At last, Wicked is flying to the big screen, landing in movie theatres this month!
The highly anticipated film adaptation of the musical that first premiered on Broadway in 2003 was long rumored to be in the making, and the last few years of casting announcements, teaser trailers, and the reveal that the musical would be split into two parts for the screen have had pop-culture fans abuzz.
Now, the theatrical release of the first part of Wicked is finally upon us. Here’s everything you need to know before heading to your local movie theatre.
How to Watch the Wicked Movie
Mark your calendars! Wicked will premiere in movie theatres worldwide on November 22. Wicked: Part 2 is currently set to be released on November 21, 2025. The movies will be released digitally at a date to be announced.
Who’s Behind the Wicked Movies
The director of the Wicked movies is Jon M. Chu. Musical-theater fans might remember that he directed the In the Heights film in 2021, making him a prime candidate to tackle another musical property.
Behind the screenplay is none other than Winnie Holzman, the writer of the musical’s book. She is joined by Dana Fox as the two expand the stage musical for the screen. The musical is based on Gergory Maguire’s novel of the same name, which, of course, was inspired by L. Frank Baum’s book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
The first film will also bring Grammy and Oscar winner Stephen Schwartz’s legendary songs to the screen, including the beloved tunes “The Wizard and I” and “Defying Gravity.” The movie will also feature a score by Schwartz and Grammy and Oscar nominee John Powell.
Who’s in the Wicked Movies
Emmy-, Grammy-, and Tony-winning powerhouse and Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo is playing Elphaba in the big-screen adaptation of the role iconically originated by Redwood star Idina Menzel. Broadway fans will know Erivo for her star-making turn as Celie in the 2015 revival of The Color Purple. She has made a name for herself in Hollywood since she was last on stage, playing Harriet Tubman in 2019’s Harriet for which she received two Academy Award nominations, one for her performance and the other for penning the song “Stand Up.”
Starring alongside Erivo is Grammy-winning multiplatinum recording artist Ariana Grande, taking on the role of Glinda, played originally on stage by beloved Tony and Emmy winner Kristin Chenoweth. Grande is most known to the global audience for being a pop music sensation and was first introduced to younger generations on the Nickelodeon TV show Victorious. But she actually got her start on Broadway, appearing in the Jason Robert Brown musical 13 when she was just a teenager. Theater fans might also remember she played Penny Pingleton in NBC’s presentation of Hairspray Live! in 2016.
The film also stars Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh as Shiz University’s regal headmistress and Dean of Sorcery Studies Madame Morrible, Olivier Award winner and Emmy nominee Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton, Fellow Travelers) as Fiyero, Tony nominee Ethan Slater (Broadway’s Spongebob Squarepants) as Boq, Marissa Bode in her feature-film debut as Elphaba’s sister Nessarose, and pop-culture icon Jeff Goldblum as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
The cast of characters also includes Pfannee and ShenShen, two conniving compatriots of Glinda played by Emmy nominee Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live) and Bronwyn James (Harlots); a new character created for the film, Miss Coddle, played by Tony nominee Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman), and four-time Emmy winner Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) as the voice of Doctor Dillamond. The supporting cast also features Andy Nyman (Judy) as Governor Thropp, Courtney Mae-Briggs (Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix) as Mrs. Thropp, Aarpm Teoh (Artemis Fowl) as Avaric, and Shaun Prendergast (Henry V) as Shiz President.
What to Expect in the First Wicked Movie
As the musical is split into two parts, it’s expected that the first Wicked film will stick closely to the plot structure of the musical’s first act, ending with “Defying Gravity.”
The movie is expected to be 2 hours and 40 minutes, which is over an hour longer than the first act of the stage musical. This could mean that aspects from the book are being incorporated into the movie or that the world of the musical is being expanded even more for the movie, with many scenes at Shiz University featured in teasers.
What to Do Before the Wicked Movie
Ahead of the release, an NBC special called Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked will air Tuesday, November 19, at 10 p.m., streaming on Peacock the following day. Filmed on the movie’s stunning Emerald City set, stars Grande, Erivo, Yeoh, Goldblum, Bailey, Slater, Yang and Bode and will share personal memories, intimate video diaries, and revealing secrets about their personal journeys through the making of the Universal Pictures film. Plus, the world premiere of a new scene from the film will be shown in the special.
If you want to be dressed in your best Wicked gear when you see the movie or eat some sweet Elphaba- and Glinda-themed treats, check out our full shopping guide here.
If you’re planning to be in New York before the movie is officially released, you can visit where the musical began at the Gershwin Theatre. The show recently celebrated 21 years on Broadway and excitement is in the air in anticipation of the first film’s premiere.