James Cameron revealed that he came close to directing the Wicked movie adaptation, sharing that the project once sat on his slate more than a decade ago. The filmmaker, known for blockbuster epics like Titanic and Avatar, said the opportunity arose long before Jon M. Chu took the reins, but he ultimately stepped away because he “couldn’t find the song.”
Speaking on The Town with Matt Belloni podcast, Cameron explained that studios now rely heavily on projects that feel like major cinematic experiences: “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.”
Confirming he met with Universal Pictures to discuss his vision for the adaptation, Cameron added that he “couldn’t find the song” creatively but hasn’t ruled out making a musical in the future.
“I don’t know,” he said. “Well, my favorite movie is a musical, Wizard of Oz.”
Cameron is not the only Hollywood figure who once attempted to bring Wicked to screen. Whoopi Goldberg was among several stars who pursued involvement before the project evolved into the acclaimed Broadway hit by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, starring Idina Menzel as Elphaba and Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda.
Directed by Jon M. Chu, Wicked: For Good based on the musical and Gregory Maguire’s novel—continues the story of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) after their first meeting at Shiz University, including their encounter with the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum). The new installment has delivered a career-best box office opening for the franchise, earning $150 million domestically and $226 million worldwide.
Source: Deadline