Summary
Wicked: Part Onehas changed its release date. The long-awaited movie adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande wasoriginally set to release on Wednesday, November 27, which is the day before Thanksgiving and the same day that Disney’sMoana 2is slated to be released. The followingWickedmovieis scheduled to debut in theaters approximately a year later, on June 20, 2025, with director Jon M. Chu adapting the second act of the musical’s story.
According toDeadline,Wickedwill now come to theaters on Friday, November 22.Wickedwill share its new release date with Ridley Scott’s long-gestating sequelGladiator II,starring Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, and Pedro Pascal. This leavesMoana 2without any high-profile new films releasing alongside it during Thanksgiving weekend.
Why Wicked: Part One’s Release Date Is Good News
Wicked: Part One Has More Room To Flourish
Getting to seeWickedfive days earlier than anticipated automatically makes its new release good news. Beyond that,facing off againstGladiator IIis likely a better scenarioforWickedthan facing off againstMoana 2. During Thanksgiving weekend, a weekend where many families go to the movie theater, more were likely to choose the animated adventureMoana 2overWicked, especially with the former generally being more appealing to younger audiences.
Wicked Cast & Character Guide: Who Stars In The Broadway Musical Adaptation?
The characters of the Broadway hit Wicked head to the big screen with a cast that includes a pop star, an Oscar winner, and numerous stage veterans.
WithWickedbeing seen as a movie aimed more at a female audience andGladiator IIbeing aimed at more of a male audience, there ispotential to recreate a Barbenheimer phenomenon. Barbenheimer proved that the “boy movie” and the “girl movie” can do incredibly well simultaneously, with their concurrent releases actually helping with marketing and turning opening weekend into an event.Wickedbeing an adaptation of a popular Broadway musical andGladiator IIbeing a sequel to an iconic movie doesn’t have quite the same newness as promisedbyBarbieandOppenheimer, but it could reap the same rewards.
Wickedcan still benefit from the Thanksgiving weekend crowd, but it won’t have the same opening weekend pressure of facing the practically surefire success ofMoana 2. As cherished asGladiatoris, the premise ofGladiator IIis still being met with skepticismas it won’t feature Russell Crowe in his career-defining role from the original film, and will have a difficult time outdoing its predecessor’s powerful ending. If that skepticism continues, it could be another way thatWicked: Part Onebenefits and potentially outperforms the action-packed sequel.
Wicked
Cast
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.
