(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’:
(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…
Moviefone has compiled a list of the most anticipated movies opening in theaters and/or streaming from September to December of 2024, which not only includes major studio releases but also smaller independent films that you won’t want to miss.
After a family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), Lydia’s (Winona Ryder) life is turned upside down when her teenage daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), accidentally opens the portal to the Afterlife.
Emotions run high when three estranged sisters (Natasha Lyonne, Carrie Coon and Elizabeth Olsen) reunite in a cramped New York City apartment to watch over their ailing father during his final days.
A former Marine (Aaron Pierre) confronts corruption in a small town when local law enforcement unjustly seizes the bag of cash he needs to post his cousin’s bail.
(L to R) Peter Dinklage in ‘The Thicket’. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.
An innocent young man, Jack (Levon Hawke), goes on an epic quest to rescue his sister Lula (Esme Creed-Miles) after she has been kidnapped by the violent killer Cut Throat Bill (Juliette Lewis) and her gang. To save her, Jack enlists the help of a crafty bounty hunter named Reginald Jones (Peter Dinklage), a grave-digging alcoholic son of an ex-slave (Gbenga Akinnagbe), and a street-smart prostitute (Leslie Grace). The gang tracks Cut Throat Bill into the deadly no-man’s land known as The Big Thicket — a place where blood and chaos reign.
A girl (Nadine Crocker) suffering from depression is forced to get her life together when she is taken involuntarily to a mental institution after trying to follow in her fathers footsteps, but failing in her suicide attempt. She finds unlikely friends, unwavering love, and a life she never imagined possible for a girl like her. All to find out some decisions can’t be undone.
(L to R) Kayli Carter, Edie Falco, and Jeannie Berlin in ‘I’ll Be Right There.’ Photo: Brainstorm Media.
Wanda (Edie Falco), a single mother with a pregnant daughter (Kayli Carter), a wayward son, a mother (Jeannie Berlin) who believes is dying. Barely having time for herself and living to take care of her family but everyone around her doesn’t seem to accept it, why isn’t that enough?
Everything goes to hell for newly-pregnant Belinda (Brandy Norwood) after her mother-in-law moves in. As the diabolical guest tries to get her claws on the child, Belinda must draw the line somewhere…
Dave Bautista in ‘The Killer’s Game’. Photo: Lionsgate.
In the new action-comedy ‘The Killer’s Game’, when top hitman Joe Flood (Dave Bautista) is diagnosed with a terminal illness, he decides to take matters into his own hands – by taking a hit out on himself. But when the very hitmen he hired also target his ex-girlfriend (Sofia Boutella) , he must fend off an army of assassin colleagues and win back the love of his life before it’s too late.
James McAvoy in ‘Speak No Evil.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.
When an American family (Scott McNairy and Mackenzie Davis) is invited to spend the weekend at the idyllic country estate of a charming British (James McAvoy and Aisling Franciosi) family they befriended on vacation, what begins as a dream holiday soon warps into a snarled psychological nightmare.
(L to R) Reed Northrup, Nicholas Cirillo and Austin Zajur in director Kevin Smith’s ‘The 4:30 Movie’. Photo: Saban Films.
Writer-director Kevin Smith presents his most personal film to date with this coming-of-age story — set in the summer of 1986 — that follows three sixteen-year-old friends who spend their Saturdays sneaking into movies at the local cineplex. When one of the guys invites the girl of his dreams to see an R-rated film, all hilarity breaks loose, as a self-important theater manager (Ken Jeong) and teen rivalries interfere with his best-laid plans.
(L to R) Megan Fox as “Alice” in the Sci-Fi/Thriller, ‘Subservience’, an XYZ Films release. Photo courtesy of XYZ Films.
Megan Fox stars as Alice, a lifelike artificially intelligent android, who has the ability to take care of any family and home. Looking for help with the housework, a struggling father (Michele Morrone) purchases Alice after his wife becomes sick. Alice suddenly becomes self-aware and wants everything her new family has to offer, starting with the affection of her owner – and she’ll kill to get it.
Director Susanna Fogel’s ‘Winner’. Photo: Vertical.
Winner is a brilliant young misfit from Texas who finds her morals challenged while serving in the U.S. Air Force and working as an NSA contractor. A fresh take on the traditional whistleblower thriller, the coming-of-age story follows an idealistic young woman persecuted for standing by her principles.
Transformers One is the untold origin story of Optimus Prime (Chris Hemsworth) and Megatron (Brian Tyree Henry), better known as sworn enemies, but once were friends bonded like brothers who changed the fate of Cybertron forever.
Halle Berry as Momma in ‘Never Let Go’. Photo Credit: Liane Hentscher.
In this new psychological thriller/horror, as an Evil takes over the world beyond their front doorstep, the only protection for a mother, played by Oscar-winner Halle Berry, and her twin sons is their house and their family’s protective bond. Needing to stay connected at all times – even tethering themselves with ropes – they cling to one another, urging each other to never let go. But when one of the boys questions if the evil is real, the ties that bind them together are severed, triggering a terrifying fight for survival.
A fading celebrity (Demi Moore) decides to use a black market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.
(L to R) Mary-Louise Parker and Ayo Edebiri in ‘Omni Loop’. Photo: Magnolia Pictures.
Diagnosed with a black hole growing inside her chest and stuck in a loop reliving the last five days of her life, a 55-year-old wife and mother (Mary-Louise Parker) from Miami, Florida decides to solve time travel in order to go back and be the person she always intended to be.
(L to R) Brad Pitt and George Clooney in ‘Wolfs’. Photo: Sony Pictures.
A professional fixer (George Clooney) is hired to cover up a high profile crime. But when a second fixer (Brad Pitt) shows up and the two “lone wolves” are forced to work together, they find their night spiraling out of control in ways that neither one of them expected.
Frank Grillo, Robert Patrick and Rhona Mitra star in ‘Hounds of War’ about the best military mercenaries money can buy. Known as ‘The Hounds’, they are sent on a final mission by their creator: a carefully planned trap set up to destroy them.
Never-before-seen home movies and extraordinary personal archives reveal how Christopher Reeve went from unknown actor to iconic movie star as the ultimate screen superhero. He learned the true meaning of heroism as an activist after suffering a tragic accident that left him quadriplegic and dependent on a ventilator to breathe.
(L to R) Adam Driver and Nathalie Emmanuel in ‘Megalopolis’. Photo: Lionsgate.
Genius artist Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver) seeks to leap the City of New Rome into a utopian, idealistic future, while his opposition, Mayor Franklyn Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito), remains committed to a regressive status quo, perpetuating greed, special interests, and partisan warfare. Torn between them is socialite Julia Cicero (Nathalie Emmanuel), the mayor’s daughter, whose love for Cesar has divided her loyalties, forcing her to discover what she truly believes humanity deserves.
(from back center) Roz (Lupita N’yongo), and Brightbill (Kit Connor) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Wild Robot,’ directed by Chris Sanders.
A robot — ROZZUM unit 7134 (Lupita Nyong’o), “Roz” for short — is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must learn to adapt to the harsh surroundings, gradually building relationships with the animals on the island and becoming the adoptive parent of an orphaned gosling.
Kate Winslet ‘Lee’. Photo: Roadside Attractions & Vertical.
Miller (Kate Winslet) had a profound understanding and empathy for women and the voiceless victims of war. Her images display both the fragility and ferocity of the human experience. Above all, the film shows how Miller lived her life at full throttle in pursuit of truth, for which she paid a huge personal price, forcing her to confront a traumatic and deeply buried secret from her childhood.
Director Thordur Palsson’s ‘The Damned’. Photo: Vertical.
A 19th-century widow is tasked with making an impossible choice when, during an especially cruel winter, a ship sinks off the coast of her impoverished Icelandic fishing village. Any attempt to rescue survivors risks further depleting the starving villagers’ supplies.
Sam Claflin as Patrick McKee in ‘Bagman’. Photo Credit: Vladislav Lepoev.
In the dark horror film ‘Bagman’, a family finds themselves ensnared in a nightmare as they are hunted by a malevolent, mythical creature. For centuries and across cultures, parents have warned their children of the legendary Bagman, who snatches innocent children and stuffs them into his vile, rotting bag—never to be seen again. Patrick McKee (Sam Claflin) narrowly escaped such an encounter as a boy, which left him with lasting scars throughout his adulthood. Now, Patrick’s childhood tormentor has returned, threatening the safety of his wife Karina (Antonia Thomas) and son Jake (Caréll Rhoden).
Sarah Paulson in ‘Hold Your Breath’. Photo: Searchlight Pictures.
A young mother in 1930s Oklahoma who is haunted by her past and trapped in horrifying dust storms. She becomes convinced that her family is threatened by a mysterious presence and takes extraordinary measures to protect them.
(L to R) Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck / Joker and Lady Gaga as Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn in ‘Joker: Folie à Deux.’ Photo: Todd Phillips’ Instagram Account.
While struggling with his dual identity, Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) not only stumbles upon true love, but also finds the music that’s always been inside him.
(L to R) Adam David Thompson as “Joseph” and Riley Dandy as “Sidney” in the Sci-Fi/Thriller, ‘Things Will Be Different’, a Magnet release. Photo courtesy of Magnet Releasing.
In order to escape the police after a robbery, two estranged siblings lay low in a metaphysical farmhouse that hides them away in a different time. There they reckon with a mysterious force that pushes their familial bonds to unnatural breaking points.
(L to R) Gilda Radner (Ella Hunt), Jane Curtain (Kim Matula), Dick Ebersol (Cooper Hoffman), Rosie Shuster (Rachel Sennott), Garrett Morris (Lamorne Morris), Alan Zweibel (Josh Brener) and Lorne Michaels (Gabriel LaBelle) in ‘Saturday Night’. Photo: Sony Pictures.
At 11:30pm on October 11, 1975, a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television forever. This is the story of what happened behind the scenes in the 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast of ‘Saturday Night Live‘.
(L to R) Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield in ‘We Live in Time’. Photo: A24.
Almut (Florence Pugh) and Tobias (Andrew Garfield) are brought together in a surprise encounter that changes their lives. As they embark on a path challenged by the limits of time, they learn to cherish each moment of the unconventional route their love story has taken, in filmmaker John Crowley’s decade-spanning, deeply moving romance.
Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) unleashes chaos on the unsuspecting residents of Miles County as they peacefully drift off to sleep on Christmas Eve.
Heather Graham in ‘Chosen Family’. Photo: Bleeker Street.
Ann (Heather Graham) is a yoga teacher struggling to achieve inner peace despite the fact her family is driving her crazy and her dating life is miserable. She doesn’t know how to say no and wants to fix everyone’s problems.
‘Piece By Piece’ is a unique cinematic experience that invites audiences on a vibrant journey through the life of cultural icon Pharrell Williams. Told through the lens of LEGO® animation, turn up the volume on your imagination and witness the evolution of one of music’s most innovative minds.
Naomi Scott stars in Paramount Pictures Presents a Temple Hill Production of a Parker Finn Film ‘Smile 2’.
About to embark on a new world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to face her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals out of control.
Mikey Madison as Ani in ‘Anora’. Courtesy of Neon.
Anora (Mikey Madison), a young sex worker from Brooklyn, gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and impulsively marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as the parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.
(L to R) André Holland and Andra Day in ‘Exhibiting Forgiveness’. Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
Utilizing his paintings to find freedom from his past, a Black artist on the path to success is derailed by an unexpected visit from his estranged father, a recovering addict desperate to reconcile. Together, they learn that forgetting might be a greater challenge than forgiving.
(L to R) Elijah Wood and Nell Fisher in ‘Bookworm’. Photo: Rialto Distribution.
Eleven-year-old Mildred’s (Nell Fisher) life is turned upside down when her mother lands in hospital and estranged, American magician father, Strawn Wise (Elijah Wood), comes to look after her. Hoping to entertain the bookish tween, Strawn takes Mildred camping in the notoriously rugged New Zealand wilderness, and the pair embark on the ultimate test of family bonding – a quest to find the mythological beast known as the Canterbury Panther.
(L to R) Carrie-Anne Moss and Douglas Smith in ‘Die Alone’. Photo: Filmoption.
Lost in a world reclaimed by nature and overrun by mysterious creatures, a young man with amnesia teams up with an eccentric survivalist to find his missing girlfriend.
Eddie (Tom Hardy) and Venom are on the run. Hunted by both of their worlds and with the net closing in, the duo are forced into a devastating decision that will bring the curtains down on Venom and Eddie’s last dance.
From director Edward Berger (‘All Quiet on the Western Front’) ‘Conclave’ follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events – selecting a new Pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence finds himself at the center of a conspiracy and discovers a secret that could shake the very foundation of The Church.
(L to R) Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans in ‘Red One.’ Photo: Amazon MGM Studios.
After a villain kidnaps Santa (J.K. Simmons) from the North Pole, an E.L.F (Extremely Large and Formidable) operative (Dwayne Johnson) must partner with the world’s most accomplished tracker (Chris Evans) to find Santa and save Christmas.
Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.
Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus (Russell Crowe) at the hands of his uncle (Joaquin Phoenix), Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.
(L to R) Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba and Ariana Granda is Glinda in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), an ostracized but defiant girl born with green skin, and Glinda (Ariana Grande), a privileged aristocrat born popular, become extremely unlikely friends in the magical Land of Oz. As the two girls struggle with their opposing personalities, their friendship is tested as both begin to fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and The Wicked Witch of the West. The first of a two-part film adaptation of the Broadway musical.
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ epic animated musical ‘Moana 2’ takes audiences on an expansive new voyage with Moana (Auli’i Cravalho), Maui (Dwayne Johnson) and a brand-new crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.
183 years before the events chronicled in the original trilogy, a sudden attack by Wulf (Luke Pasqualino), a clever and ruthless Dunlending lord seeking vengeance for the death of his father, forces Helm Hammerhand (Brian Cox) and his people to make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg. Finding herself in an increasingly desperate situation, Héra (Gaia Wise), the daughter of Helm, must summon the will to lead the resistance against a deadly enemy intent on their total destruction.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Sergei Kravinoff / Kraven the Hunter in ‘Kraven the Hunter.’
Kraven the Hunter is the visceral, action-packed origin story of how and why one of Marvel’s most iconic villains came to be. Aaron Taylor-Johnson plays Kraven, a man whose complex relationship with his ruthless father, Nikolai Kravinoff (Russell Crowe), starts him down a path of vengeance with brutal consequences, motivating him to become not only the greatest hunter in the world, but also one of its most feared.
Shadow (Keanu Reeves) in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega of America, Inc.
Sonic (Ben Schwartz), Knuckles (Idris Elba), and Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey) reunite against a powerful new adversary, Shadow (Keanu Reeves), a mysterious villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before. With their abilities outmatched in every way, Team Sonic must seek out an unlikely alliance in hopes of stopping Shadow and protecting the planet.
Rafiki (John Kani) relays the legend of Mufasa (Aaron Pierre) to lion cub Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter), daughter of Simba (Donald Glover) and Nala (Beyoncé). Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) —the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion a journey of misfits searching for their destiny and working together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.
Robert Eggers’ ‘Nosferatu’ is a gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake.
Bailey, of course, is already aboard a big film (or two) that Universal is pinning its hopes on: he’s starring as Fiyero in the two-part adaptation of ‘Wicked’ that will launch this Thanksgiving.
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What’s the story of the new ‘Jurassic World’ movie?
Universal is mostly keeping the details of the new movie trapped behind fences and concrete barriers for now. What can we predict? Big-toothed beasts causing trouble for the humans that foolishly interact with them.
A bigger question, though, is which humans… It’ll reportedly be set in the ‘Jurassic World’ era, but won’t directly connect to the previous three movies, so an appearance from characters such as those films’ Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) or Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howards) appears unlikely for now –– though we won’t rule anything out at this point.
From the sounds of it, this new movie would take the franchise in a fresh new direction, so we’re also not predicting (for now) the return of ‘Jurassic Park’ trio Alan Grant (Sam Neill), Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) and Jeff Goldblum’s chaotician Malcolm.
Who else might be in the new ‘Jurassic World’ movie?
Scarlett Johansson in ‘Fly Me to the Moon’. Photo: Columbia Pictures.
While Johansson is locked in and Bailey appears close to a deal, there are other actors whose names have been floated as potentials. Scooper Daniel Richtman has pointed to Dev Patel possibly taking on a role (his directorial debut, ‘Monkey Man’, produced by Jordan Peele, was picked up for distribution and released by Universal a couple of weeks ago).
And Richtman has also mentioned that Colman Domingo, of ‘Rustin’, ‘The Color Purple’ and –– the Universal connection –– ‘Drive-Away Dolls’, is being talked about as the movie’s villain. The human one, of course.
It remains to be seen if either of them graduates from the world of rumors to reality.
(L to R) Director Frank Marshall, Jimmy Buffet, Pitbull and director Ryan Suffern from the documentary ‘Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story.’ Courtesy of The Kennedy/Marshall Company. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
David Koepp, who wrote both the 1993 classic ‘Jurassic Park’ (directed by Steven Spielberg) and its 1997 sequel, ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’ (also directed by Spielberg, to less critical praise, but still healthy box office), crafted the new movie’s screenplay.
Longtime producer Frank Marshall, who worked on all three of the ‘Jurassic World’ movies is on board this one also, and the studio seems bullish about the progress so far. And of course, Spielberg will weigh in since he helped birth the franchise.
When will the new ‘Jurassic World’ movie be in theaters?
The dinosaurs should be roaring onto screens on July 2nd, 2025, release slot.
‘Wicked’, ‘Twisters’ and more were showcased at Universal’s CinemaCon show.
There was news of sequels to ‘M3GAN’ and ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s.
The likes of Jon M. Chu and Glen Powell showed up to support their films.
Universal enjoyed a successful 2023 on several counts, not the least of which was the explosive popularity of Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’, which did well at both the box office and awards season. Plus there were the horror likes of ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s and the big family hit that was ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’. True, there were also the downsides –– ‘Fast X’ didn’t quite deliver in terms of that giant franchise, while ‘Renfield’ and ‘The Last Voyage of the Demeter’ struggled.
But for the most part, we’re expecting the studio to celebrate its big win, and look forward to a slate that includes giant windy natural disasters (plus star Glen Powell), a new entry for its money-printing ‘Despicable Me’ franchise and what it is hoping will be a magical adaptation of iconic stage musical ‘Wicked’.
And the company is also including 2024 offerings from its Focus arm, so we’re anticipating the likes of Robert Eggers’ vampire tale ‘Nosferatu’.
Unsurprisingly, the studio kicked things off with a sizzle reel highlighting the big names it collaborates with –– Jordan Peele, Christopher Nolan, some youthful chancer called… we want to say, Stevie… Spielberg? –– very much highlighting its relationships and celebrating last year’s big release.
President of Domestic Theatrical Distribution Jim Orr touted the fact that more than 75% of the studio’s releases are original movies, with some hoping to launch new franchises. But his focus was also on ‘Wicked’, letting off a bright green flare and promising that the company will be turning theaters green “you got that, right? Y’all are wicked smart.” Yes, Jim. We got it.
After bringing Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt to CinemaCon last year for ‘The Fall Guy’, the studio kicked off this year’s event with a full screening of the movie, so we doubt there will be too much chatter about it this time around.
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Christopher Nolan sent a video message along –– not, to announce a new film with Universal, but to thank theater owners for their support and reminding them that his journey to promote ‘Oppenheimer’ began at last year’s event.
Now, though to the future…
There was a brief mention of the new ‘Bridget Jones’ movie (more on that here), which is confirmed for February 14th next year.
Illumination boss Chris Meledandri arrived on stage to whip up support for his animated efforts. And yes, he mentioned that a new ‘Super Mario Bros.’ movie is indeed on the way in April 2026, which is hardly shocking given the success of the original.
And, of course, a sequence from ‘Despicable Me 4’, which offers much of the expected madness with Gru and co. (and you’ll have seen some of it in the trailer). Will Ferrell is confirmed as the villain, with word that Stephen Colbert is also in the cast. Pharrell Williams is confirmed to be back providing music.
‘Despicable Me 4’ lands in theaters on July 5th.
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With that complete, time to learn what’s blowing in the wind…
Twin Twisters, in ‘Twisters’ directed by Lee Isaac Chung.
The new movie’s director Lee Isaac Chung is best known for the far smaller, much-respected indie ‘Minari’, so of course he addresses what is foremost in audience’s minds: why tackle a big franchise entry about tornadoes.
Turns out, it’s his Midwest background –– he grew up in tornado territory, so he brings something personal to the movie about Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glenn Powell chasing twisters. Chung’s intent was to make an immersive movie, and to make us all appreciate the terrifying power of nature. He worked with weather scientists and experts to get the details right and had real-life storm chasers on the crew.
He also name drops Steven Spielberg (a tornado obsessive whose first movie was a tornado epic shot in his bathtub), who taught him a lot about filming them.
(from left) Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones), Javi (Anthony Ramos), and Tyler (Glen Powell), in ‘Twisters’ directed by Lee Isaac Chung.
Stars Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, and Anthony Ramos joined their director on stage to offer up the usual anecdotes about filming in blazing heat and being pelted with water, air, ice, and more (to remind us of their commitment, Powell and Ramos once more faced water, fake debris and –– of course! –– a cow, albeit inflatable, on stage).
They’re also here to key up some footage from the film. A rodeo is disrupted, and Powell and co. head off on their chasing mission. There’s a glimpse of Dorothy, the storm-testing device from the original movie.
And the two giant twisters from the trailer combine into one giant super tornado. It’s very much the “‘Twister’… but bigger” energy from the first released footage.
‘Twisters’ heads to theaters on July 19th.
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From natural action to supernatural horror, and beyond…
The next sizzle reel highlighted the studio’s more recent horror legacy, including collaborations with Jordan Peele and James Wan.
And confirmation that sequels to both ‘M3GAN’ and ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s will appear next year –– ‘M3GAN 2.0’ in May, ‘Freddy’s in the fall.
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But the first actual presentation from the genre is for…
Since ‘Wolf Man’ is in production, there was just a brief clip introduced by director Leigh Whannell, featuring stars Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner. It’ll see a father (Abbott) trying to protect his family from a threat. Only… he’s the threat.
‘Wolf Man’ will be in theaters on January 17th, 2025.
James McAvoy in ‘Speak No Evil.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.
Director James Watkins introduced the horror thriller starring James McAvoy, Scott McNairy and Mackenzie Davis about a family invited to spend a weekend at an idyllic holiday retreat, only for things to go very scare shaped when the father of the family (McAvoy) reveals a darker side..
Watkins keyed up the first look at the trailer.
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‘Speak No Evil’ is due in theaters on September 13th.
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Next, it was the turn of Focus Features to showcase its slate, introduced to the music of Amy Winehouse (the focus of upcoming biopic ‘Back to Black’).
Eschewing a bigger presentation, it was largely a sizzle reel of footage from the company’s upcoming releases, including the aforementioned ‘Back to Black’ (due on May 17th) and pope-focused drama ‘Conclave‘ ( November 1st), which stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and more.
Perhaps the most exciting was the first look at footage from Robert Eggers’ new horror, ‘Nosferatu’. The director’s take on the classic vampire tale looks suitably intense and creepy, with Willem Dafoe at the forefront of the clips.
It’ll be in theaters on December 25th –– because Christmas always needs vampires.
With posters adorning the walls outside Caesar’s Palace forum, tulips in all the cupholders and light up green lanyards handed out before the presentation, Jon M. Chu’s big adaptation of the hit stage musical is a two-part gamble on the largest scale.
Jeff Goldblum’s giant golden head kicks things off on screen… and he steps out (from behind the curtain, as befits the Wizard of Oz) to enthuse in true Goldblumian style how “dreamy” the making of the movie was –– practical sets and all.
Producer Marc Platt and director Chu are up next, who in turn introduce members of the cast (including Michelle Yeoh, who chides her ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ and ‘Wicked’ director for always casting her as “mean” characters.
The last to take the stare are stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, who talk about how much the movie(s) mean to them.
Footage from the film encompassed snatches from several of the musical’s big tunes, including ‘Popular’ and act one show-stopper ‘Defying Gravity’. It ends with Erivo’s Elphaba (who will become known as the Wicked Witch of the West) claiming her broomstick. “You can do this, you can do anything,” Grande’s Glinda tells her. “I’m not afraid,” Elphaba replies, “It’s the wizard who should be afraid of me….”
Oh, and we learned that Peter Dinklage is in the movie as the voice of Dr. Dillamond, a goat professor at the show’s Shiz University who befriends Elphaba.
What was shown was certainly impressive and bodes well for fan expectations.
‘Wicked’ is flying into theaters in those two parts –– the first on November 27th this year, followed by the second on November 26th, 2025.
But perhaps that should be orchestra, as Yeoh is joining the cast of Chu’s two movies based on the Broadway musical ‘Wicked’.
The story, which views the characters and story of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ through a new perspective, originated with Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel.
Maguire’s book, and the stage show created by writer Winnie Holzman and composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz that adapts it, takes place before and during the time Dorothy lands in Oz. The main focus is on young witches Galinda (who will go on to be known as Glinda the Good) and Elphaba, fated to be called the Wicked Witch of the West.
Elphaba comes from a troubled home and, with her deep green complexion is treated as something of an outsider at Shiz University. Yet she forms an unlikely – and, initially, unwilling – friendship with Galinda, the most popular girl at the college.
Together, they chart very different journeys through the land of Oz, which is changing all around them. Animals, once sentient and important members of society, are reduced to basic creatures. The small-statured Munchkins are steadily being more oppressed.
‘Wicked’ Broadway Musical Poster.
Galinda rises in popularity and political influence, but Elphaba, who speaks out against what is happening, is shunned and, when she shows her true magical powers, hated.
Ariana Grande is playing Glinda, while Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba. ‘Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey, meanwhile, will be Fieryo. The Big Man on campus at Shiz, he’s a party animal who prefers having a good time to thinking and gets engaged to Glinda. But his true feelings for Elphaba surface and he helps her to escape, ending up captured by the Wizard’s guards, and tortured. A spell Elphaba casts to try to save him instead—spoiler alert!—transforms him into the scarecrow we know from the movie.
More recently, Jeff Goldblum entered talks to play the Wizard who (spoiler alert again if you haven’t seen the stage show, read the book or seen the movie is revealed to be Oscar Zoroaster Diggs, a very human conman who uses trickery and machinery to rule the city of Oz and control people. While it felt like a perfect match, he has yet to lock in a deal. And more recently, Broadway veteran Ethan Slater won the role of Boq, who falls for Elphaba’s sister, Nessarose.
Variety reports that Yeoh will play Madame Morrible, the headmistress of Crage Hall at Shiz University, who hitches her wagon to Glinda when the young witch becomes more politically powerful.
It’s been a good year for Yeoh, especially thanks to the awards attention she’s getting for her performance in ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’.
The two ‘Wicked’ movies are currently scheduled to land in theaters around Christmas in 2024 and 2025.
Michelle Yeoh as Scian in Netflix’s ‘‘The Witcher: Blood Origin.’
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Jeff Goldblum as Grandmaster in Marvel Studios’ ‘Thor: Ragnarok.’
Here’s some wonderful news for fans of both ‘Wicked’ and quirksome actor Jeff Goldblum.
The man who is known for his work on movies such as ‘The Fly’, ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘Independence Day’ among many others, is bringing his talents to the two ‘Wicked’ movies that Jon M. Chu is conjuring up based on the highly successful Broadway stage show, itself adapted from Gregory Maguire’s bestselling novel reimagining the 1947 movie ‘The Wizard of Oz’.
Variety is reporting that Goldblum will be taking the role of the Wizard of Oz, who (spoiler alert if you haven’t seen the stage show, read the book or seen the movie is revealed to be Oscar Zoroaster Diggs, a very human conman who uses trickery and machinery to rule the city of Oz and control people.
Maguire’s book, and the stage show created by writer Winnie Holzman and composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz, takes place before and during the time Dorothy lands in Oz. The main focus is on young witches Galinda (who will go on to be known as Glinda the Good) and Elphaba, fated to be called the Wicked Witch of the West.
Elphaba comes from a troubled home and, with her deep green complexion is treated as something of an outsider at Shiz University. Yet she forms an unlikely – and, initially, unwilling – friendship with Galinda, the most popular girl at the college.
‘Wicked’ Broadway Musical Poster.
Together, they chart very different journeys through the land of Oz, which is changing all around them. Animals, once sentient and important members of society, are reduced to basic creatures. The small-statured Munchkins are steadily being more oppressed.
Galinda rises in popularity and political influence, but Elphaba, who speaks out against what is happening, is shunned and, when she shows her true magical powers, hated.
Chu is directing the two movies – while one was planned originally, he and the creative team (which includes Holzman and Schwartz) have realized they need two to do the story justice. “We decided to give ourselves a bigger canvas and make not just one ‘Wicked’ movie but two!” Chu wrote in a statement as part of the announcement. “With more space, we can tell the story of ‘Wicked’ as it was meant to be told while bringing even more depth and surprise to the journeys for these beloved characters.”
Ariana Grande is playing Glinda, while Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba. ‘Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey, meanwhile, will be Fieryo. The Big Man on campus at Shizz, he’s a party animal who prefers having a good time to thinking and gets engaged to Glinda. But his true feelings for Elphaba surface and he helps her to escape, ending up captured by the Wizard’s guards, and tortured. A spell Elphaba casts to try to save him instead — spoiler alert! — transforms him into the scarecrow we know from the movie.
The two movies are set to be released at Christmas in 2024 and 2025.
Jeff Goldblum as Dr. Ian Malcolm in director Steven Spielberg’s ‘Jurassic Park.’
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Something “Wicked” will come this way around Christmas 2021.
Universal has set a new release date for the film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical: Wednesday, December 22, 2021.
Originally, “Wicked” had been slated for Dec. 20, 2019, but Tom Hooper’s “Cats” movie took over that date.
Stephen Daldry (“Billy Elliot,” “The Crown”) is set to direct from the book by Winnie Holzman and music by Stephen Schwartz.
“Wicked,” which originated as a novel by Gregory Maguire, tells the story of the witches of Oz before and after Dorothy drops in. It centers on the unlikely friendship and later rivalry between Elphaba (eventually the Wicked Witch of the West) and Galinda (who becomes Glinda the Good Witch).
The popular musical has had an unbroken Broadway run since premiering in 2003. This year, it jumped over “A Chorus Line” to become Broadway’s sixth-longest running show.
The new release date pits “Wicked” against “Avatar 3,” an untitled Disney live-action film, and an untitled Warner Bros. animated movie over the five-day holiday weekend.
Universal gave “Cats” the December 20, 2019 release date that originally belonged to the “Wicked” movie.
“Wicked” now goes back to waiting for a release date, which is familiar territory since it took 12 years for the Broadway smash hit to get that date in the first place.
“Wicked” stage musical lyricist-composer Stephen Schwartz told The Hollywood Reporter that December 2019 was “always a fake date” anyway, since “there wasn’t a prayer in hell” they’d have a movie ready to go by then.
However, he said they are making good progress on the script, which has gone through a few drafts. Schwartz told THR he and writer Winnie Holzman were about to go back to work on the most recent draft.
“I will tell you 100 percent there will be a movie of ‘Wicked’ and it won’t be that far away but it won’t be next year because we’re still writing. Pre-production hasn’t even begun but that could start in the not-too-distant future.”
Since they are still working on the script, it’s too soon to know who might be cast in the main roles. But here’s hoping we hear something about “Wicked” by 2020, otherwise it might just melt away.
