Wicked (2024)

[tv echo]

This is interesting...

"I Cared Too Much This Time": These 13 Celebs Auditioned For "Wicked," And Some Of These Stories Are Kinda Emotional
by Lauren Garafano   Dec 4, 2024
https://www.buzzfeed.com/laurengarafano/celebs-who-auditioned-for-wicked

Auditioned for:

• Elphaba - Cristin Milioti, Phylicia Peral Mpasi (also, Lady Gaga was reportedly cast in a proposed 2016 film version to be directed by Stephen Daldry before Daldry dropped out)
• Glinda - Amanda Seyfried, Dove Cameron, Renée Rapp
• Undisclosed (likely Glinda) - Taylor Louderman
• Fiyero - Shawn Mendes, Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas, Ryan McCartan, Spencer Sutherland 

Edited December 12, 2024 by tv echo

[Keywestclubkid]

13 hours ago, meep.meep said:

For award consideration, that's pretty common.  Keeps the two actors from competing against each other directly.  Grande has almost no acting experience and Erivo has lots.

plus it is more the "Wicked" witches story ...

[Spartan Girl]

33 minutes ago, tv echo said:

This is interesting...

"I Cared Too Much This Time": These 13 Celebs Auditioned For "Wicked," And Some Of These Stories Are Kinda Emotional
by Lauren Garafano   Dec 4, 2024
https://www.buzzfeed.com/laurengarafano/celebs-who-auditioned-for-wicked

Auditioned for:

• Elphaba - Cristin Milioti, Phylicia Peral Mpasi (also, Lady Gaga was reportedly cast in a proposed 2016 film version to be directed by Stephen Daldry before Daldry dropped out)
• Glinda - Amanda Seyfried, Dove Cameron, Renée Rapp
• Undisclosed (likely Glinda) - Taylor Louderman
• Fiyero - Shawn Mendes, Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas, Ryan McCartan, Spencer Sutherland 

Amanda or Dave Cameron could’ve worked just fine, but the Jonas Brothers? No.

[Kel Varnsen]

1 hour ago, tv echo said:

This is interesting...

"I Cared Too Much This Time": These 13 Celebs Auditioned For "Wicked," And Some Of These Stories Are Kinda Emotional
by Lauren Garafano   Dec 4, 2024
https://www.buzzfeed.com/laurengarafano/celebs-who-auditioned-for-wicked

Auditioned for:

• Elphaba - Cristin Milioti, Phylicia Peral Mpasi (also, Lady Gaga was reportedly cast in a proposed 2016 film version to be directed by Stephen Daldry before Daldry dropped out)

Cristin Milioti, would have probably been awesome, because she is awesome in everything. But playing Elphaba might have meant missing out on being in The Penguin, which is a net loss for me as a viewer.

[tv echo]

Critics Choice Awards Nominations: ‘Conclave’ and ‘Wicked’ Lead With 11 Nods Each
By Clayton Davis   Dec 12, 2024
https://variety.com/2024/film/awards/critics-choice-nominations-2024-1236246782/ 

Quote

The 30th annual Critics Choice Awards will be broadcast live on E! on Jan. 12, 2025, at 7 p.m. ET, with Chelsea Handler returning to host the show. The show will be available to stream the next day on Peacock. Before the main event, E! will host a special one-hour red carpet pre-show.
*  *  *
BEST PICTURE 
“A Complete Unknown”
“Anora”
“The Brutalist” 
“Conclave”
“Dune: Part Two” 
“Emilia Pérez” 
“Nickel Boys” 
“Sing Sing”
“The Substance”
“Wicked”
*  *  *
BEST ACTRESS 
Cynthia Erivo – “Wicked” 
Karla Sofía Gascón – “Emilia Pérez”
Marianne Jean-Baptiste – “Hard Truths” 
Angelina Jolie – “Maria” 
Mikey Madison – “Anora” 
Demi Moore – “The Substance” 
*  *  *
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS 
Danielle Deadwyler – “The Piano Lesson” 
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor – “Nickel Boys”
Ariana Grande – “Wicked” 
Margaret Qualley – “The Substance” 
Isabella Rossellini – “Conclave” 
Zoe Saldaña – “Emilia Pérez” 
*  *  *
BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE 
“Anora” 
“Conclave” 
“Emilia Pérez” 
“Saturday Night” 
“Sing Sing” 
“Wicked” 

BEST DIRECTOR 
Jacques Audiard – “Emilia Pérez” 
Sean Baker – “Anora” 
Edward Berger – “Conclave” 
Brady Corbet – “The Brutalist” 
Jon M. Chu – “Wicked” 
Coralie Fargeat – “The Substance”
RaMell Ross – “Nickel Boys”
Denis Villeneuve – “Dune: Part Two” 
*  *  *
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY 
Jacques Audiard – “Emilia Pérez” 
Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox – “Wicked”
Greg Kwedar, Clint Bentley – “Sing Sing”
RaMell Ross & Joslyn Barnes – “Nickel Boys” 
Peter Straughan – “Conclave”
Denis Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts – “Dune: Part Two” 

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY 
Jarin Blaschke – “Nosferatu”  
Alice Brooks – “Wicked” 
Lol Crawley – “The Brutalist”  
Stéphane Fontaine – “Conclave”  
Greig Fraser – “Dune: Part Two”  
Jomo Fray – “Nickel Boys”  

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN 
Judy Becker, Patricia Cuccia – “The Brutalist” 
Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales – “Wicked” 
Suzie Davies – “Conclave” 
Craig Lathrop – “Nosferatu”  
Arthur Max, Jille Azis, Elli Griff – “Gladiator II”  
Patrice Vermette, Shane Vieau – “Dune: Part Two”
*  *  *
BEST COSTUME DESIGN 
Lisy Christl – “Conclave”  
Linda Muir – “Nosferatu”  
Massimo Cantini Parrini – “Maria”  
Paul Tazewell – “Wicked”  
Jacqueline West – “Dune: Part Two”  
Janty Yates, Dave Crossman – “Gladiator II” 

BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP 
Christine Blundell, Lesa Warrener, Neal Scanlan – “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”
Hair and Makeup Team – “Dune: Part Two”
Hair and Makeup Team – “The Substance”  
Frances Hannon, Sarah Nuth, Laura Blount – “Wicked”  
Traci Loader, Suzanne Stokes-Munton, David White – “Nosferatu”  
Mike Marino, Sarah Graalman, Aaron Saucier – “A Different Man”  

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS 
Mark Bakowski, Pietro Ponti, Nikki Penny, Neil Corbould – “Gladiator II”  
Pablo Helman, Jonathan Fawkner, Paul Corbould, David Shirk – “Wicked”  
Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, Gerd Nefzer – “Dune: Part Two” 
Luke Millar, David Clayton, Keith Herft, Peter Stubbs – “Better Man”  
Visual Effects Team – “The Substance”  
Erik Winquist, Stephen Unterfranz, Paul Story, Rodney Burke – “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” 

Edited December 13, 2024 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Wicked got a Costume Designers Guild Award nomination...

‘Emilia Pérez,’ ‘Gladiator II,’ ‘Wicked’ Among Costume Designers Guild Awards Nominees
By Hilary Lewis   December 13, 2024
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2025-costume-designers-guild-awards-nominations-nominees-list-1236086199/

Quote

Winners will be revealed at the 27th Costume Designers Guild Awards, set for Feb. 6, 2025 at The Ebell of Los Angeles.
*  *  *
Excellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice – Colleen Atwood, CDG
Borderlands – Daniel Orlandi, CDG
Dune: Part Two – Jacqueline West, CDG
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga – Jenny Beavan, CDG
Wicked – Paul Tazewell, CDG

[Hanahope]

On 12/11/2024 at 7:49 PM, meep.meep said:

Grande has almost no acting experience and Erivo has lots.

you might quibble over the quality of Grande's acting, but she has been acting since at least 2010.  so that is more than "almost no acting experience" in my book.  I remember her from Victorious (because i have kids).  

Edited December 17, 2024 by Hanahope

[Kel Varnsen]

13 hours ago, Hanahope said:

you might quibble over the quality of Grande's acting, but she has been acting since at least 2010.  so that is more than "almost no acting experience" in my book.  I remember her from Victorious (because i have kids).  

My kids used to watch those shows. And as dumb as they were I imagine they were boot camp for actors since they probably learn a ton. I just looked it up and Grande did 92 episodes of Victorious and Sam & Cat in like 4 years. I am just glad she didn't do that super annoying voice from those shows in Wicked.

[tv echo]

Wicked got a nomination for a Casting Society of America's Artios Award (winners will be announced on Feb 12)...

‘Wicked,’ ‘A Complete Unknown,’ ‘Gladiator 2’ Lead 2025 Artios Awards Nominations
By Jazz Tangcay   Dec 17, 2024
https://variety.com/2024/artisans/news/casting-society-artios-awards-nominations-2025-1236251518/ 

Quote

FEATURE: BIG BUDGET: COMEDY

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”: Sophie Holland. Location Casting Directors: Angela Peri, Lisa Lobel. Location Associate Casting Director: Melissa Morris

“Challengers”: Francine Maisler. Associate Casting Director: Molly Rose

“Deadpool and Wolverine”: Sarah Halley Finn. Associate Casting Directors: Jacqueline Gallagher, Jordyn Gregory. Location Casting Directors: Lucy Bevan, Emily Brockmann. Location Associate Casting Director: Katie Brydon

“Nightbitch”: Douglas Aibel. Associate Casting Director: Matthew Glasner

“Saturday Night”: John Papsidera

“Wicked: PartI”: Bernard Telsey, Tiffany Little Canfield. Associate Casting Director: Ryan Bernard Tymensky. Location Casting Director: Tamsyn Manson

Edited December 18, 2024 by tv echo

[Keywestclubkid]

I hate that Ari gets shit on like she hasn’t been around and acting before she was known as a singer .. she was a HUGE theatre kid/nerd .. no one handed these parts to either woman .. they have both paid their dues and worked for these roles .. hell Ari did more vocal lessons and acting lessons waaaaybefore in hopes of getting and being prepared for THIS audition before there was even whispers of them .. like she worked her ass off just like Cynthia 

Edited December 22, 2024 by Keywestclubkid

[tv echo]

I only just saw this and thought it was funny (apologies if you're a fan of any of the names mentioned)...

Wicked Auditions - SNL
Saturday Night Live   Nov. 17, 2024

[Keywestclubkid]

 

[Keywestclubkid]

 

[tennisgurl]

I have been so ready to see this, following the press tour/behind the scenes theater kid drama surrounding this movie has been a real guilty pleasure for me, and I was honestly super impressed by the final product. I was one of the people rolling my eyes at the idea of a play that isn't even three hours total getting the two movie treatment and the first movie being three hours long, but having seen it I think they made a good call. They could really give every song its big moment, every character gets some good scenes, and they could spend a lot of time on world building and showing off all of those gorgeous sets. 

I think that everyone, especially Cynthia, Jonathan, and Arianna, did great work, I personally thought that Cynthia crushed her big song. The choreography was also really good, they made great use of the colorful magic/steampunk sets in how songs were performed.

I feel like the next movie will be a lot shorter, its a shorter part of the play and you don't have to do as much set up with the characters and introducing Oz. But if its five hours long, I suppose I'll be there too. I enjoyed the amount of foreshadowing and how you can see the seeds being planted that will end up paying off in the second act/movie, so much chaos all because of a few really eventful weeks after freshman orientation! 

I knew right away that Jeff Goldblum was going to be a great choice for the wizard, he's got that fast talking con man thing totally down mixed with that delightful eccentricity we all know and love. I really liked the touch where in the play where the Emerald City Players tell the wizards backstory and you see him "reading" the magic book, you can hear that he's chanting "Omaha" over and over, which of course the Ozians had no idea what that was, but foreshadows (for the three people that don't know) that he's both making shit up and he's actually from "our" world. Speaking of, I loved getting to see Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth get to do some singing!

Edited December 31, 2024 by tennisgurl

[Slovenly Muse]

Just saw it, and, well, to start with, I have such a frustrating experience of this whole property. I feel like I SHOULD be the audience for it, being a musical theatre nerd, but I'm somehow not! I love the concept, but I read the book when it first came out, which was so long ago that I don't really remember anything about it other than I HATED it. I was a teenager at the time, and it was actually the first book I remember finishing and being angry at how disappointed I was in the execution of its concept. I heard the musical improved on the book, but I've never had the opportunity to see it, but I've also heard that the movie is a solid adaptation of the musical... Which I guess brings me to the movie.

It was fun! I had a good time. The actors were all fine-to-good, but Cynthia Erivo especially blew me away. I didn't feel like it was too long or had too much filler, but the story felt weirdly thin. Like, Ariana Grande did a great job with Galinda, but I didn't feel like there was much TO that character. I felt like I really "got" her fake-nice Regina George vibe right away, and got a bit impatient with the amount of time spent reinforcing what we already knew about her. She had a lot of songs, but she didn't really have much of an arc or inner journey, you know what I mean? Meanwhile, almost NO character development or focus was given to Fiyero and even less to Nessa (crossing my fingers for more in part 2), and the whole conflict with the animals was so vague! Why did people want to stop the animals from talking? What were they afraid of specifically? What problems was Oz experiencing that the wizard was blaming on the animals? (How had they never invented cages before? Are ALL animals sentient? What do the people eat? What do the ANIMALS eat? Some of them are carnivorous!) It all felt very hand-wavy.

(Aside: That goat professor was totally trolling Galinda, right? He had NO problem pronouncing any other words with similar sounds. He was doing it on purpose, right?)

On 12/10/2024 at 12:36 PM, Shannon L. said:

I haven't, personally, seen anyone talk about Madame Morrible.  What she did was even worse than what the Wizard did.  Her words when she made an announcement regarding Elpheba were evil and the director even set the scene up to be the really dramatic (slow motion, the dark, foreboding score, M. Morrible walking right at the camera with serious look on her face).  It was pointed out to me that she couldn't have done it without the Wizard having already manipulated the citizens first over the course of many years, which makes sense, but if you want to look deeper into the story and discuss the possible allegories, you can't not think about what she did.  She has to be included in the discussion and, like I said, I have yet to see her included in any meaningful way. 

Thank you! Morrible was the other character I thought was wildly underserved. Why was she helping the wizard when she knew he was powerless? Why was she (I assume) doing magic on his behalf when she was more powerful than he was? She knew Elphaba felt strongly about the plight of the animals, and clearly informed the Wizard about this ahead of time (he seemed to expect her request), but then they were immediately upfront with her that yes, they were persecuting the animals unfairly simply to give the people something to be mad at, and didn't seem to have much of a plan for how to get her on board with their vision... it all just felt a bit underbaked. That said, it wasn't badly done! I wasn't mad at it, it just could have been meatier.

I kind of felt the same about the visuals. They were creative and interesting, the costumes especially were beautiful, but everything was a bit TOO neat and bright and colourful, and the world didn't really feel lived-in. I know a lot of the effects and sets were practical (all those real tulips, for example), but the overall look was too shiny and clean, and it ended up looking more plastic than the Barbie movie somehow. (And then the bad CGI thrown in at times - Elphaba's giant flapping cape drove me to distraction with how fake it looked all through Defying Gravity.) I wasn't surprised when I saw the visual effects were done by Industrial Light & Magic. That's how they felt: Industrial. There was some human messiness and warmth missing from that intensely polished final look. But again, having said that, I still enjoyed it!

I don't know. I feel like I'm doomed to always want more from this concept than its iterations will give me. Maybe the Broadway show is the sweet spot, and it's just my luck that I'll probably never see it (big shows like that don't really come to my area). In any case, I'll definitely watch part 2 when it comes out, and I AM looking forward to seeing where it all goes! Glad fans of the show seem to be enjoying it! If it can make its intended audience happy, then I guess it's doing it right.

[Spartan Girl]

Saw it for the second time and despite having been out for a month and moved to the smaller auditorium, it was still packed.

I’ve only just realized that Fiyero’s lanky limbed fancy footwork in “Dancing Through Life” greatly resembles

Spoiler

The Scarcrow’s! Nice foreshadowing, choreographers! Well played!

 

[Keywestclubkid]

20 hours ago, Spartan Girl said:

Saw it for the second time and despite having been out for a month and moved to the smaller auditorium, it was still packed.

I’ve only just realized that Fiyero’s lanky limbed fancy footwork in “Dancing Through Life” greatly resembles

  Reveal spoiler

The Scarcrow’s! Nice foreshadowing, choreographers! Well played!

 

that and Glinda's hes been thinking .. lol

[Mrsmaul2021]

I finally saw it. I liked it, didn't love it. Never saw the play, so I can't compare. I didn't feel any of he performances were anything special. They did a nice job, nothing award worthy.  I found the songs sadly, forgettable. I liked Defying Gravity. Overall it kept my interest and I think people whom never watched it will enjoy. 

[heatherchandler]

On 11/25/2024 at 7:31 PM, PurpleTentacle said:

Cynthia Erivo on the other hand... The acting was very uneven. In some scenes it was actually really good, in others pretty bad.

I have to agree.

Also, she looks too old, IMO.  

[Slovenly Muse]

1 hour ago, heatherchandler said:

I have to agree.

Also, she looks too old, IMO.  

To be fair, pretty much the entire cast was made up of people in their mid-to-late 30s playing college freshmen. EVERYONE looked too old. Boq especially made me wonder how long he had been there, trying to graduate. (He's actually YOUNGER than Jonathan Bailey, but does not look it!) Nessarose was the youngest actor playing a student (24), and she's the only one who looked age-appropriate! Cynthia Erivo is the oldest of the cast of students (37: one year older than Jonathan Bailey), and I actually thought she did the most convincing job of playing younger, with the reserved naivete of someone who's been too sheltered for too long. Plus, her character is SUPPOSED to be a bit older, since it's her younger sister starting school. Galinda, Boq, Bowen Yang's character, etc, are all supposed to be Nessa's age. (And Fiyero too, I guess, since he's in their same classes? Unclear.)

Basically, disbelief is suspended all over the place in this movie (much like the way the school dress code is suspended for exactly five students while everyone else is in uniform). If you worry too much about it, the whole thing unravels!

(And for what it's worth, while everyone did a good job, I though Cynthia Erivo was acting circles around the rest of the cast. Even being hampered by having to emote through a bunch of green paint, she underplayed things very effectively to appear guarded, reserved, protecting herself from rejection or ridicule, but then pulled it out at exactly the right moment to let us see what was happening under the surface. She had great screen presence. I thought she was brilliant.)

[Spartan Girl]

If I had a nickel for every time I had to suspend disbelief about age in movies, I’d be rich. So that didn’t bother me in the slightest—and I didn’t think they looked that old.

Anyway, TV Tropes pointed out that Idina’s cameo and doing her riff served more purpose than just a little “pass the torch” Easter egg. Idina’s riff was deliberately sung in the Wizomania show when she and the players are explaining the prophecy about someone arriving in Oz that can read the Grimmerie. Everyone thinks it’s the Wizard, but as Elphaba later finds out he was faking it the whole time. But she can read the Grimmerie and it turns out that this is Oz’s darkest hour (with Morrible and the Wizard victimizing animals for propaganda).

So at the end of the Defying Gravity, right when she locks eyes with the Wizard, she lets loose that same riff—her own personal fuck-you to him: “I’m the one with the power, the prophecy is on my side.” 

Once again, well played.

Edited January 3 by Spartan Girl

[arc]

On 1/2/2025 at 3:43 PM, Slovenly Muse said:

much like the way the school dress code is suspended for exactly five students while everyone else is in uniform

This bothered me so much!

[tv echo]

Amazon (US) is showing a 4k/blu-ray/dvd release date for this movie of Feb. 4, 2025...

https://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Ultra-Blu-ray-Digital-UHD/dp/B0DNLMFDX7/ 

Edited January 4 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Part 2 is called Wicked: For Good...

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Tell All on ‘Wicked’ Oscar Buzz, Queer Glinda, That Viral Press Tour and What to Expect From Part 2
By Daniel D'Addario   Jan 2, 2025
https://variety.com/2025/film/news/ariana-grande-cynthia-erivo-wicked-oscar-buzz-queer-glinda-part-2-1236261951/ 

Quote

... With $600 million and counting at the global box office, four Golden Globe nominations, a path to potential Oscar glory and a sequel, “Wicked: For Good,” looming on the horizon, “Wicked” has done for its witchy shade of green what “Barbie” did for Mattel stiletto pink. It’s leveraged a familiar property, put it in front of underserved female audiences and watched as the world discovered its story in a whole new light.  
*  *  *
Take the tabloid rumor that Grande got paid more than Erivo — much more. Not so. 

“We went through our contracts together,” Grande says, “and called each other up. ‘Did you see that? What do you think about that? Let’s get it together!’” 

Universal Pictures, which distributed “Wicked,” made the unusual decision of issuing a statement in November to clarify that the actors received equal pay for the films. “This is a modern production,” Chu elaborates, sitting next to Grande and Erivo in a stylish black suit. “This is what Hollywood should reflect. These are co-CEOs of ‘Wicked,’ Inc.” 

“We both went through it — ‘What number are we doing? How do you feel about that?’ We were really fucking honest,” Erivo says. “And that’s really rare. People don’t do that.”  

“We’re very different, but when we’re doing something like this together, her needs become my needs,” Grande says.  

Erivo, not breaking Grande’s gaze, replies, “And her needs become mine.” 
*  *  *
... And for Erivo, Elphaba represented a sort of overcoming. Erivo found the Ozdust Ballroom sequence, in which Elphaba walks into a party only to realize that she is being mocked and treated as a pariah, especially cathartic. “I was talking to a friend earlier this week,” she says, “and he was like, ‘I just want to confirm for you that you were bullied.’ This moment gave me the opportunity to revisit, process, feel it again and share it.”  

Later in our conversation, Grande brings the sequence up again, when describing the film-opening flash-forward sequence in which Galinda, now reigning as Glinda the Good Witch, sets fire to an effigy of Elphaba. “Much like how hard the Ozdust felt for you, that’s how it felt to light you on fire a million times in a row!”

Spoiler

The sequence was shot after “For Good,” the fan-favorite song that closes the sequel and gives it its name. In it, Elphaba and Galinda profess their undying friendship;

suffice it to say that Grande found the notion of treating her co-star with violent hostility an acting challenge. She now says the only thing that got her through lighting Elphaba up, time and again, was Chu’s whispered encouragement to “be strong.” 
*  *  *
However, Grande, a gay icon since she broke out as a pop star, embroidered an element onto the story that isn’t in the text; she’s said that she thinks Galinda is a bit queer. Asked to elaborate, she explains: “I think she’s a person who loves so much, and I do think that it goes beyond gender, and I think that’s a common theme in Oz. I also think that the ways in which she loves Elphaba so much, and that forgiveness and that unconditional love that they share — I think they’re in love with each other. I know, yes, it’s platonic …” She cuts herself off before she can say too much; this many press engagements in, she knows the game. “But we’ll talk about it more in depth in movie two.” 
*  *  *
The original “Wicked” put forward both of its actresses as leads for the Tonys; Menzel, playing Elphaba, won the prize. For the film, Grande is running in the supporting actress category. “I’m just honored to have been that support for Cynthia’s performance, and to be able to be a part of this,” she says. “That’s how I feel.” She turns to address Erivo. “The supporting character, actor, friend, sister to what you have done in this film, which is otherworldly.”  

The Biggest Revelations From Wicked’s Deleted Scenes: Character Backstories and Teases for Part 2
By Paige Strout  January 2, 2025
https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/wicked-part-one-deleted-scenes-explained/ 

Quote

While Elphaba and Glinda become besties after making amends at the Ozdust Ballroom, a deleted scene of them studying in Madame Morrible’s (Michelle Yeoh) classroom offers insight into how their relationship will be put to the test heading into Wicked: For Good.

“Didn’t expect magic to be so hard,” Glinda states after failing to levitate a coin. Pointing out differences in their upbringings, Elphaba replies: “Maybe it’s harder for you to make magic because things have been kind of easy for you. So you don’t need it.”

Changing the topic, Glinda asks Elphaba why she chose Fiyero to help her rescue the lion cub instead of her. “I would’ve helped you,” she says. “If you needed someone, you could’ve picked me.”

Sensing Glinda’s upset — and likely trying to hide her true feelings for Fiyero — Elphaba apologizes. “I’m sorry. It was a mistake,” she states. “I won’t leave you behind again.”

The moment leads into the scene in which Elphaba’s invitation to the Emerald City from The Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) arrives at Shiz and previews Elphaba inviting Glinda to join her in Oz.

Edited January 5 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Wicked won the Golden Globe award for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement (but lost the Best Motion Picture: Musical or Comedy award to Emilia Pérez)...

Golden Globes 2025 Winners: ‘Emilia Pérez’ Leads With 4 Wins; ‘Shogun’ Tops TV With 4
By Brent Lang, Jordan Moreau   Jan 5, 2025
https://variety.com/2025/film/news/golden-globes-2025-winners-emilia-perez-shogun-1236262416/

Quote

CINEMATIC AND BOX OFFICE ACHIEVEMENT
ALIEN: ROMULUS (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE (Warner Bros. Pictures)
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
GLADIATOR II (Paramount Pictures)
INSIDE OUT 2 (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
TWISTERS (Universal Pictures)
WICKED (Universal Pictures) (WINNER)
THE WILD ROBOT (Universal Pictures)

Wicked Wins Cinematic And Box Office Achievement | Golden Globes
CBS   Jan 5, 2025

Why Is Ariana Grande a Supporting Nominee When Her ‘Wicked’ Role Is a Lead?
By Brooks Barnes   Jan 5, 2025
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/05/movies/ariana-grande-wicked-golden-globes-supporting.html 

Quote

As we heard over and over — and over! — during the press tour for “Wicked,” Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were equally important to the movie. Twinsies. (Turn on the tears here.)
*  *  *
So why did the Globes downgrade Grande, who plays Glinda in the film, to the supporting actress category? Shouldn’t she be perkily perched beside Erivo as a best actress nominee?

For a start, Globe voters — unlike their Oscar equivalents — do not have a choice in the matter: Who gets considered for what is dictated by paperwork that studios submit during the nomination process. Universal Pictures submitted Grande in supporting and Erivo in lead.

Universal declined to comment, as did a representative for Grande and Erivo. In these cases, however, the choice is almost always made by the star. If Grande had wanted to run as lead, she would.

“Wicked” the movie is only based on the first half of “Wicked” the play, and Erivo’s Elphaba has a much larger emotional journey in the beginning portion. Grande and Erivo may also not have wanted to be pitted against each other. Splitting into two categories at the Globes gives the actresses a better shot of landing nominations at the coming Academy Awards. (Erivo was previously nominated for a best actress Oscar in 2019 for “Harriet.”)

Edited January 6 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Wicked cast and stunts, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey all got SAG noms...

SAG Awards Nominations: ‘Wicked,’ ‘Shogun’ Lead With Five Nods Each
By Hilary Lewis   January 8, 2025 
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2025-sag-awards-nominations-nominees-list-1236104098/ 

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The 31st annual SAG Awards is set for Sunday, Feb. 23, at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall, with the event streaming live on Netflix at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
*  *  *
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
PAMELA ANDERSON / Shelly – “THE LAST SHOWGIRL”
CYNTHIA ERIVO / Elphaba – “WICKED”
KARLA SOFÍA GASCÓN / Emilia/Manitas – “EMILIA PÉREZ”
MIKEY MADISON / Ani – “ANORA”
DEMI MOORE / Elisabeth – “THE SUBSTANCE”

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
JONATHAN BAILEY / Fiyero – “WICKED”
YURA BORISOV / Igor – “ANORA”
KIERAN CULKIN / Benji Kaplan – “A REAL PAIN”
EDWARD NORTON / Pete Seeger – “A COMPLETE UNKNOWN”
JEREMY STRONG / Roy Cohn – “THE APPRENTICE”

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
MONICA BARBARO / Joan Baez – “A COMPLETE UNKNOWN”
JAMIE LEE CURTIS / Annette – “THE LAST SHOWGIRL”
DANIELLE DEADWYLER / Berniece – “THE PIANO LESSON”
ARIANA GRANDE / Galinda/Glinda – “WICKED”
ZOE SALDAÑA / Rita – “EMILIA PÉREZ”

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN
ANORA
CONCLAVE
EMILIA PÉREZ
WICKED

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
DUNE: PART TWO
THE FALL GUY
GLADIATOR II
WICKED

Edited January 9 by tv echo

[tv echo]

[arc]

The studio and Ariana Grande's PR people should be commended for keeping a tight lid on the whole Grande/Ethan Slater thing during the leadup and first week or so.

[tv echo]

Wicked won best film, best director (Jon M. Chu) and a special award for the collaboration between stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande at the 2025 National Board of Review Awards on Jan 7...

National Board of Review Awards hold space for ‘Wicked’
BY JAKE COYLE   JAN 8, 2025
https://apnews.com/article/nbr-awards-wicked-38bd0414c3a896fd81abd4929fbfb929

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NEW YORK (AP) — Days after “Wicked” went home from the Golden Globes with a single award for box office achievement, the National Board of Review Awards held space for the smash hit musical, celebrating its cast and director in the New York group’s annual gala Tuesday.
*  *  *
The night belonged to Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked.” The musical was the board’s pick for best film and best director for Chu, along with a special award for the creative collaboration of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The two, in back-and-forth remarks, continued their mutual praise of each other.

“Also you’re welcome,” added Grande. “I truly think you would have murdered anyone else.”

“Probably true,” responded Erivo.

Chu, who was introduced by Lin-Manuel Miranda, used the moment to reflect on his yearslong journey with “Wicked,” which will be followed by an already-shot part two due out this November. So lengthy has his time in Oz been that the director noted he had three children during its making, including one born the day of the movie’s premiere
*  *  *
Marc Platt, producer of “Wicked,” spoke about the deeper meanings of the film and having “the courage to speak truth to power especially when that power is manifested by those who come to it by blame or divisiveness.”

Ryan Reynolds Calls Out ‘Different Set of Standards’ for Women in First Public Appearance Amid Lively-Baldoni Legal Battle at National Board of Review Gala
By Michaela Zee   Jan 8, 2025
https://variety.com/2025/film/news/ryan-reynolds-nicole-kidman-wicked-national-board-of-review-gala-1236269691/ 

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Ryan Reynolds stepped out to present the best film award to “Wicked” at the star-studded gala, marking his first public outing since his wife, Blake Lively, filed a formal complaint against her “It Ends With Us” co-star and director, Justin Baldoni.

“‘Wicked’ is indeed wicked. It dares to center two powerful women. It examines a nuanced, complex relationship which has resonated with people for over two decades on stage,” Reynolds said on stage. “Stories about women seem to be held to a different set of standards, and that is to say that they’re often held to the standard women are held to in life. You must be perfect. You must hide your strength. You must shape-shift or placate. But Donna Langley and Universal, they know where and with whom to place their trust, and it paid off in this film.”

With his trademark charm and wit, Reynolds proceeded to playfully roast “Wicked” star Jonathan Bailey, who portrays Fiyero in the musical film.

“I have one note. I think we can all agree that Jonathan Bailey is objectively perfect, perhaps too perfect. Personally, I would have preferred fewer scenes featuring Mr. Bailey,” Reynolds joked. “Being good is great, but being great is bad. You can’t just go around indiscriminately spraying charisma all over an enraptured audience. It might feel nice in the moment, but it could easily destabilize the entire industry.”

Reynolds added, “In short, the H.L.M.S., or Hollywood Leading Man Society, simply cannot sustain the standard or performance this high, and it is in our collective best interest that Jonathan Bailey tone it the fuck down. You’re making us look terrible, I cannot work harder than I already work — and plastic surgery frightens me, Johnny. May I call you Johnny, if you’re here? I don’t give a shit. Let’s just pump the talent breaks or get out of fuck town, OK?”

Edited January 11 by tv echo

[tv echo]

 

[tv echo]

Wicked got an SDSA Award nomination (winners will be announced on Feb. 2)...

SDSA AWARDS FILM 2024 NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED 
January 3, 2025
https://www.setdecorators.org/sites/setdecorators/pdf/SDSA-Awards-Film2024-Nominations-Press1-3-25-v1.pdf 

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Best Achievement in Décor / Design of a Comedy or Musical Feature Film 
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE – Marvel/Walt Disney Studios   
Set Decoration by Naomi Moore & Imogen Lee with Production Design by Raymond Chan  
KINDS OF KINDNESS – Searchlight Pictures  
Set Decoration by Amy Silver with Production Design by Anthony Gasparro 
NIGHTBITCH – Searchlight Pictures  
Set Decoration by Ryan Watson SDSA with Production Design by Karen Murphy WOLFS – Apple Studios 
Set Decoration by Melissa Levander SDSA with Production Design by Jade Healy 
WICKED - Universal  
Set Decoration by Lee Sandales with Production Design by Nathan Crowley

Wicked got an Art Directors Guild Award nomination (winners will be announced on Feb 15)...

Art Directors Guild Awards Nominations Include ‘Wicked’, ‘Dune: Part Two’, ‘Emilia Pérez’
By Patrick Hipes   Jan 9, 2025
https://deadline.com/2025/01/2025-art-directors-guild-awards-nominations-list-1236252268/  

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FANTASY FEATURE FILM

Alien: Romulus
Production Designer: Naaman Marshall

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Production Designer: Mark Scruton

Dune: Part Two
Production Designer: Patrice Vermette

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Production Designer: Colin Gibson

Wicked
Production Designer: Nathan Crowley

 

In a noticeable snub, Jon Chu did not get a DGA nomination...

DGA Awards Nominees: James Mangold and Edward Berger In, Denis Villeneuve and Jon M. Chu Snubbed
By Clayton Davis   Jan 8, 2025 
https://variety.com/2025/film/awards/dga-awards-nominees-2025-1236269904/ 

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Among the notable omissions were the two directors of the biggest blockbusters of the year — Jon M. Chu for the musical “Wicked” and Denis Villeneuve for the sci-fi sequel “Dune: Part Two” — offering considerable blows to their awards campaigns. Also failing to make the cut were any women directors from some of this year’s most lauded hits, including the two Golden Globe-nominated auteurs Coralie Fargeat of the body-horror movie “The Substance” and Payal Kapadia for “All We Imagine as Light” (though she was nominated in the first-time director category).

 

Edited January 13 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Wicked got a VES Award nomination...

Visual Effects Society Announces Nominees for 23rd Annual VES Awards
Jan 14, 2025
https://www.vesglobal.org/press-releases/ves-announces-nominees-for-23rd-annual-ves-awards/ 

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Los Angeles (January 14, 2025) – Today, the Visual Effects Society (VES), the visual effects industry’s professional global honorary society, announced the nominees for the 23rd Annual VES Awards, the prestigious yearly celebration that recognizes outstanding visual effects artistry and innovation in features, animation, television, commercials, games and new media, and the VFX Supervisors, VFX Producers and hands-on Artists who bring this work to life.  Awards will be presented at the 23rd Annual VES Awards on February 11, 2025 at The Beverly Hilton hotel. (X tags: @VFXSociety #VESAwards)
*  *  *
OUTSTANDING ENVIRONMENT IN A PHOTOREAL FEATURE

Civil War; Washington, D.C.
Matthew Chandler
James Harmer
Robert Moore
Adrien Zeppieri

Dune: Part Two; The Arrakeen Basin
Daniel Rhein
Daniel Anton Fernandez
Marc James Austin
Christopher Anciaume

Gladiator II; Rome
Oliver Kane
Stefano Farci
John Seru
Frederick Vallee

Wicked; The Emerald City
Alan Lam
Steve Bevins
Deepali Negi
Miguel Sanchez López-Ruíz

Edited January 15 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Wicked and Jon Chu were snubbed by the BAFTAs for Best Film and Best Director. However, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande did get BAFTA nominations for Leading Actress and Supporting Actress, respectively. Wicked also picked up BAFTA nominations for Costume Design, Make Up & Hair, Production Design, Sound, and Special Visual Effects. Winners will be announced on Feb. 16...

BAFTA Nominations: ‘Conclave’ & ‘Emilia Pérez’ Lead The Field As Open Awards Race Takes Shape
By Andreas Wiseman    January 15, 2025
https://deadline.com/2025/01/bafta-nominations-conclave-emilia-perez-wicked-hugh-grant-1236257429/ 

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LEADING ACTRESS
CYNTHIA ERIVO Wicked
KARLA SOFÍA GASCÓN Emilia Pérez
MARIANNE JEAN-BAPTISTE Hard Truths
MIKEY MADISON Anora
DEMI MOORE The Substance
SAOIRSE RONAN The Outrun
*  *  *
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
SELENA GOMEZ Emilia Pérez
ARIANA GRANDE Wicked
FELICITY JONES The Brutalist
JAMIE LEE CURTIS The Last Showgirl
ISABELLA ROSSELLINI Conclave
ZOE SALDAÑA Emilia Pérez
*  *  *
COSTUME DESIGN
BLITZ Jacqueline Durran
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN Arianne Phillips
CONCLAVE Lisy Christl
NOSFERATU Linda Muir
WICKED Paul Tazewell

MAKE UP & HAIR
DUNE: PART TWO Love Larson, Eva Von Bahr
EMILIA PÉREZ Julia Floch Carbonel, Emmanuel Janvier, Jean-Christophe Spadaccini, Romain Marietti
NOSFERATU David White, Traci Loader, Suzanne Stokes-Munton
THE SUBSTANCE Pierre-Olivier Persin, Stéphanie Guillon, Frédérique Arguello, Marilyne Scarselli
WICKED Frances Hannon, Laura Blount, Sarah Nuth
*  *  *
PRODUCTION DESIGN
THE BRUTALIST Judy Becker, Patricia Cuccia
CONCLAVE Suzie Davies, Cynthia Sleiter
DUNE: PART TWO Patrice Vermette, Shane Vieau
NOSFERATU Craig Lathrop
WICKED Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales
*  *  *
SOUND
BLITZ John Casali, Paul Cotterell, James Harrison
DUNE: PART TWO Ron Bartlett, Doug Hemphill, Gareth John, Richard King
GLADIATOR II  Stéphane Bucher, Matthew Collinge, Paul Massey Danny Sheehan
THE SUBSTANCE Valérie Deloof, Victor Fleurant, Victor Praud, Stéphane Thiébaut, Emmanuelle Villard
WICKED Robin Baynton, Simon Hayes, John Marquis, Andy Nelson, Nancy Nugent Title

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
BETTER MAN Luke Millar, David Clayton, Keith Herft, Peter Stubbs
DUNE: PART TWO Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Gerd Nefzer, Rhys Salcombe
GLADIATOR II Mark Bakowski, Neil Corbould, Nikki Penny, Pietro Ponti
KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES Erik Winquist, Rodney Burke, Paul Story, Stephen Unterfranz
WICKED Pablo Helman, Paul Corbould, Jonathan Fawkner, Anthony Smith

Edited January 15 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Wicked got a WGA nomination for Adapted Screenplay...

WGA Awards Nominations Revealed; Full List Of Nominees & What Scripts Weren’t Eligible This Year
By Patrick Hipes, Pete Hammond   January 15, 2025
https://deadline.com/2025/01/writers-guild-awards-nominations-2025-1236255337/ 

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Winners will be announced February 15 during concurrent ceremonies in New York at the Edison Ballroom and Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton. That date is staying put for now amid several shifts in the awards-season calendar due to the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles.
*  *  *
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

A Complete Unknown, Screenplay by James Mangold and Jay Cocks, Based on the Book Dylan Goes Electric! by Elijah Wald; Searchlight Pictures

Dune: Part 2, Screenplay by Denis Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts, Based on the Novel Dune by Frank Herbert; Warner Bros. Pictures

Hit Man, Screenplay by Richard Linklater & Glen Powell, Based on the Texas Monthly Article by Skip Hollandsworth; Netflix

Nickel Boys, Screenplay by RaMell Ross & Joslyn Barnes, Based on the Book The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead; Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios

Wicked, Screenplay by Winnie Holzman and Winnie Holzman & Dana Fox, Based on the musical stage play with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman, From the Novel by Gregory Maguire; Universal Pictures

Edited Thursday at 12:40 PM by tv echo

[tv echo]

Wicked got a SOC Award nomination for Camera Operator of the Year-Film...

Society of Camera Operators Announce the 2025 Camera Operator of the Year Film and Television Nominees
January 15, 2025
https://socawards.com/society-of-camera-operators-announce-the-2025-camera-operator-of-the-year-film-and-television-nominees/ 

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The prestigious Society of Camera Operators (SOC) is pleased to announce the nominees for the Camera Operator of the Year awards for the Film and Television categories. Recipients will be presented and honored during the annual SOC Lifetime Achievement Awards weekend on February 14 &15, 2025, at the Loews Hollywood Hotel.
*  *  *
Camera Operator of the Year – Film Nominees:

• Bianca Butti – Challengers, with Terrence Hayes, “B” Camera Operator and Patrick Quinn, “C” Camera Operator
• Michael Fuchs, SOC – Wolfs, with Rebecca Rajadnya, “B” Camera Operator (NY), and Keith Dunkerley, “B” Camera Operator (LA)
• Karsten Bloch Jacobsen, DFF – Wicked, with Simon Finney, GBCT, ACO, “B” Camera Operator
• P. Scott Sakamoto, SOC – A Complete Unknown
• David J. Thompson, SOC – Civil War, with Hugh Braselton, “B” Camera Operator

Edited Thursday at 07:08 PM by tv echo

[tv echo]

Wicked got an ASC nomination for Theatrical Feature Film...
 
American Society of Cinematographers Reveals 2025 ASC Awards Nominees
BY BEATRICE VERHOEVEN   JANUARY 16, 2025
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/american-society-of-cinematographers-2025-asc-awards-nominees-1236110297/ 

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... Winners will be honored at the gala on Feb. 23 at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California.

The ceremony will also be live-streamed on the ASC’s website.
*  *  *
Theatrical Feature Film (Sponsored by Keslow Camera)

Jarin Blaschke for Nosferatu (Focus Features)

Alice Brooks, ASC for Wicked (Universal Pictures)

Lol Crawley, BSC for The Brutalist (A24)

Stéphane Fontaine, AFC for Conclave (Focus Features)

Greig Fraser, ASC, ACS for Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Edward Lachman, ASC for Maria (Netflix)

Phedon Papamichael, ASC, GSC, GCA for A Complete Unknown (Searchlight Pictures)

Edited Thursday at 07:07 PM by tv echo

[tv echo]

Wicked got a PGA Awards nomination for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures...

PGA Awards Nominations: ‘Dune 2,’ ‘September 5’ and ‘Wicked’ Make the Cut, ‘Nickel Boys’ and ‘Sing Sing’ Snubbed
By Clayton Davis   Jan 16, 2025
https://variety.com/2025/film/awards/pga-awards-nominations-2025-1236272466/ 

Quote

Producers will come together to raise awareness for the [Entertainment Community Fund], celebrate the nominees, and announce winners at the PGA Awards ceremony on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, at the Fairmont Century Plaza.
*  *  *
Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures
• “Anora” (Neon)
• “The Brutalist” (A24)
• “A Complete Unknown” (Searchlight Pictures)
• “Conclave” (Focus Features)
• “Dune: Part Two” (Warner Bros.)
• “Emilia Pérez” (Netflix)
• “A Real Pain” (Searchlight Pictures)
• “September 5” (Paramount Pictures)
• “The Substance” (Mubi)
• “Wicked” (Universal Pictures)

[superdeluxe]

On 11/25/2024 at 7:31 PM, PurpleTentacle said:

Cynthia Erivo on the other hand... The acting was very uneven. In some scenes it was actually really good, in others pretty bad.

I haven’t seen the whole movie (probably never will), but I’ve seen clips and the fact that this woman is getting nominated for acting is comical.

Edited Friday at 02:13 PM by superdeluxe