‘Wicked: For Good’?
As an angry mob rises against the Wicked Witch, Glinda and Elphaba will need to come together one final time. With their singular friendship now the fulcrum of their futures, they will need to truly see each other, with honesty and empathy, if they are to change themselves, and all of Oz, for good.
Who is in the cast of ‘Wicked: For Good’?
Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba
Ariana Grande as Glinda
Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero
Ethan Slater as Boq
Marissa Bode as Nessarose
Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible
Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard
Colman Domingo as the Cowardly Lion
(L to R) Jeff Goldblum is The Wizard of Oz and Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
List of Movies and TV Shows Based on the ‘Wizard of Oz’:
Colman Domingo is the latest addition to ‘Wicked: For Good’.
He’s voicing the Cowardly Lion.
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo return to star in the second half of the story.
Though director Jon M. Chu and his team have long since finished shooting both parts of ‘Wicked’, there is still room for news about some characters, especially those who are CGI in the second movie, ‘Wicked: For Good.’ And now we know that Colman Domingo (‘Sing Sing’) will be off the see the wizard as the voice of the Cowardly Lion.
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The movie’s official Instagram account partnered with the actor to make the announcement via the social media platform:
Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Following up last year’s huge box office and pop cultural hit, ‘Wicked: For Good’ continues to adapt both the stage show and the original Gregory Maguire source novel.
The story jumps forward in time to show Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) fully considered an enemy to all of Oz, gaining the nickname “The Wicked Witch.” Glinda (Ariana Grande), meanwhile, is still seen as the Good Witch, but truly begins to question what’s right and wrong.
As for the Cowardly Lion, he’s the cub we met in ‘Wicked’ whom Elphaba and Fiero (Jonathan Bailey) rescue after Dr. Dillamond (Peter Dinklage) has been taken away and a new professor brings a caged lion to class.
As the story moves on, we see the cub fully grown, and blaming Elphaba for his nervous situation. With the sequel overlapping timelines with ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ the lion is seen alongside Dorothy, The Tin Man and Scarecrow heading down the Yellow Brick Road to see the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum). He’s also seen during the musical number “March of the Witchhunters.”
However, as in the Broadway musical, the character doesn’t have a large role.
The actor, who scored awards attention for his role in ‘Sing Sing,’ will be back on our screens in Edgar Wright’s adaptation of ‘The Running Man’, due in theaters on November 14.
He’s also in the cast for the Michael Jackson biopic ‘Michael,’ though that has been facing some legal issues leading to changes.
When will ‘Wicked: For Good’ be on screens?
The new movie will enchant audiences once more on November 21.
Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba (center) in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
List of Movies and TV Shows Based on the ‘Wizard of Oz’:
Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Preview:
‘Wicked’ added in more elements from the book; however, it still more closely adapted the musical.
‘Wicked: For Good’ will likely do the same, and stick with the happy Hollywood ending.
It would be riskier, but if done right, a book ending adaptation in ‘Wicked: For Good’ would be best.
SPOILER ALERT: Some potential spoilers for ‘Wicked: For Good’ below.
‘Wicked‘ is based on the book by Gregory Maguire and musical by the same name, and while it does take elements from both, it leans more heavily into adapting the musical. Book fans tend to not love the musical as much and vice versa. This is because a lot of things were changed to make it work better for the stage, including removing some of the political plot points, especially when it comes to the animal rights, and completely changing the ending to give it the classic Hollywood ending that audiences like to see.
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The book came first, and because of that, it is the true story in the mind of most readers. It goes more in depth and is unafraid to push boundaries when needed. Surely ‘Wicked: For Good‘, the upcoming film sequel starring Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, will deliver the musical ending, but if director Jon M. Chu was willing to take a risk with the book ending, it would be the better option. Here’s why.
Jonathan Bailey is Fiyero Tigelaar in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Even for those who have not read book or seen the musical, ‘Wicked’ made it quite clear that Elphaba and Fiyero (played by Jonathan Bailey), fall in love. By the time he arrives to Shiz, however, he is already married with children. The two end up having an affair, but he is spoken for.
During the resistance, he is murdered by the Wizard’s secret police, the Gale Force. Elphaba casts a spell to try to save him, and she believes it succeeds, turning him into the Scarecrow. After waking up from a coma (and birthing their baby, who goes to live with their family, which is detailed further in the second book, ‘Son of a Witch’), she sends the flying monkeys after the Scarecrow. When they tear him apart and realize that is not the case, Elphaba snaps, completely becoming the Wicked Witch of the West. This was the straw the broke the camel’s back so to speak, no pun intended.
She descends into evil here, feeling like the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum), and the government, has taken everything from her. When Dorothy shows up, she panics and throws water at Elphaba, melting her and killing her. A tragic end to a tragic tale. Throughout the book, whenever she cries, even from when she was a baby, water burns her and hurts her. This is something the movie, and musical, completely ignores. The reason why is so that they can change the ending of her story.
How The ‘Wicked’ Musical Changes The Ending
Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
In the musical, Elphaba’s spell was successful and Fiyero becomes the Scarecrow. The rest of Dorothy’s friends have a connection to the witch as well. The Cowardly Lion is the lion cub that her and Fiyero saved at Shiz, something that remains the same from the book, and the Tin Man is Boq (Ethan Slater). Nessarose gives him a love potion, hoping he will fall in love with her, but it shrinks his heart and transforms him instead. In the book, he is a former woodchopper named Nick Chopper, who has his limbs replaced with tin after being cursed.
Elphaba is still distraught over the events of the Wizard and the government and what they are doing to the animals of Oz, taking away their rights and their voices, but she has also simply had enough. When she learns that a young girl named Dorothy is coming to attempt to kill her, she goes along with it, planning out a way to escape Oz once and for all.
When the bucket of water is thrown on her, she hides under a trap door, making it look like she has melted away and died. Fiyero, who is now the Scarecrow, helps her escape and the two live together, happily ever after. While she surely misses Glinda, and Glinda thinks she is dead, she still gets to live with the love of her life away from all the things she despises about Oz.
Why The Book Ending Would Best Serve ‘Wicked: For Good’
(L to R) Ariana Grande is Glinda and Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
For the most part, those that read the book first prefer the book and those that watch the musical first prefer the musical. There are many reasons, however, that ‘Wicked: For Good’ should lean into the darker ending and embrace what the book has to offer.
First of all, because of these changes, it would be nearly impossible to adapt the other books in the series. ‘A Lion Among Men’ could possibly become a sequel, telling the story of the Cowardly Lion, and ‘Elphie: A Wicked Childhood’ a prequel, but ‘Son Of A Witch’ and ‘Out Of Oz’ are completely off the table, now that Elphaba lives. These books expand on the world of Oz and tell intriguing stories that would make for great movies, but they need the right set-up to truly work.
It is difficult to pull off a dark ending in a way that will not make the readers want to throw their books out the window. Most interpretations of ‘Wicked’ are that Elphaba has finally found peace now. She has gone through so much in her life, losing everyone around her and watching her government rip the rights away from the animals that she loves. In the end she snaps, and then is finally laid to rest. While this is not exactly a happy ending, it fits her story and changing it simply does not feel right.
The saying the book is always better than the movie is a saying for a reason. If ‘Wicked: For Good’ chooses to let Elphaba die, it will be dark and tragic, yes, but it is also the story that was meant to be told and opens the door for more to come.
Ariana Granda is Glinda in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
List of Movies and TV Shows Based on the ‘Wizard of Oz’:
Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale in ‘Poker Face’ season 2. Photo: Peacock.
‘Poker Face’ Season 2 receives 8 out of 10 stars.
Arriving on Peacock on May 8th with its first three episodes (followed by one weekly), ‘Poker Face’ sees the welcome return of Natasha Lyonne’s gravelly voiced, mystery-prone human lie-detector Charlie Cale for more mysteries.
And in keeping with the first season, this new run of episodes features a murderer’s row (sometimes literally, at least in story terms) of guest stars who play a fun, fresh batch of characters.
(L to R) Cynthia Erivo and Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale in ‘Poker Face’ season 2. Photo: Peacock.
Created by ‘Knives Out’ filmmaker Rian Johnson in conjunction with star/executive producer Lyonne, the first season of ‘Poker Face’ was a delightful throwback to the days of ‘Columbo’ or ‘Murder, She Wrote,’ where we saw a crime –– usually a murder, but cleverly this season, not every time –– happen, and then introduced our protagonist, who would end up solving it.
Season 2 of the show is, if anything, even better, leaning harder on the supporting cast still letting Lyonne do her offbeat thing.
Script and Direction
Creator, writer, director, executive producer Rian Johnson at the premiere of ‘Poker Face’ season 2. Photo: Jesse Grant/Peacock.
The show features writing talent who have established themselves in a variety of genres and the scripting standard for ‘Poker Face’s new run of episodes –– 10 of the 12 were provided to press ahead of time –– remains resolutely high.
And in a welcome move, the mysteries are given a little more time to develop, making full use of a wonderful supporting cast, who bring a raft of characters to life. It’s easy to see why actors are attracted to coming and playing on the show.
Added to that, while we do see the mystery play out before Charlie Cale saunters on screen each week, the complexity and originality also remain high –– crimes including a variety of siblings, a laundry room and a gym are just a few of the stories on offer here.
Winding through them all, though seemingly finding a relatively early conclusion is Charlie’s issues with the crime bosses who have been hunting her down. Still, the real pleasure is seeing how she just can’t keep away from murder mysteries no matter how hard she tries.
Johnson kicks off the season directing the first episode, while Lyonne is also again behind the camera. The key here is that ‘Poker Face’ creates its own look each episode, while all feeling of a piece, and the creativity remains high.
From New York apartment buildings to stately mansions and even the inside of a private jet at a small airport, it all looks good and serves the story. There’s also a timelessness to the show’s tone and feel (even with modern gadgetry such as fitness trackers) that could have had it be set at any point in the last few decades.
Cast and Performances
Kumail Nanjiani in ‘Poker Face’ season 2. Photo: Sarah Shatz/Peacock.
Natasha Lyonne has been the main component of the show since the beginning and she’s such a classic character albeit with its own fresh spin. She’s certainly in the 1970s and 1980s detective style, and yet Lyonne brings a winning combination of smarts and vulnerability to the role.
Charlie’s looking for somewhere to put down roots and yet she keeps winding up in the middle of murder scenarios, her natural ability to sniff out liars landing her in hot water (and in one case, a hot sauna) time and time again.
Lyonne brings a fascinating vibe to Charlie, making her stand out from your average TV ‘tec, and her kooky sensibilities means the show comes really to life whenever she’s on screen.
Which is to take nothing away from a quality guest cast, with actors clearly having lined up to appear. ‘Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo is a lot of fun (even if we can only imagine the workload) playing multiple identical sisters in the initial episodes, squabbling over their recently deceased mother’s estate and –– in the case of one of them –– going too far to secure her portion.
(L to R) Natasha Lyonne and John Mulaney in ‘Poker Face’ Season 2. Photo: Peacock.
There is always the worry that such a unique show as ‘Poker Face’ could work for a season and then never quite be as effective again, but this series proves with every episode that it’s far from a one-trick pony.
Provided the team feels they have new mysteries in them, and can keep the level up, this is one that deserves to run and run.
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What’s the plot of ‘Poker Face’ Season 2?
The mystery-of-the-week series follows Natasha Lyonne’s Charlie Cale, who has an extraordinary ability to determine when someone is lying.
She hits the road with her Plymouth Barracuda and with every stop encounters a new cast of characters and strange crimes she can’t help but solve.
Following last year’s decent if unspectacular return to Oscar standard behavior, the 2025 ceremony was one heralded with some trepidation. There was a new host (comedian and talk show veteran Conan O’Brien), the need to pay tribute to Los Angeles in the wake of the devastating wildfires and speculation as to whether many of the categories would break the way they have in other awards shows.
As it turned out, it was a giant night for one movie which, while it had certainly been seen as a major contender, hadn’t been performing that way elsewhere. Some history was made and while the speeches had a political flavor at times, the show itself largely eschewed politics (beyond one smart gag about a certain sitting president and his attitude to Russia).
All said and done, despite a hefty running time (three hours and 45 minutes all told), this year’s Academy Awards is likely to be seen as largely a success. Read on for more of our thoughts…
Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of the long-running stage musical may only have picked up a couple of trophies on the night (more on one of them below), but following a middling montage celebrating movies set in Los Angeles, the movie’s stars, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, kicked off the show properly with a blast of nostalgia and then smart use of ‘Wicked’s standout song.
The pair began with “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” before segueing into “Defying Gravity” and the stylish presentation combined with powerhouse pipes proved to be just the right mix of celebration and spectacle.
There were the usual concerns in some quarters when Conan O’Brien was announced as this year’s Oscars host –– would he be too intellectual for audiences, was he enough of a “name”? As it turns out, he might just have scored a regular gig (assuming he wants this much pressure every year). Because by all estimations, he was a stellar emcee for the night.
Opening with a ‘Substance’ gag that was fairly expected but still played well, O’Brien’s monologue set the right tone: witty, entertaining and as usual, full of his trademark self-deprecating humor.
From threatening long-winded speeches with ‘Conclave’ star John Lithgow looking sad and disappointed to ejecting a tracksuit-clad, cheery Adam Sandler from the audience, he was assured and calm.
There were also solid gags about Timothée Chalamet’s yellow suit and bike safety, and a funny bit about promising to show stars’ early headshots if they rambled (Chalamet again, with an ultrasound image).
Later in the show there was the crack at Trump via a mention of ‘Anora’ (“I guess Americans are excited to see somebody finally stand up to a powerful Russian”) and a promise that the show was not made using A.I. (“We would never do that; we used child labor — hey, they’re still people!”)
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Yet despite a funny musical number (featuring a dancing Deadpool and a ‘Dune’ sandworm on piano) about not wasting the audience’s time, the show still ran very long, though that was more on the producers than the host. Which bring us to…
Perhaps the most egregious example of padding was the choice of the tribute to the music of James Bond. Introduced by former ‘Die Another Day’ star Halle Berry, it was a mishmash of performance art (Margaret Qualley showing off her well-honed dancing abilities) and karaoke night for the likes of Doja Cat and Lisa from Blackpink.
It’s a little ironic that the celebration of the venerable espionage franchise comes just as it has been fully swallowed up its corporate overlords at Amazon.
Also given special memorial treatment was music icon Quincy Jones, but despite a classy intro from Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey, the choice of “Ease on Down the Road” from ‘The Wiz’ was a vaguely confounding one.
Still, if the opening montage fell flat, the respect for First Responders (who have been more a staple of recent award shows than Karla Sofía Gascón) worked much better. Initially seeming like a now-traditional wave-and-accept-applause moment, O’Brien and his writing team turned it around by having fire officers and others read out jokes he thought were too mean, including LAFD Captain Eric Scott kicking off the bit with, “well, our hearts go out to all of those who have lost their homes… and I’m talking about the producers of ‘Joker 2.’ ”
If last year was all about big-budget blockbusters with “Barbenheimer,” 2025 was the year indies struck back.
Sean Baker’s ‘Anora,’ whose combined budget ($6 million) and box office ($40.9 million worldwide) would barely cover some of the salaries for some of the giant movies, went on to take five statuettes, including Best Picture, Best Director for Baker (who also scored Best Original Screenplay and Editing) and Mikey Madison named Best Actress.
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Baker became the first person since Walt Disney in 1954 to win four Oscars in one night (and the first for one movie they have personally directed), and showed that the Academy was ready to root for the little guys again.
Madison’s win was something of a surprise itself –– while she’d been going toe-to-toe with ‘The Substance’ star Demi Moore all awards season –– there had been a narrative of Moore’s legacy forming around the Best Actress gong. Yet it was Madison who ended up taking the stage for a teary, heartfelt speech.
Madison wasn’t the only winner to express her feelings. While the Oscar stage is no stranger to strong emotion, there was the usual blend of politics and heart-string plucking.
Baker used his various triumphs as a combined rallying call to support movies big and small and for seeing films in theaters in this age of shrinking windows and streaming dominance.
Best Documentary Feature ‘No Other Land’s Palestinian co-director Basel Adra called for an end to the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, while his Israeli collaborator Yuval Abraham insisted that there can be peaceful solution to the war in Gaza that honors both Palestinian and Israeli people, adding that “the foreign policy in this country is helping to block this path. Can’t you see that we are intertwined? That my people can be truly safe and Basel’s people can be truly free?”
There were shoutouts to sex workers and immigrant children, while Team ‘Brutalist’ (especially composer Daniel Blumberg) seemed surprised and overawed by their wins, giving real, nervy speeches.
Kieran Culkin accepts the Oscar® for Actor in a Supporting Role during the live ABC Telecast of the 97th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, 2025.
And then there was the comedic speech of the night, with predicted Best Supporting Actor winner, ‘A Real Pain’s Kieran Culkin proving once more to be anything but on stage. He was enthusiastic and funny, and got further laughs by pointing out to his wife, Jazz Charton that they’d talked about having more children after his Emmy win, and that she’d mentioned she’d only consider a fourth child if he won an Oscar. Whoops!
Culkin wrapped up his moment in the spotlight with:
“You remember that, honey? You do? Then, I just have this to say to you, Jazz, love of my life, ye of little faith. No pressure. I love you. I’m really sorry I did this again. And let’s get crackin’ on those kids. What do you say? I love you!”
Best reaction to that? Culkin’s former ‘Succession’ co-star J. Smith Cameron, who played the long-suffering Gerri Kellman to his foul/motormouthed Roman Roy, offering the perfect tweet:
For the most part this year, the presenters did not embarrass themselves and the bits were relatively painless.
We got Ben Stiller slowly being swallowed by scenery to introduce Best Production Design, June Squibb admitting she’s being played by ‘Nosferatu’ star Bill Skarsgård in prosthetics whenever she’s at an event and Robert Downey Jr. following Conan’s comedic lead and then going sentimentally honest handing out Best Supporting Actor.
Some awards, such as Best Costume Design were presented by the stars of the nominees’ movies, and that proved to be a mixed bag, since they worked on an emotional level, but tended to drag a little. Thank goodness then, for John “I love a roomy cassock” Lithgow and ‘Wicked’s Bowen Yang bringing the funny.
A highlight? Rock icon Mick Jagger taking the stage to present Best Original Song, full of jokes about how Bob Dylan was asked to do his job first (which was true; the Academy offered the subject of ‘A Complete Unknown’ to host and perform, and he turned them down).
Was this the start of a stealth campaign to get Jagger a belated, throwback Oscar for ‘Freejack’? Your guess is as good as ours. And our guess is, “maybe?”
Sean Baker wasn’t the only filmmaker making history on Oscar night. ‘Wicked’ costume maestro Paul Tazewell became the first black person to win his category, making emotional note of the fact.
And while we all knew she would scoop her trophy (despite, er, being much more a lead than a supporting turn), Zoe Saldaña was gracious in victory and was clearly moved by becoming the first American of Dominican descent to win an Oscar as one of two for ‘Emilia Pérez.’
‘Flow’ surprised in the Animated Feature category, and became the first Latvian Oscar winner. “Ball’s in your court, Estonia,” quipped O’Brien after the team left the stage.
Proving that stars don’t have to just recreate classic scenes for Super Bowl commercials, ‘When Harry met Sally’ leads Billy Crystal (no stranger to Oscar hosting, he quipped “I used to work here,” following Ryan’s question of how long ago with “nine tuxedos…”) and Meg Ryan came on stage to give out Best Picture.
They were a classy, classic wrap to a successful event, which ended with ‘Anora’s Best Picture triumph.
Watch ‘Wicked‘ at home this holiday season as the box office hit, which was based on the popular Broadway musical and directed by Jon M. Chu (‘Crazy Rich Asians’), will be available to purchase or rent on Digital beginning December 31st.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Jon M. Chu about his work on ‘Wicked’, the success of the film, casting and working with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-Butera, the importance of Broadway stars Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth appearing in the movie, the decision to turn the musical in to two different films, and the pressure of directing the “Defying Gravity” sequence.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.
(Center L to R) Cynthia Erivo (as Elphaba), Director Jon M. Chu, and Ariana Granda (as Glinda) on the set of ‘Wicked’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Moviefone: To begin with, not only is ‘Wicked’ a box office hit but it’s also become a cultural phenomenon. As a director, what is it like to see your film embraced by audiences?
Jon M. Chu: It’s blowing me away. When you’re directing, you create a shield around yourself. You must encourage everyone around you, but deep down you’re like, it could happen. Who knows? But this is beyond my imagination. There’s a reality that sets in weeks later where you’re like, “Oh wait, people really do like this.” This is just not on my feed that people are singing it, doing the choreography. It’s on ‘Saturday Night Live’. It’s like all these things. It’s a filmmaker’s dream, and I think a storyteller’s dream to witness this. So, I love that they get to own this movie beyond our little baby that now it’s theirs.
(L to R) Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba and Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
MF: Can you talk about casting Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-Butera and what they both bring to these iconic roles?
JMC: Well, we wouldn’t have made the movie if we didn’t find them. I didn’t know who they were going to be. But when Cynthia came in, it was very clear that she had more to give to the world, and the world needed to see more of her than that they had at that moment. Elphaba was the perfect character to do that, that she could really infuse a new light into Elphaba that we had never seen before. It made my job a lot easier to know that every time she sang those words, it just felt like the first time I ever heard it before. For her as a woman of color, I, as a filmmaker of color, to be able to work together and get in there and work from the inside out just gave me so many more roads of where this character could go. You’ll see that more in movie two (‘Wicked: For Good’). For Ariana, it felt like a discovery. It felt like people think they know her, but they have no idea what more she has to offer. It felt like opening a new chapter to her life. She was going through changes in her life, Cynthia was, I was. So, for all of us to join hands and make this movie and in our own little bubble and years later have the audience join us here at summer camp, I guess at Oz, it’s been beautiful to see. I hope that it encourages people also to blossom into their new self as well.
(L to R) Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth attend as Universal Pictures presents the Los Angeles premiere of ‘Wicked’ at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, November 9, 2024. Photo: Nick Agro/ABImages.
MF: Can you talk about the importance of having Broadway stars Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth appear in the film?
JMC: It wasn’t just important; it was like my dream to be able to work with those two ladies. It was imperative. So, they agreed to come in. They were so generous, and so kind. We just had to find the right thing. We didn’t want just a small cameo where they walked them through a door or something. So, Steven Schwartz wrote this part in one short day where they could tell the history of the Grimmerie and of Oz and the Wizard. We have some breadcrumbs of special things that may come later that Elphaba is witnessing for the first time in this show that really helps our story make sense of some of the things that she does later. So, to me, that was the fun part. It felt that it was needed in the story. You get the fun of them, and they get to do their thing. So, it was great. What an honor to have them on set.
(L to R) Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba, Ariana Grande is Glinda and Director Jon M. Chu on the set of ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
MF: Can you talk about making the choice to split the play into two movies?
JMC: There’s a lot in the first act of the show that needed to be unpacked. In fact, it was necessary is what we found once we got into developing the script, that without those pieces, I’m not sure an audience would buy into the dramatic changes that happen emotionally with Elphaba or Galinda. So, the room allowed us to have spaces to fill in for their characters, to develop in a pace that I think movie audiences will accept more. So, it was a hard choice at first, and we constantly kicked the tires on it, but we knew that it would give us the best opportunity to fill out these characters the way that all the fans and non-fans would want when seeing these characters.
Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
MF: Finally, did you feel a lot of pressure directing the ‘Defying Gravity’ sequence?
JMC: It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life to feel that pressure of this song, and that this is the show. You better not mess this up. Then you have Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande singing those words, which change everything. Then you’re like, well, I need to be in a closeup the whole time because I just want to be there watching her. But no, she’s flying, and we can make her fly all around us. And guess what? She’s doing her own stunts. And guess what? She’s singing live. And it’s the end of this movie, so it must feel dramatically, emotionally that it’s closing our movie down. So, all those things together, it just took every crew member, every producer, every actor, to be on the same page of what we were trying to say emotionally with this and everything. We double-checked ourselves, recut, reshot, anything we needed to do to make sure that this was the pinnacle of this movie of ‘Wicked’ itself. To see people react the way they have been, thank God. I can go to sleep now. Just for a little bit, until part two.
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What’s the story of ‘Wicked’?
In the land of Oz, ostracized and misunderstood green-skinned Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is forced to share a room with the popular aristocrat Galinda (Ariana Grande) at Shiz University, and the two’s unlikely friendship is tested as they begin to fulfill their respective destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
Watch ‘Wicked’ at home this holiday season as the movie will be available to purchase or rent on December 31st on Digital.
Exclusive Bonus Features When You Purchase At Participating Retailers:
Sing Along – Alternate Feature-Length Version: Rejoicify, it’s your turn to sing your way through Oz! Sing-along to all of your favorite Wicked songs as you join Elphaba and Glinda on their magical journey.
Deleted And Extended Scenes:
Pfannee & ShenShen Meet Glinda: Reunited at Shiz University, Glinda, Pfannee, and ShenShen recall their past by performing a twirling routine together.
Shiz Gazette Introduces Fiyero: Excitement spreads across Shiz as word gets out that Prince Fiyero is on his way.
Toss Toss: Glinda teaches Elphaba the art of Toss Toss, with mixed results.
Elphaba & Fiyero in the Forest: The relationship between Elphaba and Fiyero takes a turn as they come to care for a lost lion cub.
Elphaba’s Promise: Elphaba makes a pledge to Glinda that they both hope will strengthen their friendship.
Train Platform Farewell: Glinda, Madame Morrible, and Governor Thropp gather to send Elphaba off to Emerald City.
Boq & Elphaba Talk: Elphaba challenges Boq to face the truth about his feelings for Nessa Rose, but she has difficulty doing the same when it comes to Fiyero.
Train Ride to Emerald City: Glinda and Elphaba expand their world by taking a luxurious train ride to Emerald City.
In the Emerald City: The bustling streets of Emerald City take Glinda and Elphaba one step closer to finally meeting the Wizard.
Palace Monkeys Chase: Elphaba and Glinda race through a maddening maze of winged monkeys determined to take them down.
Featurettes:
Making Wicked – Return to Oz for a fantastic behind-the-scenes journey with this expansive look inside the characters, choreography, and creativity that make up the movie’s unforgettable world.
Welcome To Shiz – Unlimited imagination, couture fashion, and spectacular production design come together at Shiz University, providing a place for performers and viewers to be fully immersed in the fantasy. Designed from details in L. Frank Baum’s books, the uniforms, clever contraptions, and circular sets create a sprawling campus where magic feels like an everyday occurrence.
A Wicked Legacy –Take delight in the cast and filmmakers sharing personal memories of their first encounters with the original Broadway production, and how those lasting connections created emotional experiences while making the movie. Also highlighted are the iconic cameos that pay tribute to the cultural phenomenon that became one of the most popular musicals of all time.
The Wonderful Wizard – Follow the yellow brick road to Emerald City for an in-depth look at the infamous Wizard of Oz. Inside the palace’s throne room, the Wizard himself, Jeff Goldblum, pulls back the curtain to peer at his character’s magic and mechanics with senior special effects technician Christopher Clarke, who details how the Wizard’s massive robotic head comes to life.
Commentary:
Feature Commentary with Director Jon M. Chu
Feature Commentary with Stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande
(Left) Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba and Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures. (Right) Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.
Preview:
‘Wicked’ has proved to be a record-breaking opening for a musical.
‘Gladiator II’ was also successful.
The box office total was up compared to last year.
Studios and theater owners had something to be very thankful for this weekend, as both ‘Gladiator II’ and ‘Wicked’ stormed to big wins –– record-breaking success in the musical movie’s case –– at the box office ahead of the holiday.
Universal has, of course blanketed media with ‘Wicked’ promotions and there is enough merchandising out there to fill the courtyard of Shiz university.
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‘Gladiator II,’ meanwhile, saw Paramount rolling out giant ads and, in a move that has clearly paid off, chose to open the historical epic sequel a week earlier in some international markets, getting a jump on the competition.
It might not quite be the same phenomenon as “Barbenheimer” from last year (when ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ opened big together, but whatever portmanteau sticks –– “Glicked,” perhaps, or “Wickiator”? –– it’s still good news.
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How did ‘Wicked’ perform at the box office?
Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Unlike the ‘Gladiator follow-up, ‘Wicked’ launched this week globally as well as domestically, and it has seen solid totals both here and elsewhere.
There were concerns that the fact it’s part one of two might hurt sales but confirming the split between films ahead of time seems to have reassured viewers. It doesn’t hurt that the movie enjoyed positive reviews and was embraced by a large slice of the moviegoing public.
How the story as a whole works remains to be seen –– ‘Part 2′ isn’t due until next November, but based on the reception for the first, the second looks set to be a success too.
The movie musical adapted from the hugely successful stage show earned $114 million in the US, which is the third-biggest movie debut in total this year (behind ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ and ‘Inside Out 2.’) It is also the biggest domestic opening ever for a movie based on a Broadway production, overtaking the likes of ‘The Color Purple.’
Overseas, the response was a little more muted, with $50 million, but that $164.2 million global launch secured the largest opening for a Broadway-based movie, supplanting 2012’s ‘Les Misérables,’ which launched to $103 million.
Ticket sales for ‘Wicked’ rank as the fifth-biggest worldwide debut in history for a musical, ahead of Disney’s 2023 ‘The Little Mermaid’ reimagining ($163.6 million) and behind 2019’s ‘The Lion King’ ($446 million), 2017’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ remake ($358 million), 2019’s ‘Frozen 2’ ($358 million ) and 2019’s ‘Aladdin’ ($213 million).
So while the witches of Oz can’t quite compare to the Mouse House, at least this result might make studios actually put the music of their, er, musicals in trailers going forward (no, we’re not holding our breath either.)
And the movie still has a few key markets left to open, including France, China and Japan.
Universal will need it to stay popular –– the combined two movies come with a $300 million price tag and the company spent untold millions on a worldwide promotional tour with the cast. Still, the blizzard of Oz-related partnership deals will help.
Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.
As with ‘Wicked,’ the new ‘Gladiator’ outing had a solid base from which to build, but also some big sandals to fill.
Ridley Scott’s 2000 original was a big smash, earning nearly half a billion dollars globally (a big figure in 2000 terms) and winning five Oscars, including Best Picture.
A sequel has been in development almost as long as the original has been out, but it has taken years for Scott and a cadre of writers to crack the sequel story.
In the end, they chose to follow Lucius, the young man seen in the first film (played there by Spencer Treat Clark) who is the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen, who returns for the sequel).
(L to R) Connie Nielsen plays Lucilla and Joseph Quinn plays Emperor Geta in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.
The new movie follows a grown Lucius (with rising star Paul Mescal in the role) as he finds himself enslaved by the Roman empire and forced to fight as a gladiator. He’s also drawn into the turbulent politics of Rome via Macrinus, a slave-turned-slave-owning arms dealer, played to scene-stealing effect by Denzel Washington.
‘Gladiator II’ opened to $55.5 million domestically (slightly behind predictions) and added $50.5 million to its overseas total.
As mentioned, it had already launched overseas, and currently stands at $165.5 million from territories outside the US, and $221 million globally.
Which is a fine start for the movie, and Paramount will be hoping it stays strong at the box office. It skews more male and older than ‘Wicked’ or the family-friendlier titles on the way (see below for the heavy hitter headed to screens), but with a $250 million-plus budget (and around $100 million in promotional costs), it’ll be battling its way to profit.
Disney is looking to enter the fray this Thanksgiving week with its latest sequel to a big movie –– ‘Moana 2,’ which the studio birthed from the planned animated series follow-up to the 2016 hit, will be on screens on November 27th, looking to attract the family crowds in search of something for the kids to watch during the hectic holidays.
With Dwayne Johnson and Auli’i Cravalho returning as Maui and Moana, the studio will be hoping for another successful launch, though we’d doubt that it’ll hit the heights of, say, ‘Inside Out 2’ from earlier this year.
Ariana Granda is Glinda in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Other Movies and TV Shows Based on the ‘Wizard of Oz’:
