‘Wicked’ is perhaps best known as a highly successful stage musical that takes place in the world of ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ by L. Frank Baum. Now the musical will be gracing the silver screen in a two-part movie, with a number of A-List actors joining the cast.
After Grammy-winning singer Ariana Grande, Tony-winning actress Cynthia Erivo, and Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh signed on to the movie, Jeff Goldblum confirmed his participation in the movie as The Wizard of Oz himself.
Goldblum invited his children onto the set of ‘Wicked’
Goldblum confirmed his upcoming role in a recent appearance on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ after it was previously speculated that he would sign on to the movie.
“I was just on this set of Wicked. I’m not supposed to talk about that, but it’s been out and about,” the actor said on the late-night show. The actor explained that he had brought his kids to the set of the anticipated movie.
“You should see our witches, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, very good,” he added.
Both Erivo and Grande were cast in the movie back in November 2021. Erivo is playing the wicked witch of the west, Elphaba Thropp, with Grande playing Glinda Upland.
Goldblum then talked about his childhood fear of witches, caused by a nightmare he had as a child. Memories of the nightmare resurfaced while filming the movie.
“I shouldn’t talk about it, but I was shooting one day, and I found myself tearing up in fear, a childhood fear came back to me,” he began.
He told co-star Cynthia Erivo about his childhood nightmare while on set.
“I was tied to a tree stump, and a witch, ‘cause I’d seen ‘Snow White’ I think also with a very scary Queen witch, had tied me to a tree stump and I thought [she] was going to chop off my head, I must have been four or something like that.”
When will ‘Wicked’ be released?
The upcoming movie adaptation of the ‘Wicked’ musical is set to be released in two parts. Part one will be released in 2024 before the holiday season on November 27. Part two is slated to be released sometime in 2025. The movie is being directed by Jon M. Chu, well-known for directing ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ in 2018.
Joining Erivo and Grande is Jonathan Bailey, of ‘Bridgerton’ fame, who will be playing Fiyero, Elphaba’s love interest. Michelle Yeoh, fresh off her Oscar win, will be playing Madame Morrible.
