Summary
Universal Pictures announced a new release date forWicked, the highly anticipated feature-length flick based on the Tony-winning Broadway musical phenomenon of the same name. The first in a planned two-part epic,theWickedmovie is directed by Jon M. Chu(Crazy Rich Asians) and stars Tony and Grammy Award winner Cynthia Erivo and Grammy-winning pop icon Ariana Grande as Elphaba Thropp and Galinda Upland respectively. Like theBroadway musical,Wicked’s cast of charactersis led by Oz’s misunderstood and green-skinned Elphaba, who later becomes the Wicked Witch of the West.
At school, the magically inclined Elphaba meets Galinda (later, Glinda), a popular student who hopes to excel in all things magic, despite being less gifted than Elphie. Although the two women start off as rivals and enemies, they grow to be best friends. Of course, that’s long before the events ofThe Wizard of Oz, which sees the two on different sides of the classic struggle between good and evil. Much like 2023’sBarbie, theWickedmovieis primed to be one of fall 2024’s biggest hits — butit isn’t the only film capable of topping ticket sales.
Wicked’s New Release Date Is The Same As Gladiator 2
The Tonally Contrasting Movies Are Reminiscent Of 2023’s Barbie & Oppenheimer
Originally slated for a November 27 release date,Wickedis now opening on Friday, November 22 — the weekend before Thanksgiving. Thescheduling shift means thatWickedwill no longer go head-to-head with its fellow musical,Moana 2, but it does set up 2024’s answer to the Barbenheimer movie event of 2023. As the portmanteau suggests, Barbenheimer was the name given to the dual opening of Greta Gerwig’sBarbieand Christopher Nolan’sOppenheimerin July 2023. Instead of just feeding into box office competition,the Barbenheimer event spawned a fun audience reaction, with viewers planning unofficial double features.
Although beating Barbenheimer would be tough,Wicked/Gladiatorhas a real shot.
When it comes toWicked’s choice of opening weekend, the musical will now be paired withRidley Scott’sGladiator II, the long-awaited sequelto his Oscar-winning feature from 2000. WhileBarbieis a storied brand with a rich history, Nolan’s films are treated like franchise features wherein Nolan himself is the brand. Tonally, however,BarbieandOppenheimercouldn’t be more different. Similarly,Broadway’sWickedand the firstGladiatorfilm are both award-winning titans, but the films' tones and subjects make for a stark contrast. Although beating Barbenheimer would be tough,Wicked/Gladiatorhas a real shot.
Gladiator II
Gladiator 2 is the follow-up to Ridley Scott’s award-winning film Gladiator from 2000. Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta. Gladiator 2 had been stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.
Wicked & Gladiator 2 Being 2024’s Barbenheimer Is Great News
The Odd Couple Could Replicate Barbenheimer’s Box Office Magic
There’s no denying thatBarbieandOppenheimerleveraged the Barbenheimer discourse to their advantage. While some viewers pitted the movies against each other in terms of box office stats or awards wins, there’s really no comparing the vastly different films. Instead, the synergy helped to create a massive pop culture moment. Audiences plotted out their own double features, leading to even more success. Ultimately,Barbiebecame the 3rd 21st-century movieto cross the $1 billion mark, whileOppenheimermade $953.8 million. After a rocky 2024, the combined efforts ofWickedandGladiator 2could provide a similar bump.
BothWickedandGladiator IIare slated for a August 22, 2025 release date.
Wicked
Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
