Wicked: For Good

Jon M. Chu has entered a three-year first-look producing deal with Paramount Pictures, effective January 2nd, 2026. The agreement will see Chu and his production company developing and producing feature film and television projects for the studio, operating from the Paramount lot. He will collaborate closely with Paramount Pictures Co-Chairs Dana Goldberg and Josh greenstein, Motion Picture Group President Don Granger, and paramount Television Studios President Matt Thunell.

Chu’s most recent directorial effort, Wicked: For Good, released in November, achieved the biggest global opening ever for a movie based on a Broadway show and the second-biggest domestic opening of 2025. He previously directed Wicked, the 2024 film adaptation of the broadway musical, which grossed over $756 million worldwide and received critical acclaim.

Prior to Wicked, Chu directed Crazy Rich Asians, a global success that became the highest-grossing romantic comedy in nearly a decade and a landmark achievement for Asian and Asian american depiction in Hollywood. The film garnered numerous award nominations, including recognition from the Critics’ Choice Awards, SAG Awards, Golden Globes, and the PGA.

Chu is represented by UTA, artists First, and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson and Christopher, LLP.

“Wicked: for good” Casts a Spell at Global box Office,Grossing $226 Million

Los Angeles – global’s “Wicked: For Good” launched to $226 million worldwide this weekend,establishing itself as the fourth-biggest global debut of 2025 to date. The film, the⁤ second installment adapting the Broadway musical “Wicked,” represents a strong ‌start ⁣for the revisionist take on⁤ “The wizard of ⁤Oz” story.

The opening places “For Good” behind Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” remake ⁢($341 million), “Jurassic World Rebirth” ($322 million), and “A Minecraft Movie” ($313 million). It surpasses the openings of “Superman” ($220 million) and “The Fantastic Four” ($218 million). Domestically, the film earned $150 million, while international markets contributed $76 ⁢million.

“Wicked: For ‍Good” ‌has already set records as the biggest Broadway adaptation⁤ ever, exceeding the $164.2 ⁣million worldwide total of ⁤2024’s “Wicked,” as well as its $50.2 million international and $112.5 million domestic benchmarks. ​The ‍success is attributed, in part, to the established fanbase⁤ of the “Wicked” intellectual property. The original “Wicked” film grossed $758 million globally,with $474 million domestically and $283 ⁢million overseas. Distributors are hoping for a more balanced international-domestic split with the ⁤sequel.Key international territories included the United Kingdom and ireland ($24.4​ million), Australia ($8.6 million), ​and Germany ($4.1 million).

Directed by Jon M. Chu, “Wicked: For Good” continues the story of Elphaba and⁣ Glinda, exploring their journeys as the characters known as the Wicked Witch of the West​ and Glinda the Good. Despite‍ a ⁣darker tone and fewer⁢ instantly recognizable songs compared to the first film, analysts⁣ predict continued strong performance through the holiday season.

“This is a sensational opening,” said David ​A. Gross of⁣ Franchise Entertainment Research. “The only limitation, relatively speaking, is the series’‌ overseas performance.’The Wizard of Oz’ is a classic American story, with a natural domestic skew.”

The film’s momentum is expected to continue with the release of⁢ Disney’s “Zootopia 2,” perhaps contributing to one of the biggest ‌Thanksgiving box office periods on record. Gross noted, “Moviegoing is roaring ‌back this weekend, and it will strengthen again with ‘Zootopia 2.’ These are tough times, with a few ⁣strong titles breaking through and even setting⁢ records,” while‌ acknowledging ongoing challenges in‍ overall movie attendance.

‘Wicked’ costume Designers Reveal Subtle Foreshadowing & change Details for Scarecrow & Tin Man

The highly anticipated film adaptation of “Wicked” is drawing intense scrutiny of its visual storytelling, particularly the character transformations of Fiyero into the Scarecrow and the Tin Man. Costume designer Paul Tazewell and wig/makeup artist Dave Hannon meticulously layered clues and practical effects to bring these iconic figures to life,honoring the source material while adding nuanced depth. These design choices weren’t last-minute decisions; they were woven into the narrative from the start, offering a richer experiance for both longtime fans and newcomers.

The creative team deliberately foreshadowed Fiyero’s fate throughout the film. Tazewell embedded easter eggs within Fiyero’s Emerald City guard costume,hinting at his eventual transformation. Simultaneously,the design of the Scarecrow itself drew inspiration from both the original “Wizard of Oz” film and the stage production,but with a unique approach. The film’s production prioritized a more integrated,less overtly “baggy” look,focusing on straw emerging from the seams of Fiyero’s uniform and a burlap collar where his shirt buttons burst open.

During “No Good Deed,” Elphaba’s spell to protect Fiyero from the wizard’s guards initiates his transformation into the Scarecrow, allowing him to survive.Hannon crafted the scarecrow’s wig and eyebrows using grass and straw, building upon Fiyero’s existing blonde hair as a visual throughline. “I used blonde in Fiyero’s hair as a very strong point to carry through that change. The blonde in his own hair in film one and the opening of film two, then develops into the straw quality from the field,” hannon explained. The wig itself was constructed from sewn-in heads of wheat, topped with a bark cap designed by Tazewell.

further emphasizing the character’s connection to his origins, Hannon adjusted Fiyero’s eye color. As Fiyero hails from Winkie Country, which is visually defined by a blue palette, he initially wore blue contact lenses. Upon becoming the Scarecrow,the lenses were removed,revealing actor Jonathan Bailey’s natural deep brown eyes to underscore the character’s newfound “earthy quality.” These subtle shifts in color and texture contribute to a seamless and emotionally resonant transformation.