Director Jon M. ChusawWickedbefore almost everyone else in the world.
But he continued hoping and dreaming about makingWicked.
That dream becomes a reality this week when the film hits theaters.
Jon M. Chu directing on the set of Wicked.Image: Universal Pictures
Read about that and more below.
How did those factor in your decision to make this movie?
Jon M. Chu:Ive been waiting for this for years.
Chu with his stars – Universal
I called [producer] Mark Platt.
He never called me back.
They never called me back.
Grande and Erivo – Universal
So to get the call during the pandemic, to say, Hey, you want to get in?
I knew exactly how to make this movie.
I will never forget watching this in San Francisco and feeling what it felt like.
It felt like I was watching a movie for the first time.
I filled in all the gaps.
I literally thought she was flying around the room.
She wasnt, apparently.
This had never become an animated movie.
It never became live-action.
They never even shot the stage show.
So that responsibility laid heavy on me.
But I also know movies are from a perspective.
So I had to commit to what I knew and loved about this.
And the girls [Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo] helped protect some of those moments as well.
And then we would do the best we can.
io9: Since youre makingWickedinto two movies, you have the ability to add to this story.
And we would sit there and we went through every line of every script in existence ofWicked.
Why did that scene get put in there?
What was a scene that was an alternative scene?
Why did this line get written?
How did you come up with that lyric?
And I didnt give any input at that time.
I just wanted to soak it in.
So for months and months and months, Id soak it in.
Sometimes Id ask a question.
But why would you do that?
Oh, is that what you think?
Okay, I didnt get that Im going to put a little pin in there.
Ill put a pin in there.
I could draw from a moment that we talked about.
I could draw from their personal experience and why this came in.
And then it started to tie together in that way.
Now you should probably turn over the keys.
Can you trust me?
And if you cant.
We didnt waste time.
I learned a lot.
But I know your heart and I know Im going to deliver this for you.
So thats what weve got too.
io9: What other things did you do to prepare to make the movie?
Chu:I mean I knew the soundtrack in and out.
And I definitely was like, Do you guys have a recording?
And they were like, We dont have a recording.
Im like, You have one in the back closet.
Theyre like, We do not.
Im like, Thats crazy, guys.
I mean, Id seen the show many times before that.
So that was part of the thing.
They were doing different things.
So thats what sort of happened.
What happens next isWickedopens in theaters Friday followed byPart Twoin 2025.
Also, well haveone more post from our interviewwith the director discussing his interpretation of Defying Gravity.
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