Worldwide Explores Expansion of ‘Wicked‘ Film Universe Followingโฃ Blockbuster Success
LOS ANGELES, CA – Riding high on the success of Wicked: Part one – โFor Good, Universal Pictures โขis actively consideringโ future projects set within the world of Oz,โ according toโค recent statements โฃfrom studio executives and key creatives. The two-part film adaptation,directed by Jon M.Chu and starring Ariana โขGrande and โขCynthia Erivo, has grossed nearly $400 โmillion worldwide as of publication.
Universal’s Chief Marketingโค Officer, Michael Moses, stated, “Because of Wicked’s success but also the fanship, we have almost โคa responsibility to figure out how we can continue in this universe.” He confirmed that while โplans are not yet โfinalized, “there are things underway.”
While the Broadway musical provides a โcomplete narrative for Glinda โand elphaba, the studio has options to draw from the original source material: author Gregory Maguire’s โคfour Wicked novels. Wicked lyricist and โขcomposer stephen Schwarz โฃnoted,”The Glinda and Elphaba story feels complete-butโ there are other โaspects that could be explored.” he โrevealed discussions with Winnie holzman, writer of both the musical and films, about a project that is “not a sequel, but anโข adjunct.”
Maguire’s sequelsโค -โ Son of aโ Witch (2005), A โLion Among Men (2008), and out of Oz (2011) – offer potential storylines. Son of a Witch โคand Out of Oz focus on Elphaba’s descendants, while A Lion Among Men isโ narrated from the โviewpoint โof the Fearful Lion, portrayed โคin the film by Colman Domingo.
Seniorโ Media Analyst at Comscore,Paul Dergarabedian,emphasized the โฃfranchise’s โpotential,stating,”It would beโ a wicked mistake to not endeavor toโ expand the great and powerful Wicked film universeโฆHollywood adaptations of Broadway musicals have had mixed resultsโฆbut with the Wicked โคfranchise,the filmmakersโ and studio have cracked the code.” he concluded, โข”There are few worlds thatโ the Wicked brand cannot conquer.”
