Universal's movie adaptation of the Wicked stage musical has found a new director.
Deadline reports Jon M. Chu will helm the Wicked musical movie. He replaces Stephen Daldry, who was attached to direct Wicked for several years before stepping down in October 2020 due to a scheduling conflict. Chu will helm from an adapted script by Winnie Holzman, who also wrote the book for the original Wicked stage show.
The Broadway smash-hit musical Wicked is based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. Inspired by The Wizard of Oz, Wicked is told from the perspective of Elphaba, a young woman with unusual green skin from the Land of Oz who grows up to become the infamous Wicked Witch of the West. The story follows Elphaba as she forms a complicated relationship with Galinda, a popular young woman at her university who later becomes known as Glinda the Good Witch.
Chu's previous directorial efforts include Step Up 2 and Step Up 3, Now You See Me 2 and Crazy Rich Asians. He recently helmed In the Heights, a film adaptation of the critically acclaimed stage musical created by Quiara Alegría Hudes and Lin-Manuel Miranda. In the Heights will debut in theaters on the same day it hits HBO Max later this year, after being delayed from its original 2020 release date by the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Chu was initially set to direct the pilot episode for Disney+'s Willow sequel series before working on another film. However, he had to leave the project last month. "I'm heartbroken to let you all know that I unfortunately have to step away from directing Willow," Chu wrote in a statement. "With the production schedule moving due to continued [coronavirus(COVID-19)] lockdowns in the UK, and with a new baby coming this summer (surprise!), the timing is just not going to work for me and my family."
In addition to Wicked, Chu is reportedly set to direct a live-action remake of Lilo & Stich for Disney+. He is also loosely attached to helm a pair of sequels to Crazy Rich Asians based on author Kevin Kwan's follow-up novels, 2015's China Rich Girlfriend and 2017's Rich People Problems.
Directed by Jon M. Chu and written by Winnie Holzman, Wicked has neither a cast nor an official release date at the moment.
Source: Deadline