‘Wicked’ Good Casting News: Jeff Goldblum In Talks To Star As The Wizard In Film Adaptation Of Beloved Book/Musical
Jeff Goldblum may stop running from dinosaurs and start running Oz.
The Jurassic World star is in talks to star as the Wizard in Universal’s upcoming adaptation of the long-running and Tony-winning Broadway show Wicked. Jon M. Chu is directing a cast that already includes Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. A month ago, Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey got the part of Fiyero.
The feature will tell the story in two films, and principal photography in set to start January, with shooting on the second part commencing as soon as the first film is in the can. The first movie, coming from Universal Pictures, is set to be released on December 25th, 2024, with the second coming the following Christmas.
The films are based on the 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, as was the Broadway musical adaptation. They follow a school-aged Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda the Good Witch, and how they are shaped into the characters from the classic Wizard of Oz movie.
Erivo plays Elphaba, and Grande will portray Glinda. The Wizard in Wicked has a solo number, and is considered a major role.