When it comes to Wicked film casting news, it doesn't rain, it pours—look out, Elphie! Hot on the heels of learning that Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum have officially joined the cast, we learned today in Deadline that the upcoming two-part movie musical will also feature stage and screen star Keala Settle, SNL's Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Bronwyn James, Aaron Teoh, and Colin Michael Carmichael.
Newcomer Marissa Bode will make history as the first wheelchair-using actor in the musical's history to play Nessarose, a character that also uses a wheelchair.
The remainder of this round of casting are for roles that appear largely to be new for the musical's film version. Waitress and Greatest Showman star Settle will play Miss Coddle with Carmichael taking on Professor Nikidik. Yang, James, and Teoh will play Shiz students Pfannee, ShenShen, and Avaric, respectively.
As previously announced, the upcoming movie musical will be led by Tony winner Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and pop star (and Broadway alum) Ariana Grande as Glinda. West End Company Olivier winner and Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey is set to star as Fiyero, and SpongeBob SquarePants star Ethan Slater was recently announced as the film's Boq.
The two-part film adaptation, which will include new songs by Stephen Schwartz, is scheduled for release December 25 of 2024 and 2025, with In the Heights screen director Jon M. Chu at the helm. Wicked book writer Winnie Holzman is penning the screenplay, and Tony winner Paul Tazewell will design the costumes.
Wicked, injecting a new backstory onto the classic tale The Wizard of Oz, debuted on Broadway in 2003 and continues to be an audience favorite at the Gershwin Theatre. Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, the musical features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. The original cast included Tony winners Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth as Elphaba and Glinda, respectively. The musical has subsequently been performed in more than 100 cities across 16 countries, and, in October 2019, surpassed Les Misérables to become the fifth longest-running production in Broadway history.
READ: 11 Elphabas Reflect on Playing Broadway's Not-So-Wicked Witch
The show won 2004 Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Musical (Menzel), Best Costume Design (Susan Hilferty), and Best Scenic Design (Eugene Lee).
