EXCLUSIVE: After adapting Lin Manuel-Miranda’s On the heights for Warner Bros., Jon M. Chu aims to adapt one of Broadway’s biggest hits. Sources told Deadline that Chu will direct Universal’s film Wicked, the film adaptation of the record musical phenomenon that is in its 17th year of great success on Broadway.
The three award-winning theatrical musical Tony was adapted from the bestselling novel by Gregory Maguire, writer Winnie Holzman and songwriter and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, who are also collaborating on adapting the script. Marc Platt will produce for his Marc Platt Productions, from Universal. Wicked is produced on Broadway by Universal Stage Productions, Platt, the Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.
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Time is everything and in this situation it worked well for both parties. Last autumn, Billy Elliot director Stephen Daldry left the project after the studio was looking to move quickly on the long-awaited adaptation. At the same time, Chu had to part ways with the new Disney + Willow tree series he was planning to direct due to problems with the Covid-19 which continued to increase production. In addition, Chu is expecting a baby. With the Chu program open and Wicked looking for a director, time worked for both sides.
With a national tour and multiple international productions, the musical has already been seen by more than 60 million people worldwide, making it one of the most successful theater enterprises of all time. The winner of more than 100 international awards, including Grammys and three Tony Awards, Wicked was held in more than 100 cities in 16 countries around the world (USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, Germany, Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Philippines, Mexico, Brazil, Switzerland and China ) and has been translated into six languages: Japanese, German, Dutch, Spanish, Korean and Portuguese.
Senior production EVP Erik Baiers and development director Lexi Barta will oversee the project on behalf of Universal.
In addition to adapting On the heights, which will debut in theaters and HBO Max later this year, Chu directed the box office success Crazy Rich Asians for Warner Bros. Chu is represented by UTA, Artists First Inc and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher, LLP.