Upcoming film version of WICKED (for real, hopefully)

I know it's been in Development Hell for years, but this clip is another reason to speculate that a WICKED film is coming in 2014.

I personally find that date unrealistic, because translating the awesomeness of Elphaba flying from stage to screen is going to need KILLER special effects. It's going to need genuine, well-done 3D as opposed to "here's some 3d glasses for X more dollars." You can't do that in a few months.

Then there's how Idina and Kristen are too old to play college students anymore, so there's obvious speculation about Lea Michele.

I'm going against most people's opinions and saying they probably shouldn't. One, Lea's character type doesn't fit Elphaba. Elphaba is the snarky, Anti-Villainous Caretaker, but Lea's played Wendla the ingenue and Rachel the fake-ingenue/Insufferable Genius. (Although if she could turn the Insufferable Genius part of Rachel INTO Deadpan Snarker, that might just be awesome.)

Unfortunately, Lea is also busy with Glee. And I feel that no matter how awesome she'd be as Elphaba, asking Lea to play a woman whose boyfriend died would be really insensitive due to that sticky matter of Cory Monteith dying.

And somehow I heard speculations of Anne Hathaway playing Elphaba. I could definitely see her as Glinda after a dye-job, but most people imply that she'd be Elphaba for... some reason? I think it's because she's the first "musical" actress that people think of.

But Anne being Elphaba just doesn't work, because her voice is too pretty for it. Also, I'm not sure if she can belt for Elphaba.

Really, do they even NEED star names? The very notion that a film of Wicked might actually be produced (for real this time!) is making everyone froth at the mouth. (I loved Oz The Great And Powerful, but it doesn't have the same place in my heart as Wicked.)

So, casting/plot/other discussion commence! I personally feel that Hollywood needs to suck it up and hold proper auditions, because they don't have enough singers anyway. Trying to fit all their current "former musical actor" stars into Wicked has a really high chance of miscasting at best, and ruining the movie at worst.

And if Stephen Schwartz is on the project as people say, he would definitely know how to cast a musical.

Plus, it's not like this is an obscure, little-known musical—people will KILL to be Elphaba or Glinda.

...Me included.

Also, Meryl Streep should be in it somehow. Meryl as Madame Morrible, anyone?

edited 6th Sep '13 12:43:52 PM by Sharysa

If they were moving forward with it with the intent to release it next year, we would have heard about it by now.

I wouldn't see it anyway. The only thing I like about the musical is the songs, and only when heard out of context.

Samantha Barks should play Elphaba.

Mort: Thanks for your opinion, but I have to wonder why you'd respond to a thread about Wicked if you only like the songs.

Kalel 94: I don't really know enough about her. She did a great job covering Defying Gravity, but type-wise, she just doesn't feel enough like Elphaba for me.

My sister said that the whole "WICKED BY 2014" business is unclear anyway—maybe it means they'll START PRODUCTION in 2014? Because in addition to all the logistic problems I mentioned, there's also the potential that they've been keeping things secret. But it's just too vague and most of what I've found is hearsay.

Keeping this kind of thing secret is going to do the OPPOSITE of making people happy when it comes out. Secretive auditions would be missing out on a LOT of casting potential (they'd pretty much have to keep the audition pool small to avoid info leaks), secretive production would mean they have to somehow keep all the actors from leaking information somehow, and no/little advertising would most likely piss off at least some of the fanbase.

The whole "It's a surprise present to the fans!" possibility would only have worked if we hadn't been waiting YEARS for it already.

edited 6th Sep '13 1:08:03 PM by Sharysa