Jonathan Bailey Joins the Wicked Movies
Bridgerton’s out and proud LGBTQ+ actor, Jonathan Bailey, is joining the cast of Wicked as Fiyero! The two part production will also feature Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba. The first of the two adaptations is slated for release at Christmas in 2024, and the second is scheduled for release exactly twelve months later during Christmas in 2025.
Director Jon M. Chu took to Twitter to excitedly make the announcement to the world.
“He’s perfect, they’re perfect. They’d be perfect together. Born to be forever…I am too excited to pretend this hasn’t been happening,” tweeted Chu.
Stephen Schwartz scored the music and wrote the lyrics for the original Broadway show, and has also signed on to the Universal production. No stranger to success, Wicked opened on Broadway in 20o3 and continues to run as the second most successful show on Broadway ever, behind The Lion King. Winnie Holzman, who scripted The Wonder Years and My So-Called Life, is writing the screenplay for this adaptation.
When the multi-production extravaganza was announced, Chu wrote a statement explaining the decision for two films.
“We decided to give ourselves a bigger canvas and make not just one ‘Wicked’ movie but two … With more space, we can tell the story of ‘Wicked’ as it was meant to be told while bringing even more depth and surprise to the journeys for these beloved characters.”
Fiyero is an important character in the Wicked world and Jonathan Bailey seems like the perfect fit. If you’re questioning the man’s ability to step into the world of musical theater, check out this awesome snapshot of him singing below.
Apart from Bridgerton, Bailey is booked to appear beside Matt Bomer in a Very Gay Role in a screen adaptation of Fellow Travelers. The film is based on the novel of the same title by Thomas Mallon.
Watch this space for more Wicked information as it comes to pass.
