Thank goodness: The Depraved film is lastly taking type. Almost a decade after plans to adapt the smash-hit musical had been introduced, there are lastly two famous person leads hooked up to the challenge: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
Depraved, the spectacular Wizard of Oz prequel from Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, first hit the stage in 2003 and went on to win three Tony Awards and turn into one of the vital profitable Broadway musicals of all time. It’s no query that bringing the manufacturing to the display screen will likely be a large endeavor, nevertheless it’s additionally a extremely anticipated one with a passionate built-in fanbase. Within the Heights director Jon M. Chu, additionally a brand new addition to the challenge, is taking over the grand feat.
Full particulars on the movie are nonetheless forthcoming, however Grande followers are already ready to mud off their brooms and zip to theaters. Right here’s what we do know to date.
Extra From ELLE
What’s Depraved about?
Primarily based on Gregory Maguire’s bestselling e book of the identical title, Depraved tells the story of Glinda the Good Witch and the Depraved Witch of the West earlier than they grew to become the legendary figures in The Wizard of Oz. In accordance with this telling, the 2 met (and clashed) as roommates at Shiz College, the place they had been then referred to as Galinda and Elphaba. However they shaped an unlikely friendship and an unbreakable bond earlier than pursuing separate paths that led to their well-known monikers. The sweeping fantasy consists of origin tales for different acquainted Ouncescharacters too.
When is it popping out?
So right here’s the factor: there’ll be two Depraved movies, every premiering on “successive Christmas holidays starting December 2024,” director Jon M. Chu introduced. (Extra on that beneath.) The primary installment arrives on November 27, 2024. The second doesn’t have a date but.
Talks of Common making the film musical first bubbled up in 2012. In 2016, the studio introduced that the movie would hit theaters on Dec. 20, 2019, however after manufacturing delays, one other musical movie, Cats, ended up debuting on that date as an alternative. Now, nevertheless, we lastly have dates to which we will look ahead.
Wait, there is a sequel?
Sure! As a substitute of slicing down on songs and characters, Depraved will take one story and break it into two elements, within the model of franchises like Starvation Video games, Harry Potter and Dune. Chu first introduced the information in April 2022.
“Right here’s what occurred: as we ready this manufacturing during the last yr, it grew to become more and more clear that it might be not possible to wrestle the story of WICKED right into a single movie with out performing some actual harm to it,” he shared on Instagram. “As we tried to chop songs or trim characters, these selections started to really feel like deadly compromises to the supply materials that has entertained us all for therefore a few years. So we determined to offer ourselves an even bigger canvas and make not only one WICKED film however TWO!!!! With extra space, we will inform the story of WICKED because it was meant to be instructed whereas bringing much more depth and surprises to the journeys of those beloved characters.”
Who’s within the forged?
Cynthia Erivo will star as Elphaba, a task originated by Idina Menzel on Broadway, whereas Ariana Grande will star reverse her as Glinda, originated by Kristin Chenoweth.
A vocal powerhouse, Erivo has gained a Tony, Grammy, and daytime Emmy for her function as Celie within the revival of The Colour Purple, per Selection. She’s additionally appeared in movies like Harriet (which earned her an Oscar nomination) and Widows, and portrayed Aretha Franklin within the TV present Genius.
Grande, a world pop star, has roots on the stage: She made her begin within the 2008 Broadway musical 13 from composer Jason Robert Brown (The Final 5 Years, Parade). Her different performing roles embody Cat Valentine on Victorious within the early 2010s, which launched her into Nickelodeon stardom, Chanel in Ryan Murphy’s Scream Queens, and Adam McKay’s Don’t Look Up. A longtime theater lover, Grande carried out “The Wizard and I” from Depraved throughout an NBC stay particular in 2018.
Jeff Goldblum will play The Wizard, and Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh will play Madame Morrible, a headmistress at Shiz College, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed. The function of affection curiosity Fiyero went to Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey, and Chu says his casting is “good.”
Jonathan Bailey
Marissa Bode will play Nessarose, Elphaba’s youthful sister. Broadway actor Ethan Slater (Tony-nominated for SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical) will play Boq, Nessarose’s love curiosity.
Saturday Night time Stay‘s Bowen Yang will play Pfannee and Bronwyn James (The Dig) will play ShenShen, classmates at Shiz, in response to Deadline. The Best Showman‘s Keala Settle will play Miss Coddle, Aaron Teoh will play Shiz scholar Avaric, and Colin Michael Carmichael will play professor Nikidik.
As for who’s working behind the scenes. Loopy Wealthy Asians and Within the Heights filmmaker Jon M. Chu will direct, which was introduced in February 2021 after Billy Elliott helmer Stephen Daldry dropped out in October 2020. Marc Platt (Expensive Evan Hansen, La La Land) will produce the Common movie.
Winnie Holzman, who wrote the e book for the Broadway musical, and Stephen Schwartz, who composed the songs, are additionally engaged on the screenplay collectively, Selection reviews.
Has filming began but?
Manufacturing started in June 2022 within the U.Ok., per The Hollywood Reporter, on sound levels within the newly constructed Sky Studios in Elstree, England. On April 3, 2023, Grande shared that the forged and crew had been midway by way of filming.
“midway,” she wrote. “savoring each millisecond left with my Galinda (though she’ll be with me irrevocably, perpetually). she reveals me so many new issues daily.” Learn the total publish beneath.
On April 16, each Grande and Erivo shared first appears to be like of their characters on Instagram. In Grande’s she’s strolling up a darkish staircase in an infinite pink princess robe.
In Erivo’s picture, she’s in full Depraved Witch apparel, together with a hat and broom with the swirling sky seen out the window behind her.
Manufacturing got here to a halt, nevertheless, in July 2023 as a result of writers and actors strike. Chu revealed in a tweet that the work is just not carried out but, however “Simply paused till the strike is over and we will end the final items of the film. We had been only some days away from being carried out so we had been SO shut.” He famous that the discharge date will stay the identical. Learn his full assertion beneath:
What has the unique Depraved forged stated in regards to the movie?
Broadway favourite Kristin Chenoweth originated the function of Glinda in 2003, and he or she had the proper throwback pic to have a good time Ariana Grande taking the reins. On Instagram, Chenoweth posted a number of pics, the primary of which was a screenshoot of a tweet from Grande in December of 2011, through which Grande wrote, “Cherished seeing Depraved once more…wonderful manufacturing! Made me understand once more how badly I would like 2 play Glinda sooner or later in my life! #DreamRole.”
The subsequent slide was an cute black and white picture of Chenoweth posing with a really younger Grande.
Within the caption, Chenoweth wrote, “I’m unsure if I’ve ever been this proud. From the very first day I met you (swipe to see!!), you had been destined for this function. Congratulations @arianagrande! One of the best Glinda you can be with @cynthiaerivo by your aspect I like you!!”
Grande responded within the feedback, writing, “phrases don’t suffice. i like you greater than i can say, i at all times have and at all times will. and her. thanks for holding my hand.”
Fellow Broadway famous person Idina Menzel additionally celebrated the information. Per E! Information, she wrote on Instagram after the announcement: “Congrats to 2 wonderful ladies. Might it change your lives for the higher perpetually and ever because it has for us. A lot love. @cynthiaerivo @arianagrande.”
The Wizard of Oz
Erica Gonzales is the Senior Tradition Editor at ELLE.com, the place she oversees protection on TV, films, music, books, and extra. She was beforehand an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. There’s a 75 p.c probability she’s listening to Lorde proper now.
Tradition Author
Lauren Puckett-Pope is a employees tradition author at ELLE, the place she primarily covers movie, tv and books. She was beforehand an affiliate editor at ELLE.