Wicked has become the highest-grossing film adaptation of a stage musical, surpassing Mamma Mia. The film, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, has grossed $635 million (£506 million) worldwide, according to Universal. This total also puts it 5% ahead of Mamma Mia 2, excluding Chinese box office figures.
In the UK and Ireland, the film added $3.4 million (£2.7 million) last weekend, a 7% increase from the previous weekend, contributing to a global boost of $34.1 million (£27.2 million) over the weekend. The movie is a prequel to The Wizard of Oz (1939) and explores the friendship between Glinda and Elphaba before they become estranged, based on L Frank Baum’s classic stories.
Grande received her first Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for her role as Glinda, while British star Erivo was nominated for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical for her portrayal of the green-skinned witch Elphaba.
A follow-up film, Wicked: For Good, is set for release in 2025. The two-part film adaptation of the Broadway hit has been in development since the stage version debuted in 2003, earning Idina Menzel a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her role as Elphaba.
The film, which also stars Peter Dinklage, Jeff Goldblum, and Jonathan Bailey, received a PG rating from the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) for “discrimination” due to the bullying of the green-skinned witch.
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