Wicked film likely?

As excitement continues to surround the opening of the Australian production of the blockbuster musical Wicked, there is renewed speculation that the show could be turned into a multi-million dollar film.

As the movie-musical comeback continues - the most recent success story being Mamma Mia!, which has achieved extraordinary publicity - there is talk that Elphaba and Glinda could soon be taking on the silver screen.Producer Marc Platt has told Variety that he and Wicked co-producer David Stone are currently in "early movie talks" with Universal Pictures. Winnie Holzman, who penned the Tony-nominated book for Wicked, would write the film's screenplay. No casting has been mentioned.

Universal Pictures production president Donna Langley said: "Our goal now is absolutely to make the Wicked film, but much like Judy Craymer wouldn't give up screen rights to Mamma Mia! until the stage show had reached its pinnacle, Marc and Stephen Schwartz are very mindful of the right timing. But we're dying to do it."

Wicked is a smash hit all around the world and it would seem similar success is likely in Australia, with extremely positive reviews following last Saturday's premiere in Melbourne. Early reports indicate the show has done incredibly well at the box office this week and is likely to run for at least a year the Regent Theatre.

60,000 new seats went on sale on Monday for the Melbourne season, which has been given no closing date at this stage.Meanwhile, Wicked's youngest cast member says the experience of being involved with the show has been "absolutely amazing".

17-year-old Romina Villafranca, who is in the show's ensemble, said she is loving the experience of working on such a mammoth show.

"We have had a great response, and have been given a few standing ovations," she told the Illawarra Mercury.

"It is such an awesome show and the cast are absolutely fantastic, particularly the leads ... they are all really genuine people."

In his review of Wicked for AussieTheatre.com, Troy Dodds said, in part: "So often we look at shows and it’s easy to pinpoint errors and when they were made, whether it was in the casting room, the rehearsal process or the day-to-day performances themselves. Wicked, however, gets it so right. The casting is strong, the staging is wonderful, the direction and musical direction is spot on and as expected given its international success, the script is tight and punchy."

Aussietheatre.com