The ‘Wicked’ Movie Is Still in the Works and Possibly Coming in 2016

Last week, the highest-grossing show on Broadway was ‘Wicked,’ a musical adaptation of the book by Gregory Maguire that reimagines ‘The Wizard of Oz’ from the witches’ perspective. The week before that, the highest-grossing show on Broadway was also ‘Wicked.’ Since opening on Broadway in 2003, the show has been a perennial top-seller; last year, more than a decade into its New York run, it was the second-biggest show on Broadway after Disney’s ‘The Lion King.’ The thing is a juggernaut; you could drop ten houses on it, it wouldn’t stop.

For much of the last ten years, filmmakers have been considering a big-screen ‘Wicked’ adaptation. (In the meantime, Hollywood’s started to ape ‘Wicked’’s deconstructionist fairy tale vibe, most obviously in last year’s hugely successful ‘Maleficent,’ which turned the villain of Disney’s ‘Sleeping Beauty’ into a misunderstood feminist heroine.) In 2012, Universal and producer Marc Platt picked Stephen Daldry (‘The Reader’) to direct the project, but here we sit, two and a half years later, no closer to defying gravity. According to Film Divider, though, the wait may soon be over. They spoke with Platt recently and received an update confirming that the ‘Wicked’ movie is in the works, and could be in theaters at some point in 2016.

Here’s what Platt had to say:

It’s in process. 2016 is the goal, but I don’t know whether we’ll make that goal or not. We will make the movie, but like I said, the bar is really high. We’re going to scrutinize our work on the screenplay and our prep on the movie, and when we feel like it’s ready, okay. We’re not going to shoot a release date is what I’m saying. It’s in the works, it’s not in a rush.

Daldry is still Platt’s pick to direct the film, and Winnie Holzman, who wrote the book for the ‘Wicked’ musical (and also created the classic teen TV series ‘My So-Called Life’) is currently working on the screenplay. And Platt says that’s what they’re waiting for at this point; a finished screenplay that can stand alongside the incredible success of the ‘Wicked’ stage show. His obsession with perfection is impressive and noble; even if the script was terrible, there’s a very good chance the film would be popular (so pop-u-lar).