(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’:
Michelle Yeoh in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’. Photo: Sony Pictures Classics.
Preview:
A new ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ TV series is in the works.
It’ll adapt Wang DuLu’s Crane-Iron Pentalogy novels.
Jason Ning and Ron Moore are working on the show.
Back in the year 2000, Ang Lee brought sweeping romance and impressive fight scenes to screens, adapting Wang DuLu’s Crane-Iron Pentalogy series of books to Oscar-winning effect in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.’
But since then, there hasn’t been much movement on other adaptations, at least until now, with word via Deadline that Prime Video is moving forward with its TV take, which has been in development since 2022 with Jason Ning involved as executive producer.
Ning, who created ‘The Brothers Sun’ for Netflix, is under a deal with Sony Pictures Television, which owns the rights to the ‘Crouching Tiger’ novels after releasing the Lee movie, and they in turn are partnered up with Prime Video.
What’s the story of ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’?
(L to R) Chow Yun-fat and Michelle Yeoh in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’. Photo: Sony Pictures Classics.
Here’s the official logline from the series:
“Amidst stunning landscapes and spectacular action, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon follows Shu Lien and Mu Bai, two star-crossed warriors, as they struggle between forbidden love and the pull of modernity — caught between preserving their way of life or embracing a future together.”
And with five novels in existence, there is plenty of material for the series to draw from –– the 2000 movie, in fact, took elements from several books in Wang DuLu’s work.
Who could star in the ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ TV series?
(L to R) Chow Yun-fat and Michelle Yeoh in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’. Photo: Sony Pictures Classics.
The show has yet to reach the casting stage; or at least to the point where deals are starting to be made.
While it’s likely that the series would want to start afresh with a group of new talent or rising stars, but given that Yeoh was one of the leads in Ning’s ‘The Brothers Sun,’ there’s a good chance she’ll be involved in some way, even if she doesn’t reprise her role from the movie directly.
Whoever does end up in the ensemble will need to be ready for extensive training and preparation, since a hallmark of the movie –– and therefore presumably the show –– is the complicated, balletic wuxia fighting scenes.
What else is Jason Ning working on?
Ning had been part of the team developing Marvel Comics property ‘Silk: Spider Society’ into a series alongside ‘The Walking Dead’ veteran Angela Kang, but that was scrapped by Sony and Amazon last year.
Ning’s previous TV jobs include writing gigs on ‘Lucifer,’ ‘The Expanse and ‘Mrs. Davis,’ and he’s also developing a series based on Wesley Chu’s novel series ‘War Arts Saga,’ set in a world where martial arts are magic, and a grandmaster takes a spoiled would-be hero under her wing to fulfill his destiny of defeating an immortal god-king and ending a centuries-long war.
Uta Briesewitz is attached to that one as director, but it’s in limbo right now.
What else does Ronald D. Moore have in the works?
The busy Moore has several projects that’s either helped to launch or is overseeing right now, including ‘Outlander’ prequel series ‘Blood of My Blood’ (due on Starz this year) and ‘Star City,’ a spin-off that re-imagines the ‘For All Mankind’ alt-history story through the lens of the Russian space service.
He’s also the head writer on a series adaptation of the ‘God of War’ video games and has been developing a show that offers a fresh take on the ‘Swiss Family Robinson’ story for Disney, with ‘Wicked’ director Jon M. Chu board.
When will the ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ TV series hit screens?
With the deal just done and no word on casting or any date for shooting, expect this one to wait a while before arriving on Prime Video’s servers.
Chow Yun-fat in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’. Photo: Sony Pictures Classics.
List of Movies in the ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ Franchise:
Michelle Yeoh as Georgiou in ‘Star Trek: Section 31’, streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Jan Thijs/Paramount+.
‘Star Trek: Section 31’ receives 7 out of 10 stars.
Premiering on Paramount+ on January 24th, ‘Star Trek: Section 31’ represents the first ‘Star Trek’ movie produced –– even if it does carry the qualifier of “TV Movie” –– since 2016’s ‘Star Trek: Beyond.’ Which tells you something about the moribund development levels of big screen ‘Trek.’
Instead, it has been left up to the likes of executive producer/overseer Alex Kurtzman to fly the Federation flag on the small screen instead. And ‘Section 31’ marks the first feature-length spin-off from the various series (in this case, ‘Star Trek: Discovery,’ which launched the current televisual incarnation back in 2017 and wrapped up last year). The big question of course is, was it worth taking one of the characters and giving them a showcase?
Will ‘Star Trek: Section 31’ beam your interest aboard?
(L to R) Michelle Yeoh as Georgiou and Joe Pingue as Dada Noe in ‘Star Trek: Section 31’, streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Jan Thijs/Paramount+.
‘Section 31’ does go some way to answering the question as to whether the current ‘Trek’ TV galaxy can generate solid enough ideas to work as movies, even if this first one does make its debut on the small screen via Paramount’s streaming service. That’s not a knock on the film, and while it might not have the scope and sheen of, say, a Nicholas Meyer movie or something from J.J. Abrams’ lens flare-inflected productions, it’s a burst of knockabout entertainment with solid character work and a tone that veers more towards ‘Mission: Impossible’ than classic ‘Star Trek.’
Indeed, there are ideas and developments here that might have given series creator Gene Roddenberry a conniption fit, even if his show did introduce the concept of the dark mirror universe for ‘Trek,’ playing with the principle years before Marvel and co.’s big-screen multiverses.
And keeping things mostly outside of Federation space means that there’s plenty of latitude for morally ambiguous types to band together for a higher calling. It also doesn’t hurt that it also allows for Michelle Yeoh, who hasn’t had a showcase like this since ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ to show her stuff not just as a dramatic actor but also someone who –– with support from the stunt team –– has the action chops.
Script and Direction
Michelle Yeoh as Georgiou in ‘Star Trek: Section 31’ streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Jan Thijs/Paramount+
Written by Craig Sweeny from a story originated by Bo Yeon Kim and Erika Lippoldt (all three have experience working on ‘Discovery’), ‘Section 31’ is a darkly humorous chunk of action that also has a few solid ideas at its core, not the least of which is the moral choices of its lead characters.
Not only that, but it lets Yeoh cut loose as Georgiou, fully leaning into the idea of someone who will do anything to achieve her aims (up to and including killing people), but also realizes the weight of her past, particularly when it rudely intrudes on her present gig as an undercover (well, mostly undercover) crime boss.
The script falls into some identifiable traps in places as it has to catch those who didn’t watch much of ‘Discovery’ up on who Georgiou is and how she fits into the mythology, and one or two of the reveals/surprises are signposted in places (if you believe the entire team makes it to the end credits, you’ve clearly never watched anything in this genre). But overall, it works.
Fellow ‘Discovery’ veteran Olatunde Osunsanmi, meanwhile, directs with a light touch, throwing in some visual panache where possible and keeping the tone fun while also delivering on the bigger themes.
‘Star Trek: Section 31’: Performances
With Yeoh the natural focus (and enjoying the spotlight), the movie nevertheless builds some quirky characters around her.
Michelle Yeoh as Phillipa Georgiou
Michelle Yeoh as Georgiou in ‘Star Trek: Section 31’, streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Sophy Holland/Paramount+.
It says something that Yeoh, who these days has an Oscar on her mantle (for ‘Everything Everywhere’), opted to return for more from Georgiou, the conniving, crafty and imperious former ruler of the Terran Empire, who these days slums it working for the ethically questionable secret side of Starfleet. Yeoh brings power and spark to the lead role, bouncing well off the others and delivering some lines with just the right level of acid sarcasm.
Omari Hardwick as Alok in ‘Star Trek: Section 31’, streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Sophy Holland/Paramount+.
Hardwick is sometimes lumbered with playing more of the straight arrow to Yeoh’s character, but he’s also handed enough of a dark past to keep Sahar from feeling stale.
Sam Richardson as Quasi in ‘Star Trek: Section 31’, streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Sophy Holland/Paramount+.
A comedic veteran of the likes of ‘Veep,’ ‘Detroiters’ and ‘Ted Lasso,’ Richardson is the shapeshifting Quasi, and part of the bickering team of operatives dispatched to initially track down Georgiou and convince her to help them stop a major problem.
Richardson’s role is tailored towards his particular brand of nervy, empathetic comedy and he does his usual sterling job as a supporting player.
Robert Kazinsky as Zeph in ‘Star Trek: Section 31’, streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Sophy Holland/Paramount+.
A mech-head a little too connected to his own technology, Zeph is the brawn of the team, and ‘Pacific Rim’s Kazinsky was a good choice for the role. He can play blustery but also vulnerable when needed and Zeph is a great blend of the two.
Kacey Rohl as Rachel in ‘Star Trek: Section 31’, streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Sophy Holland/Paramount+.
One of the little elements of fan service (though they never get in the way of the narrative), Rohl’s character is the future Starfleet captain ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ fans will know from classic episode ‘Yesterday’s Enterprise.’ Here, she’s younger, but her straight-laced energy (until another side is unleashed) compliments the rest of the team’s wilder ways.
Sven Ruygrok as Fuzz in ‘Star Trek: Section 31’, streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Sophy Holland/Paramount+.
Perhaps the most fascinating character of the bunch, Fuzz is actually something we won’t spoil here. A Vulcan first glimpsed laughing like he’s a Romulan, he’s one of the cleverer inventions for this new movie, and Ruygrok brings a great energy to him.
Final Thoughts
Michelle Yeoh as Georgiou in ‘Star Trek: Section 31’, streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Sophy Holland/Paramount+.
Will ‘Star Trek: Section 31’ prove there is life in the TV side of the galaxy besides the ongoing series (new ones are on the way, but ‘Strange New Worlds’ is the only current ongoing concern)? It certainly has a vitality and an attitude to it, but it remains to be seen if it’s embraced by fans.
If nothing else, we got another chance to see Michelle Yeoh be a snarky badass.
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What’s the plot of ‘Star Trek: Section 31’?
Michelle Yeoh returns as Emperor Philippa Georgiou –– a character she played in ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ –– who joins a secret division of Starfleet.
Tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets, she also must face the sins of her past.
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
(L to R) Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba and Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Opening in theaters on November 22nd, ‘Wicked’ attempts the ambitious task of bringing the multiple Tony award-winning stage show to screens in two parts (the second will arrive in November next year).
Directed by Jon M. Chu, this musical (yes, it’s definitely a musical despite the trailers and TV spots typically downplaying that concept driven by the fear that audiences don’t always turn out to musical movies given advance notice), hopes to replicate the huge success of the original stage production. But can it?
Ariana Granda is Glinda in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
On the evidence of at least the first part, ‘Wicked’ is shaping up to stand among the better stage-to-screen musical adaptations.
A servant of two masters, ‘Wicked’ has the unenviable challenge of pleasing die-hard fans of the stage version, and to an extent, Gregory Maguire’s book “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” from which both the show and movie(s) derive their story. The movie must also introduce this concept to those who don’t know their Oz from their Elphaba. It manages both tasks adroitly.
Under the guidance of director Jon M. Chu (a man with some serious music bona fides and one other stage-to-film project via ‘In the Heights,’) this is a soaring triumph of a movie, dynamic and clever, and manages to expand on the musical in interesting ways. And though it’s certainly a long one (the first part alone runs to 160 minutes, whereas the stage version as a whole is just 150 minutes), it never feels flabby or a waste of your time.
Script and Direction
(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.
Winnie Holzman deserves a lot of the credit here, having distilled Maguire’s book down for the stage show and now, alongside fellow screenwriter Dana Fox, added back in more of the novel’s darker tones for the movie.
The stage show can only go so far, aiming as it does to entertain the wide swathe of people who come to see it in theatres (to the tune of $1.7 billion so far), but for the movie Holzman and Fox dig a little deeper into some very topical themes, ones that sadly keep needing to be highlighted across much of human history.
After all, the story of those in charge marginalizing people (or in the movie’s case, animals) to manipulate the general populace through fear is one we’ve heard time and again. And apparently we all do need to learn the lesson of not listening those who tell us not to think, or technologically adept shysters who exploit fear and hatred for personal gain over and over again. ‘Wicked’ says as much today about the current political and moral climate as any movie.
(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.
Which is not to say it’s some gloomy polemic. In the hands of the writers and Chu’s direction, the film sparkles with entertainment and invention, driving the great central performances and adding to them with smart set choices and a welcome blend of practicality with digital magic.
This all feels of a piece with both the visual style established by ‘Wicked’ on stage and the original 1939 ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ while expanding and enriching the experience. Creative choreography and canny casting also help matters.
A few quibbles arise later in the film –– while earlier shots are gloriously technicolor, a certain muddiness enters the frame at certain points, and there are some moments that feel like they could better from more polished editing. Yet they don’t hurt the overall impact of the movie.
Performances
The stage show effectively launched (or at least healthily boosted) the careers of Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, and the movie needed two performers who could match their energy. It found them.
Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Erivo, who has stage bona fides herself, here brings nuance and heart to the story of the misunderstood young woman whose green visage is the spur for hatred among her family and mockery from her peers. She plays the role with stillness and simmering emotion when needed, exploding out at the requisite moments.
The first part of the movie is more her coming of age story –– coming of rage, more like, as she peeks behind the false curtain of misinformation being drawn over the land of Oz –– and Erivo is more than up to the task, raising goosebumps with her performance of acclaimed act one showstopper “Defying Gravity.”
Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Grande, whose onscreen career outside of her pop star duties has been limited, truly gets a moment to shine here. She channels Chenowith’s ditzy energy (with sly undertones) but also makes the role her own, a twitchy, cheery bundle of energy and privilege who works so well against Erivo’s more grounded character.
Jeff Goldblum in ‘Wicked’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Goldblum’s own offbeat energy is a great choice for the Wizard, who has his own plans for Oz. He’s charismatic and weird, but also digs deep to find some inner darkness.
Michelle Yeoh is Madame Morrible in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
As Shiz University’s sorcery teacher, Yeoh brings big Hogwarts energy to the role, but also her own imperious style to the role. She may not be up there with the leads in terms of singing, but she really makes Morrible her own.
Supporting Cast
Jonathan Bailey is Fiyero Tigelaar in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
‘Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey makes for a great, charming Fiyero, the prince who catches Glinda’s eye (and Elphaba’s), and he’s got the right tone for the part. Ditto Marissa Bode as Elphaba’s sister, who loves her sibling but also harbors resentment.
Final Thoughts
Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Given the two-part structure, ‘Wicked’ will ultimately be judged on how it sticks the landing after Elphaba takes to the skies at the end of this first offering.
But as a film itself, the first part is an impressive spectacle infusion with emotion and satire and stands out in the pantheon of movies take from stage shows.
‘Wicked’ receives 9 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the story of ‘Wicked’?
Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart.
The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum), their friendship reaches a crossroads, and their lives take very different paths.
Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West…
(Left) Michelle Yeoh at the 95th Oscars on Sunday, March 12, 2023. The 95th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC at 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT. (Right) 1982’s ‘Blade Runner’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Preview:
Michelle Yeoh is set to star in ‘Blade Runner 2099’.
She’s the first announced cast member for the series.
Ridley Scott is producing the show, though won’t be actively involved.
Is there a competition going on between Giancarlo Esposito and Michelle Yeoh as to who can appear in the most pop culture universes? Yeoh, who already has the likes of Bond, the modern ‘Star Trek’ series, ‘Transformers’ and the MCU under her belt, is adding one more.
She’s now on to star in the new ‘Blade Runner’ series.
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What’s the story of ‘Blade Runner 2099’?
1982’s ‘Blade Runner’. Photo: Warner Bros.
‘Blade Runner 2099’ follows on from 1982’s ‘Blade Runner’, the Ridley Scott movie that introduced us to the world of rogue artificial lifeforms known as Replicants, and the enforcers who track them down (Harrison Ford played the most notable example, Rick Deckard). It meditated on existence and reality, and though it didn’t launch well at the box office, it has long since become a cult classic.
In 2017, Warner Bros. gave Denis Villeneuve the opportunity to create a sequel, ‘Blade Runner 2049’, with Ford returning as Deckard and Ryan Gosling starring as ‘K’, a replicant who works as a Blade Runner. It explored some of the mysteries of Deckard’s story and some new angles, but also didn’t really soar at the box office.
Since then, we’ve had video games and an anime take, but ‘Blade Runner 2099’ is the first new live-action attempt.
Prime Video has revealed zero official plot details about the show, but scooper Daniel Richtman has tracked down what is reportedly the basic synopsis for the show.
Given that this is from an unofficial source, prepare a grain of salt, but otherwise, read on:
“In Los Angeles 2099, Cora lived her entire life on the run, a chameleon forced to adopt numerous identities. To secure a stable future for her brother, she assumes one final identity and is forced to partner with Olwen (our best guess for Yeoh’s character), a Blade Runner who’s confronting the end of her life. The two are pulled into a widening conspiracy that poses an existential threat to a city that’s fighting to be reborn.”
Who is making ‘Blade Runner 2099’
1982’s ‘Blade Runner’. Photo: Warner Bros.
While Ridley Scott has an executive producer credit, he won’t be directly involved. Instead, Silka Luisa of ‘Shining Girls’ is showrunner and ‘Shogun’s Jonathan van Tulleken as its primary director.
The show, once planned to film in Belfast, Ireland, has since relocated to Prague.
Michelle Yeoh as Philippa Georgiou on Paramount+’s ‘Star Trek: Discovery.’
As we mentioned at the beginning of the story, Oscar winner Yeoh has lined up yet more genre work in the future –– she’ll be Madame Morrible in the two ‘Wicked’ movies (the first is due on November 27th this year), has a role in the next couple of ‘Avatar’ films (‘Avatar 3’ will be with us on December 19th, 2025) and, continuing her association with ‘Star Trek’, has been working on spin-off movie ‘Star Trek: Section 31’.
1982’s ‘Blade Runner’ Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
(L to R) Henry Golding as Hu and Brandon Soo Hoo as Tom in ‘The Tiger’s Apprentice,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures/Paramount+.
Launching on Paramount+ February 2nd, ‘The Tiger’s Apprentice’ represents a solid dose of forward momentum for the portrayal of Chinese mythology on screen for more general audiences.
It’s a shame, though, that the film –– which we’d recommend for its entertaining voice cast more than anything in the script itself –– is an entertaining enough romp for younger audiences but seems unlikely to come across as anything other than second tier when truly boundary-pushing animation exists.
Does ‘The Tiger’s Apprentice’ Earn its Stripes?
(L to R) Henry Golding as Hu and Sandra Oh as Mistral in ‘The Tiger’s Apprentice,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures/Paramount+.
In development for a long time, and handed off between different filmmakers, ‘The Tiger’s Apprentice’ has been on one of those journeys where you have to wonder if something happened to it along the way. It was, at one point, being considered as a theatrical release, but is now arriving direct to streaming.
There is less of a negative aura about such shifts these days, in a time when there are truly superb streaming shows and movies, but it’s tough to discount the idea that the finished product here just doesn’t scream “theatrical release”. The animation, while certainly competent, can be a little jerky with its human characters in particular (one scene, a vision for the main character, is much more aesthetically pleasing) and the storyline, as we’ll dig into, is a reheated offering of something we’ve seen many times before.
‘The Tiger’s Apprentice’: Script and Direction
Brandon Soo Hoo as Tom in ‘The Tiger’s Apprentice,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures/Paramount+.
Perhaps the biggest issue with ‘The Tiger’s Apprentice’ is in its basic structure. Though some stories are trotted out time and again because they’ve proven to work, here you can really feel that the authentic ethnic detailing layered over the exceedingly basic skeleton doesn’t quite cover the seen-it-before aspect at its core.
Adapted from the young adult novel by Laurence Yep by David Magee (an Oscar nominee for his work on ‘Life of Pi’) and Christopher Yost (a veteran of Marvel movies and who you suspect provided much of the quippiness on display here), the script has its moments, but struggles to overcome the notion that you’re watching the 534th take on material that the likes of ‘Harry Potter’, ‘Percy Jackson’ and any number of other, better examples have tackled.
The young target audience, of course, likely won’t mind too much, enjoying the colorful, jokey characters and the rising stakes. But anyone who has seen a movie of this sort will soon find themselves making a mental checklist of what to expect –– the wise mentor (in this case, a grandmother who loses her life to the main villain), the grouchy new guide, the wide-eyed kid who had no idea he possessed magic powers, the goofy sidekick, the noble sidekick, the baddie with an all-purpose idea to wipe humanity off the face of the Earth and rule the darkness that follows, etc., etc.
Directors Raman Hui, Paul Watling and Yong Duk Jhun do manage to give the movie a grounding in Chinese zodiac beliefs and an authentic feeling of being set in San Francisco (though sometimes falling into bland, generic traps such as having main character Tom attend “San Francisco High School”). As mentioned, the animation style is more serviceable than truly impressive and while not everything can be at the ‘Spider-Verse’ level, these days you do wish more movies would try (it’s a reason we enjoyed ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’).
‘The Tiger’s Apprentice’: Performances
(L to R) Sherry Cola as Naomi, Sandra Oh as Mistral, Bowen Yang as Sidney, Henry Golding as Hu and Brandon Soo Hoo as Tom in ‘The Tiger’s Apprentice,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures/Paramount+.
If there’s a real saving grace here, it’s the appealing, funny and emotional performances of the voice cast. Though it seems every film (and TV show; witness ‘The Brothers Sun’) with Chinese characters is contractually obliged to include Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh, she does at least give the underwritten villain role some gravitas.
As Tom, the young man who discovers he has a magical legacy, Brendan Soo Hoo is an appealing personality who sparks well off the rest of the cast. Henry Golding, meanwhile, is somewhat saddled with the standard grouchy-yet-heroic character of Hu, the Tiger who takes Tom under his wing –– er, paw? –– when the lad’s grandmother gives her life to protect him. In terms of character design, he’s like a kid-friendly Wolverine, even down to the muttonchops when in human form.
Elsewhere, the basic scripting is helped by a great ensemble that includes the likes of Sandra Oh, Sherry Cola and Bowen Yang, who bring the lines to life and work well against both Golding and Hoo.
‘The Tiger’s Apprentice’: Final Thoughts
(L to R) Henry Golding as Hu, Sandra Oh as Mistral, Sherry Cola as Naomi and Brandon Soo Hoo as Tom in The ‘Tiger’s Apprentice,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures/Paramount+.
Definitely one for the younger crowd, and unlikely to inspire much faith from older audiences, ‘The Tiger’s Apprentice’ is a mildly diverting animated adventure whose welcome diversity can’t disguise the well-used tropes and narrative at its center.
A fun cast certainly helps, but we’re not sure we see this one launching a franchise any time soon.
‘The Tiger’s Apprentice’ receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the story of ‘The Tiger’s Apprentice’?
Based on the popular children’s book series of the same name by Laurence Yep, the movie follows Chinese-American teenager Tom Lee (Brandon Soo Hoo), whose life changes forever when he discovers he is part of a long lineage of magical protectors known as the Guardians.
With guidance from a mythical tiger named Hu (Henry Golding), Tom trains to take on Loo (Michelle Yeoh), a force that is as powerful as a Guardian but with evil intentions to use magic to destroy humanity. To have a fighting chance against Loo, Tom must reunite all twelve Zodiac animal warriors and master his own newly discovered powers.
(L to R) Diana Lee Inosanto as Horse, Poppy Liu as Snake, Greta Lee as Rabbit, Jo Koy as Rooster, Henry Golding as Hu, Patrick Gallagher as Dog, Deborah S. Craig as Pig, Sherry Cola as Naomi and Sandra Oh as Mistral in ‘The Tiger’s Apprentice,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures/Paramount+.
Omari Hardwick and Sam Richardson are joining the cast.
The movie will stream on Paramount+.
For the past few years, the ‘Star Trek’ TV series have been flying the flag for the venerable sci-fi franchise as the big screen adventures have been stymied in cinematic development drydock (yet another example was announced recently).
But, while it won’t be warping into movie theaters, the small screen ‘Trek’ universe has spawned its own movie, based on the further adventures of Emperor Philippa Georgiou, as played to winning effect by Michelle Yeoh in the first season of ‘Star Trek: Discovery’.
Michelle Yeoh as Philippa Georgiou on Paramount+’s ‘Star Trek: Discovery.’
Yeoh’s Captain Phillipa Georgiou was a powerful presence… at least (spoiler alert if you’ve somehow not caught up on the first episode of ‘Discovery’, which screened in 2017) until she died at the hands (and blade) of a Klingon warrior.
Yet that was not the end for Yeoh’s story –– a trip to the Mirror Universe (established all the way back in the 1960s original ‘Star Trek’) revealed that there was another Georgiou –– and she was Emperor of the cruel Terran Empire. She eventually ended up helping our heroes, and in a deleted scene, was approached by a member of the stealthy organization Section 31.
Originally developed as a series, the concept was instead announced as a movie last April. The basic synopsis for the movie reads: “Georgiou joins a secret division of Starfleet. Tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets, she also must face the sins of her past.”
What is Section 31?
Michelle Yeoh as Philippa Georgiou of the CBS All Access series ‘Star Trek: Discovery.’ Photo: Russ Martin/CBS All Access 2017 CBS Interactive. All Rights Reserved.
First introduced in ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’, Section 31 was an organization which claimed to protect the security interests of United Earth and, later, the United Federation of Planets. During the mid-23rd century, they were considered a critical division of Starfleet Intelligence, while by the 24th century, they were believed to be a rogue organization not considered part of the Federation but were in fact still part of Starfleet Intelligence.
Craig Sweeny is writing the script, with ‘Discovery’ veteran Olatunde Osunsanmi directing.
Here’s what executive producer Alex Kurtzman had to say about the movie kicking off:
“And we’re off to the races! Thrilled to report principal photography has started on ‘Star Trek: Section 31’. We welcome our incredible cast of new characters as they join our beloved Michelle Yeoh on her next wild adventure across the ‘Trek’ universe.”
When will the new ‘Star Trek’ movie be streaming?
While we know the movie will premiere on Paramount+, but there is no confirmed release date yet.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Justin Chien and Sam Son Li about their work on ‘The Brothers Sun,’ the complex characters, having Michelle Yeoh as a scene partner, and collaborating with series creators Brad Falchuk and Byron Wu.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch the interview.
(L to R) Justin Chien and Sam Song Li attend Netflix’s ‘The Brothers Sun’ Los Angeles Premiere at Netflix Tudum Theater on January 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix.
Moviefone: To begin with, Justin, what does playing Charles and being a part of this series mean to you personally?
Justin Chien: It means the world to me. The role of Charles was a dream role. I honestly couldn’t have dreamt up a better role in terms of the resonance of the story to my own life. Family is important to me and as it is in the story and to this character, the fact that I get to do an extensive amount of stunt work, the fact that I have a romance arc, a family arc, an arc with my brother, all those things I’ve experienced in my own personal life, and I cherish all those experiences. So again, to do this, it’s still surreal sometimes and I’m incredibly grateful.
Sam Song Li attends Netflix’s ‘The Brothers Sun’ Los Angeles Premiere at Netflix Tudum Theater on January 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix.
MF: Sam, what has it like for you to be a part of this series?
Sam Song Li: I feel almost the exact same way. I think this is a dream come true. I tell my friends, especially my acting colleagues, that if I were to never work a single job again in my life, in my career, I would be happy. I would be so content right now because I feel like I truly got to experience a little bit of everything on this. It was such a well-rounded experience and I feel like I just got to do it all. I think my whole life experience, because I’m sure both of us have sacrificed a lot to pursue this, but I feel like my whole life experience has been really working up to this point. I just feel happy that I’m right for this project. I feel grateful that I got to be a part of it, especially with such talented creatives across the board on this project.
MF: Sam, how would you describe your character, Bruce?
SSL: I think Bruce has first world problems. I think he’s still beating himself over the head like, “Why can’t I just have a mom that lets me do what I want?”
MF: Sam, what is Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh like to have as a scene partner?
SSL: It’s effortless acting with Michelle. It’s truly effortless. She’s a pro. She’s a veteran and her experience shines. I’ve used this example but it’s like playing basketball with Steph Curry or LeBron James: you’re going to win every single game. I think she just has that effect. She’s great. She’s just amazing both on and off camera.
(Left) Brad Falchuk attends Netflix’s ‘The Brothers Sun’ Los Angeles Premiere at Netflix Tudum Theater on January 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix. (Right) Byron Wu attends Netflix’s ‘The Brothers Sun’ Los Angeles Premiere at Netflix Tudum Theater on January 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix.
MF: Finally, Justin, what has it been like collaborating with series creators Brad Falchuk and Byron Wu on this project?
JC: We got to speak extensively with Byron and Brad. They were always accessible, always open, and always collaborative. I remember very early on something that Brad said to me that I was not expecting, but when he said it, it really clicked. He said, “Charles is in somewhat of an abusive relationship.” That clicked for me and as I developed this character, I started to realize more and more just how tortured and broken Charles is on the inside. It really gave me another dynamic to explore as an actor for this character. But we were so lucky to have those two guys on our team. Brad was the ultimate ally. I feel like he really put his money where his mouth is in terms of getting us the support we needed. Byron was wonderful as well. I play video games with Byron on a pretty regular basis now.
The life of average Californian Bruce Sun (Sam Song Li) is turned upside down when his older brother, Charles Sun (Justin Chien) visits Los Angeles, California from Taipei, Taiwan. Having no recollection of his past in Taipei, Bruce soon learns about his family’s profession as Taipei’s most renowned gangsters, with his brother being a hardened criminal raised by his crime boss father. After an attempted assassination on his father, Charles must move to LA to keep his family safe. Additionally, Bruce finds out that his mother (Michelle Yeoh) moved with him to California to build a life away from her estranged family. His mother’s effort has proved to be futile as now Bruce has to adapt to the gangster life of his family.
