Wicked Director Jon M Chu Opens Up About Phone Call With Star Wars’ George Lucas – News18

Last Updated:December 23, 2024, 14:26 IST

In an interview, the director shared that George FaceTimed him after being amazed at Wicked. He added that he had never met the latter, but the Star Wars creator called to tell him how much he appreciated his work.

Wicked has created a significant buzz among movie enthusiasts. The adaptation of the hit stage musical by the same name has been receiving positive reviews for its plot and stellar performance by the cast members. In the latest, the director Jon M. Chu revealed he had received a surprising call from Star Wars creator George Lucas praising the film. In an interview, the director shared that George FaceTimed him after being amazed at Wicked. He added that he had never met the latter, but the Star Wars creator called to tell him how much he appreciated his work.

In a conversation with CBS, Jon M. Chu stated, “So I got that call randomly this week. He was still at the mall where he had just seen [Wicked]. And he called me, and we FaceTimed, and he couldn’t have been more kind. He’s like, “You know, I make movies.” And I said, “Yes.” And he’s like, “I see all the elements in that movie. I know how hard it is to pull it all together.” It’s so nice when you see leaders like that, creative leaders, who actually reach out and are just so kind and say we’re doing this together.”

After the success of Wicked, the second part is set to be released next year. It has been officially titled Wicked: For Good. Speaking about the sequel, Jon M. Chu stated, “To make choices, it takes a lot of bravery. To stay in those choices, why defend a home that doesn’t want you? These are the questions that we get to explore in movie two.”

Wicked is based on Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman’s stage musical, which was inspired by Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel. The film depicts the first act of the musical and follows Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, as she begins her path to becoming the Wicked Witch of the West. Ariana Grande plays Glinda, who eventually becomes Glinda the Good. The story, set in the Land of Oz before Dorothy arrives from Kansas, focuses on Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship. The film also stars Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum. Recently, the National Board of Review (NBR) has named Wicked as the best film of 2024.