Legendary Director Almost Directed Wicked

A celebrated, Oscar-winning filmmaker known for some of the biggest blockbusters of all time has revealed that he once came close to directing Wicked, years before Jon M. Chu’s hit adaptations reached theaters. The revelation sheds new light on the long and winding journey the beloved Broadway musical took to the big screen.

Why James Cameron didn’t direct Wicked

James Cameron, known for helming films like Titanic and the Avatar franchise, shared that he “almost made Wicked” years ago, confirming that he met with Universal Pictures about adapting Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel and the hit 2003 Broadway musical. His comments surfaced during The Town with Matthew Belloni podcast, where he discussed why grand-scale storytelling has become the key to securing big theatrical budgets.

As Cameron explained, films must increasingly feel like spectacles or “events” for studios to invest heavily in them, something that seemingly drew him to Wicked initially. “The kind of movies that I like to watch, let’s say Dune or even Wicked,” he said. “I almost made Wicked back when. I really love the story, I mean, The Wizard of Oz is one of my favorite [movies]. This is going back 15 years,” Cameron added.

However, the project ultimately slipped away. Cameron joked that he “couldn’t find the song,” suggesting that he struggled to fully envision his take on the musical form. Still, he did not dismiss the idea entirely, adding, “I don’t know… Well, my favorite movie is a musical, Wizard of Oz.”

His near-involvement shows attempts were made to adapt Wicked before Chu’s version made it to the screen. Across the years, stars like Whoopi Goldberg, Salma Hayek, Nicole Kidman, Emma Thompson, Claire Danes, Lady Gaga, Laurie Metcalf, and Michelle Pfeiffer were linked to various early development efforts. Directors such as J.J. Abrams, Rob Marshall, Ryan Murphy, and others were also reportedly considered.

Meanwhile, the Wicked films that did reach audiences have soared commercially. The first installment grossed $758 million worldwide, and Wicked: For Good has earned $253 million globally. It seems to be career highs for stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and director Jon M. Chu.

Source: Comingsoon.net