Wicked Movie: Director Shares Heartbreaking Update Following Unexpected Filming Shutdown

Wicked director Jon M. Chu gives an update on the movie following the actors' strike that halted filming. Known for his work on Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights, Chu is helming the two-part adaptation of the popular stage musical Wicked, which is based on a novel featuring characters from The Wizard of Oz. Starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Galinda, the Wicked movie commenced filming late last year, sparking excitement with leaked set photos. Chu recently took to Twitter to share the latest update on the film in light of the recent SAG-AFTRA strike. See his tweet below.

The director expresses the immense pain caused by the sudden halt of filming, merely days away from completion. Nevertheless, Chu confidently assures that the release date for Wicked, scheduled for November 27, 2024, should remain unaffected. Furthermore, the release of Wicked: Part Two is set for November 26, 2025.

Everything We Know About The Wicked Movie Filming

Filming for the highly anticipated Wicked movie commenced in December 2022 in England. In the subsequent months, numerous set photos made their way online, offering a glimpse of the construction of the iconic Yellow Brick Road and showcasing the cast bonding off-camera. Universal also treated fans with official Wicked movie images, providing a sneak peek of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in their respective Elphaba and Galinda costumes. Although these initial images left much to the imagination, later set photos presented a closer and more vibrant look at the duo. Furthermore, these photos depicted the characters together at what appeared to be Shiz University, their school in the story.

Ariana Grande can be seen performing the opening musical number, "No One Mourns the Wicked," and the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba, flying on her broomstick in the captivating videos from the set of the Wicked movie. Additionally, well-known actors like Jonathan Bailey from Bridgerton, portraying Fiyero, and the recent Oscar winner, Michelle Yeoh, as Madame Morrible, have also been spotted. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing strike by actors demanding fair pay, production has been temporarily halted, and these set photos and videos will cease for now. However, director Jon M. Chu remains optimistic that these setbacks will not impact the intended release date for Wicked.