100% agree with everything you said about Goldblum. I want THE WIZARD, not Goldblum and his Goldblum-isms overshadowing what is an essential role in the story
@@hollyro4665 probably not. He's a star in sense that he brings himself to each role. Like Ryan Reynolds, Jack nickleson, Katherine Hepburn, and many others. A lot of star actors aren't transformative but they have charisma and presence that people want to see. I think Jeff goldbloom is actually a good choice, ultimately the wizard is a fraud, and not a very good one at the. I see Jeff pulling off the charismatic but also shallowness of the wizard pretty well.
While I totally understand the concerns about Goldblum, the thing I was the most excited about with his casting was how much he and Cynthia look a like. They have very similar face shapes and eyes, which works VERY well when you know the twist between the two. It's an aspect that I think often gets dismissed when casting the show, so I appreciate that attention to detail.
From what I’ve seen, the reason why they’re cutting this into 2 movies is because they’re incorporating more stuff from the book. So these non principal roles will most likely be expanded with info about them from the book.
Considering the original author of the book was not that fond of the musical ending, I’m wondering how they approach adding more material from the book.
I’ve seen it’s because they didn’t want to cut anything from the musical to fit into an average movie time so they’re making two so they can include absolutely everything they want
But the musical itself isn’t as long as the maximum movie release. The industry max time is 2hrs. The musical is like an hr and a half I think. So like that reasoning doesn’t make sense. Plus Jon Chu confirmed more book incorporation on Twitter because the author of the book has written the script.
Ariana Grande played Penny Pingleton in a live television version of Hairspray, and wasn't half bad. The fact that one of the biggest pop singers around was willing to take a supporting role to me suggests that her love of musical theater is real and that (hopefully) she will do a good job as Galinda.
i rlly hope she sings more musical theatre-style in Wicked though. Like she claimed on the Voice that her voice was "just gone" in Hairspray Live because of the gum she was chewing-so i'm hoping that style was less a choice and more a necessity to get the notes out
I agree that her Penny was fine, but it also wasn't very different from her usual persona. I want her to do well for the sake of the movie and I know she's immensely talented. I just want to be able to see Glinda and not Ariana. Same with Goldblum like Mickey Jo said.
@@jer9grantI agree I really hope that Ariana doesn’t sing it as a pop star, and that she doesn’t do loads of runs and riffs because that’s not rlly Glinda
Glinda is not a supporting role. She and Elphaba are co-leads. Both Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth were submitted and nominated in the Leading Actress category of the Tony's. And while they are both huge roles, MickeyJo rightly pointed out in his first video about the Wicked video that Glinda actually has the wider emotional journey from the beginning to the end. And that journey can either be portrayed carefully and slowly with many steps along the way (the likes of which I have never seen from Ariana Grande), or not. I'm not saying she will be bad, but I have justified concerns.
@@ThexImperfectionist He was talking about Penny being a supporting role & by the way she wanted to play the part just as it was written since the producers offered her to get a new solo song for her character & she refused for that reason. So we can really see how committed she is to do Glinda's role totally justice
Thank god they casted a wheelchair user as Nessarose, at this point I’m not even mad when abled people are cast in disabled roles as much as I am SO EXHAUSTED that we have to have this conversation with the ableds every few months. It’s also about time we highlight more disabled talent in acting! Disabled actors shouldn’t be confined to just disabled roles but this lets her get her foot in the door and show everyone disabled actors can shine!
Yes! I'm so sick of having this argument with people -- every time we've seen shows actually cast disabled actors, they've been great, but we're still having the "there just aren't enough talented disabled actors" conversation every single time.
As a theatre kid with autism I can understand. And ever since I was a teen, I lived with the terrible truth of my disability and what it feels to be excluded from certain opportunities
I'm most excited for Ariana Grande _and_ the most anxious. I need Miss Ponytail to make me believe she's Glinda or the entire movie's gonna fall flat; I can handle seeing Jeff Goldblum instead of the Wizard, but not the Good Witch 😣 But also the entire cast is stacked, and Jon M Chu hasn't let me down so far while directing, so I don't really see how the movie could do _poorly_ . Like there's just so much talent? The soundtrack is gonna be so good 🎉
@@lonellfletcher Nah most movie musicals are dubbed with someone else doing the singing for them or extremely awfully autotuned. I mean at least it's not like they have.... oh wait Grande is Glinda. 😒, can't wait for popular to sound like Problem. But as long as he sounds better then her? He should be fine.
@@lonellfletcher Jeff is an accomplished musician. I've only heard him sing a couple of times and it was pleasant, not great. But then again I wouldn't say that the wizard's voice is great in the show, and I've seen it a dozen times in multiple countries. I'm sure he'll work with a voice coach.
@@lonellfletcher he can definitely carry a tune. But it’s what you would expect him to sound like. But, I think he’ll be good in this role. The Wizard isn’t a crazy vocalist.
@@AtsumuMiya123 Ariana is literally one of the best vocalists of all time your hatred is showing & there is no way Jeff would sound better than her. In fact Ariana can even sing in an operatic way & she been mentored by Kristin
I think the fact that they’ve announced the actor playing the crooked wizard who replaces Dr. Dillamond, means it’s safe to assume Dillamond will be in the movie. Jeff Goldblum’s casting is the one I’m most excited about. I want to see Jeff Goldblum playing Jeff Goldblum playing the Wizard. He has this nice guy, simpatico quality that I think works so well for the Wizard. Even when he’s being the villain, he’ll play it so friendly that it will be deliciously creepy. Yeoh will be terrifying as Morrible.
Ethan Slater is “long in the tooth” for Boq? he’s 5 years younger than Cynthia and only a year older than Ariana. He’s actually one of the youngest actors tapped to play one of the Shiz students
Very excited for all of these announcements! Michelle Yeoh can indeed sing, I just looked up some of her music videos from the 90s, she has a lovely voice!
Ethan has not been in Wicked previously (he landed the workshops for Spongebob while he was in college and it was his professional and Broadway debut), but he's the perfect choice for Boq! He was also recently the Balladeer/Lee Harvey Oswald in the highly praised off-Broadway revival of Assassins, so he's proved he can break out of the Spongebob box.
Great video as always! In regards to Averic, I’m pretty sure he’s Fiyero’s driver in his first enterance. With the whole “maybe he just saw green and thought it meant go” bit. Also I think they might have Joel Grey cameo as Dr. Dillamond.
In the book he's an arrogant rich boy student though, so I wonder if he's gonna take that role in the movie instead. Saying that he's the face of white privilege in the book (including one charming moment when he describes Fiyero (who in the book is black) as having "skin the colour of shit") so it's an interesting choice to cast an Asian in the role of they're going to keep him book accurate.
OMG I am so excited for this casting! Ethan Slater as Boq: I think he definitely has the potential to be phenomenal in this production as Boq and SpongeBob have several things in common (friendly but naive, try to do the right thing, etc) Michelle Yeoj as Madame Morrible: I’ve never heard of this actress but just her look scream’s Madame Morrible (and like you said MickeyJo, it doesn’t really matter if she can sing or not, infact I think it would be more funny if she couldn’t sing) Jeff Goldblum: I completely agree with MickeyJo on everything he said about Jeff’s casting and I too hope he doesn’t do an impression of himself doing an impression of The Wizard Oz. That being said, I am a little disappointed Joel Grey wasn’t cast (the original Wizard of Oz) Marissa Bode: I can’t tell you how excited I am for someone in a wheelchair to be cast in this role! You are absolutely right MickeyJo that this character has a lot of potential to go in different directions/be more fleshed out. The character is portrayed as this pathetic person who’s in tire motivation is “oh I’m in a wheelchair, I have no purpose in this show except to be basically a living prop as well as the one that ignited the whole witch hunt”, and while I get that as the musical is about Elphaba, i think it would be more interesting if we see her trying to be a part of things but society thinks less of her because he’s in a wheelchair. Example: haven’t be more obvious that her father is very protective of her (I know he gives her the silver slippers but that’s more of a sign of favoritism not protectiveness). Another Example of her being excluded would expanding on the lyric she sings: “finally for this one night, I’m about to have a fun night”, in Dancing through life. Why hasn’t she had ANY good nights prior to this night? Is it really (completely) her fault or is society a little at fault here too? There you go those are my thoughts on the Wicked movie casting
Michelle Yeoh is a very well known movie actress, and she was just named Time's 2022 Icon of the Year. You might know her from Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Shang Chi, Crazy Rich Asians, etc (her IMDB page is legit). She's received multiple best actress nominations this year for Everything Everywhere All At Once, and is expected to get an Oscar nomination as well. This is perfect timing and so exciting!
funny thing about Michelle Yeoh is that this won't be the first time she's playing an instructor in sorcery / magic. she played one of the magical instructors ('Beauty Class' - or something along those lines) in Netflix's School for Good and Evil
Excited by this cast. Glad they found a wheelchair user for Nessa. Michele Yeoh is always fabulous so excited to see her in this. Be great to see Ethan Slater as Boq on the big screen!
I think the casting for this whole film is very interesting so i'll be curious to see what the final product looks like. I think im most excited by Ariana, Jonathan and Jeff. (Also I remember learning in media at A-level about the tax thing, if companies film a certain percent of the film in a british location then they can claim tax back on it, im not sure of the specifics anymore but its something like that)
Keep in mind that Jeff Goldblum's big breakout role was "The Fly" with co star Geena Davis. The man has a range and he's a friend of Dorothy if you get my drift, not IN IT but fits in with the community nicely. I think he would make an excellent go of the role of the Wizard. I've seen Wicked twice with different casts both times. I saw the original before the Broadway treatment with Idina Menzel as Elphaba, Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda, and Joel Grey as the Wizard. I mean if the great Joel Grey can be the Wizard then why not Jeff?
No, Ethan hasn't been in a production of Wicked as far as I can find. However, besides SpongeBob, he's also been in Diner, Camelot, and Assassins among others, so he's got a fairly good resume. And he's thirty, so that follows the Hollywood habit of casting people in their late twenties and thirties as teens.
Picturing Goldblum as Goldblum as The Wizard doing "Wonderful" was what got me excited about this choice! It doesn't have to be the way he does the WHOLE role, obv, but I think that vibe will be perfect for that song.
In the US, our first big singing stars came from theater, (including vaudeville in the 1920s) and movies: Frank Sinatra, Al Jolson, Judy Garland, Fanny Brice, Barbra Streisand (who played Fanny Brice). Richard Harris was a great example from the UK. The list goes on forever. They made their names in theater and in vaudeville and then everyone heard their voices on the radio. By the 1950s, these actors did some stints on TV and then landed movie roles. If you go back to the 1920s and 30s, all of them were theater and vaudeville stars that graduated to movies and then to TV.
Nikidik is from the Land of Oz, the wizard who invents the Powder of Life that animates so many Oz characters. In Wicked, he is the professor who has the lion in a cage. I think they might just expand the character in the movies.
Jon said that Dillamond is on the movie but hasn't been announced yet. Insiders have confirmed the role isn't being played by Jamer Coden but by a not known name so thank god. I hope Melena is played by a black woman (Ariana recently followed Janelle Monae & Kerry Washington). I'm excited to see who is Fred, Ari had a deleted interaction on Instagram with Lin Manuel Miranda so it might be him idk & I need them to actually show us an actress playing Dorothy. No shadows please! Also I know it's very likely not happening but I would love the movies to give us Glinda's parents so we can understand more why her character is a brat at the beginning due to the pressure they been putting her to show her family status all her life. I think that Kristin Chenoweth & Jesse Tyler Ferguson would be perfect for said roles.
Have Keala Settle but NOT have her sing? That would be a CRIME.She could sing Elphaba's score for Pete's sake (not that I deny Cynthia Erivo's casting I love it, just saying Keala's voice is UNBELIEVABLE.)
Regarding Goldblum as the Wizard and whether he’ll play the character or play the Wizard as a Goldblum character, I personally think that the latter is going to work really well. As a character, Goldblum himself is kind of perfect for the role. And for the record, I saw the original Broadway cast with Joel Grey as the Wizard. And do you want to know how he played the role? He basically played himself. It was Joel Grey playing Joel Grey as the Wizard. Honestly, there’s not much to that character as written. Even in the book he was a bit of a cipher. It really depends on the personality that the actor brings to the role.
I’m quite worried about Goldblum because I feel he’s just going to play himself. I was really hoping for Derek Jacobi. He looks the role. He has an album. He can play the nurturing and father figure bumbling old man and then switch to be the twist villain like in Doctor who.
Ethan Slater hasn’t been in Wicked before, but one of his understudies for Spongebob (Jesse JP Johnson) has played Boq many times so there’s some overlap with the role
I totally accept your anxiety about the casting of Jeff Goldblum but I love him to bits and he's the reason I now care about the fact that this movie is going to exist at all. I dislike the musical style of Wicked, I dislike the bitchy American college trope, Defying Gravity was so ridiculously overplayed and oversung when the musical first came out that it's eternally etched into my brain as a song sung by teenagers who don't know how good they aren't at singing... But there's a Goldblum! So I'll take a chance on it. Side note: His National Geographic documentary series "The World According to Jeff Goldblum" on Disney+ is just the best thing ever!
They’re doing it to meet the BFI certification requirements for Film Tax Relief from HMRC. They can either qualify as a certified British film or Co Production. Film tax relief is available for British qualifying films if they: either pass the cultural test or qualify as an official co-production are intended for theatrical release have a minimum UK core spend requirement of 10%, including those made under official co-production treaties Tax relief is available on qualifying UK production expenditure on the lower of either 80% of total core expenditure or the actual UK core expenditure incurred. There is no cap on the amount which can be claimed. The film production company responsible for the film needs to be within the UK Corporation Tax net.
The casting if intriguing and eclectic. Bowen Yang is not only in SNL and he was in the gay themed movie - FIRE ISLAND. I always enjoy your reviews and vlogs 👍🙏😎
@@samuelblachon95130, and my expectations are limited because In the Heights was almost unwatchable. I had high hopes for In the Heights because Chu did such great things with Crazy Rich Asians, but ITH was just so long and boring. Pretty, but boring. My family added it to the list of awful movies I've suggested that disqualify me from voting on what movies we go to.
Funny how the character of Avaric in the show is Fiyero's driver who nearly runs Elphaba over when he arrives at Shiz. Apparently in the books he's roomies with Boq. 'He is the son of the Margreave of Tenmeadows and attends Shiz University’s Briscoe College with Boq, the two being roommates and friends, although Boq appears to be jealous of Avaric's good looks, charm, and money.'
I’m surprised they didn’t put Goldbulm as Dillamond and ask Joel Grey to reprise as The Wizard. I know he’s 90 but - it’s not going to be a very demanding role on screen. Or maybe he said no, but that would have been my first choice within this film for an OBC reprisal after they announced Cynthia and Ariana.
I really wanted amber riley on the role as Elphaba. Her version of Defying Gravity in the Wicked tribute concert gave me goosebumps. I am not upset at any of this casting. I am excited for this.
Omg Jeff Goldblum has done so many amazing films before Jurassic park. The Big Chill (83), The Fly (86), and Silverado (85) just to name a few. He is going to surprise everyone. Can’t wait for the movie. Disappointed it’s in two parts!
Dillamond has been cast, but like Marissa Bode, he's not known name. Hannah Waddingham was never playing Morrible, that was just wishful thinking for some people.
Ethan Slater also did a couple of stage roles this year! He did Assassins and Good Night, Oscar shortly after that. (He was never in Wicked on stage though)
Okay ... most excited about Morrible cause Michelle Yeoh is a blast. She is amazing. I read the WICKED book a few years ago. It is dark stuff and very complicated. I THINK Averiq was a member a Fiyeros buddys. If i remember correct his plotline Was very dark. The Boys had a very unhealthy partylife, i mean He had a gay Lovestory with one of the other Boys (not really said but implicated), used drugs, slept with everything and then got a misterious disease which Reminded me very much to HIV. It Was not an important plotline ... but it Showed the downfall of Oz. Like I said, the books are very dark and kinda Hard too read. And maybe i am completly wrong.
Originally in the book, Averic was a Student at Shiz. So for him to be returning to his Student position in the movie is just good. Staying true to the source material that the musical is based on Jonny Boy! #LoveIt
Me just waiting & wondering why they haven't announced Dr Dillamond yet. I wanted Hannah as Madame Morrible but I can't wait for Michelle's take! I'm not thrilled with Jeff Goldblum but I'm willing to be wrong when I watch the films. He just always plays same character, kinda like Ariana has in most of her things too.
Michelle Yeoh can indeed sing… she has some background in musical theater. This is her actual singing voice: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qFWy0D0j_kU.html
@@oldschoolabrahamhicks2742 I saw in an article that it said it was her voice, but now I am not entirely sure. The same article said she sings “Kiss the Girl” in Tomorrow Never Dies, but I have found that clip.
@@kac5318 It's just the mouth doesn't match the sound, obvs she could be miming when she's acting but it just didn't look like it to me- plus it was a really exquisite operatic voice lol
Check out Jeff Goldblum in The Fly....and perhaps Invasion of the Body Snatchers. For a more up to date item, he did a sting on Law and Order: Criminal Intent....
i think the JG casting as the Wizard - PERFECTION!!! imagine - his mannerisms and all that is expected from a JG performance - will be perfect - ... or horrible.... lol have you seen THE FLY ... The Big Chill ... Earth Girls are Easy ... "be afraid, be very afraid"
with the pipeline from theatre to television it’s probably more a “who you know” thing as there isn’t much cross over unless tv casting directors and associates are purposely going to see shows, which they do tend more to see plays than musicals.
Ok….YOU HAVEN’T READ THE BOOK????….. I very much like the musical and got to see the first night in London…. But …. YOU HAVEN’T READ THE BOOK… the book is brilliant….. the musical and this particular book are VERY different in tone….. and it’s BLOODY BRILLIANT… take a time out and READ THE BOOK!!!!
Well, doctor dillamond should be a CGI goat... In the Oz lore, he is a regular goat, just that he talks. Some animals talk, others don't, he's not really a goat person... So, I'm hoping it's Andy Serkis or Ben wishaw
Cynthia is amazing but I’m concerned about the age. Glinda and Elphaba are supposed to be the same age but maybe she’ll look younger with green makeup 😬
Hi MickeyJo I love your videos! I have a stagey question for you: do you think it is ok to take my 14 year old daughter to the Book of Mormon? She really wants to go, and there is a ticking clock for it since it closes in the West end in April. What do you think, I would love your advice.
I’m in the middle of the video but I like to say I’m surprised about Goldblum and Yeoh as the Wizard and Morrible. But I’m in favor of Ethan Slater and Keala Sattle 100% percent
Is Shiz a community college in this version of Oz? Cuz there are a lot of 30-somethings going to class here. They're going to need significantly more make-up, moisturizer, and de-aging tech than the more age-appropriate cast of the Mean Girls movie.
We are used to seeing that most of teenagers on shows are played by actors on their 20's so having college students played by actors on their late 20's or early 30's makes more sense
Love the casting for Nessarose but interested to see how the Wicked Witch of the East scene plays out if the actress isn't able to stand. Not sure what the actress's abilities are limited to...
Hurray for diversity ❤🎉 I am very excited for Jeff Goldblum as the wizard 😅 It would be very strange not to have a dr Dilimand 🤨 hopefully they’re doing something with this
I am a big fan of Wicked, have seen it on stage 5 times. Not happy with the casting of Ariana Grande as Galinda/Glinda. I don't think she has what it takes. However, maybe she will prove me wrong... though I don't think she will! Wink, Wink. I am pretty sure Dr. Dillamond with be CGI but time will tell. As long as it's not James Cordon as I have heard it will be. Love your videos, watch them as soon as you post them. Hugs from the USA.
She definitely has what it takes. The average person only knows her as Ariana the pop star. From what we’ve seen so far, she is totally Glinda rn. From her vocals in recent songs to the way she acts, it’s not the pop star Ariana everyone knows. She’s def gonna prove all the doubters wrong and I can’t wait!
Sadly, most of the musical theater to movie adaptations have been disappointing - Les Miz, Phantom, Cats, etc... They don't always cast the best musical match... Hope they get this one right.
