'Wicked' Movie Planned for 2016

'Into the Woods' producer Marc Platt is eyeing a 2016 release date for an adaptation of the Broadway musical 'Wicked'.

With Into the Woods in theaters now, and Oz: The Great and Powerful in theaters less than two years ago, some might think it was too soon for a movie based on the smash Broadway musical Wicked. But if producer Marc Platt has his way, the adaptation will be in theaters by 2016, with Stephen Daldry (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close; The Hours) directing.

Film Divider had previously reported that Vue Cinemas' CEO Tim Richards was looking forward to Wicked as a highlight of the 2016 release calendar. Now Marc Platt confirms with the publication that is the plan, offering a resounding 'Yes' to the rumor. He then went onto say:
"It's not set in stone. The process of developing that movie has begun, we're working on it, and whether it makes 2016 or not, I'm not so sure. 2016 is the goal, but I don't know whether we'll make that goal or not. We will make the movie, but like I said, the bar is really high. We're going to scrutinize our work on the screenplay and our prep on the movie, and when we feel like it's ready, okay. We're not going to shoot a release date is what I'm saying. It's in the works, it's not in a rush. It took 27 years to make 'Into the Woods' into a film from its original stage production, and 30 years with 'Les Mis.' Some things take time for a reason."
Marc Platt was originally set to turn Gregory Maguire's novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West into a movie before it became a stage play in 2003. Winnie Holzman, who wrote the book for the play based off Gregory Maguire's work, is confirmed to be adapting the show into a screenplay. The story follows Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the Good Witch, who find themselves fighting over the same love interest, material that was somewhat explored on the Disney-owned series Once Upon a Time. Wicked is one of the longest running and most successful Broadway shows of all time