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\"So we decided to give ourselves a bigger canvas and make not just one Wicked movie but two!\" he continued. \"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 of these beloved characters.\"

As previously reported, Grammy winner Ariana Grande will play Glinda the Good Witch while Tony Award-winning actress Cynthia Erivo has been cast as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West.

\"PHOTO:
FilmMagic via Getty Images, FILE|Dave J Hogan/Getty Images, FILE
PHOTO: Ariana Grande arrives at the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards on Feb. 8, 2015, in Los Angeles|Cynthia Erivo attends the "The Eternals" UK Premiere on Oct. 27, 2021 in London.
>

Chu said of the leading ladies' commitment to making the film, \"[We] pledge to create nothing less than an experience that honors its foundation for all fans who've waited for this movie, and to offer a thrilling, fantastical world full of dynamic characters that invites in those who are unfamiliar.\"

The \"Crazy Rich Asians\" filmmaker then unveiled the first film's release date, saying it will arrive in December 2024.

\"Wicked,\" a musical retelling of \"The Wizard of Oz\" originally starring Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel as Glinda and Elphaba, respectively, made its Broadway debut in 2003. It's based on the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel, \"Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.\"

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