If Gaga is going to campaign, get nominated and possibly win Best Supporting actress then I would see her next move as pursuing a film career in possibly a non-singing role. Barbara's version of Gypsy will probably become greenlit if both agree to it especially with them both being in the public eye with Star is Born.
Pay attention to Hannah John-Kamen, she's been in a plethora of major blockbusters this year and has a working relationship with Spielberg. She also originated the role of Viva in Viva Forever on the west end.
I think production scheduling is referring more to the fact that they need more time to shoot the film than planned otherwise it's going smoothly if they're at production scheduling stage they're far enough along to start casting, I wouldn't expect a huge delay. Perhaps a move from Christmas to Spring or Summer 2020.
If Lady Gaga can pull off the early twenties look in the green make up she could be a serious contender with her Oscar buzz.
Schwartz last mentioned that they are looking for legitimate actresses who can sing soprano and belt for the leads. I expect new comers to be cast when originating the roles for the film version.
There is enough roles to stunt cast with the supporting actors who don't require intensive vocals. You can have an all star cast and two unknown singing or theatre background leads if you go for A list Stars for Fiyero, Morrible, Wizard, Boq, Dillamon
I could see Lily as either Elphaba or Glinda to be honest, her voice seemed good in Mamma Mia, certainly better than what we've gotten in some musical films.
Patrick Stewart or James Earl Jones for the Wizard. Even George Clooney maybe?
Maybe they could even change Morrible to be more glamorous and younger and go with someone like Lady Gaga, if they keep the older more sinister route they could go Julie Andrews, Helen Mirren, Imelda Staunton or Helena Bonh
It's going to look weird on screen either way, cgi cats dancing or people dressed as Cats combined with the lack of a plot is going to make this film a hard sell. I feel like Cats doesn't lend itself well to the film medium it's going to be difficult to transfer it to screen.
I think they've signed Anne Hathaway for Grizzabella and Rihanna as Bombalurina according to circulating rumours.
Worth noting Cats was first announced in May 2016 and Wicked announced its release date in June 2016, I still think there will be plenty of time for both to be on target. I think Cats will maybe get released around September or October. This one just doesn't have the appeal or hype of a big Christmas blockbuster like Les Miserables or Grea
Hopefully this frees up Daldry's schedule for Wicked. It's still very much seeming like the December 2019 date is what they are aiming for. I've noticed that some European dates were set on Universal's foreign websites for 18th and 19th December.
I think Julie Andrews would be so perfect for Morrible, it's unlike anything she's ever done before and she could definitely still sing the part. Dare I say even Dick Van Dyke as the Wizard or maybe someone outside the box like Patrick Stewart.
This will probably be released by 2021 at the latest. This is one of the films that Perfect World Pictures had selected rights to co-produce and co-finance with Universal with their multi-film slate deal. The contract they have with universal is for five years and it started early 2016, if it's not released Christmas 2019 as planned they'll probably schedule it for the following summer or Winter in 2020. Expect Wicked to be a co-production between Universal, Perfect World an
Last thing I seen about the film was from someone's Instagram story at the Oz-stravaganza event, Stephen said they were past planning stages and starting to think about casting, Daldry is still involved.
Apparently word is Stephen Schwartz talked a bit about the film at some convention this weekend, he may have said it was in pre production and they were casting soon according to twitter.
Reports are out that Daldry will direct the Obi-Wan film in Spring 2019 so Wicked won't be released December 2019 for sure it would take too much scheduling to squeeze in pre-production, filming, editing and a press tour for him to be available for Wicked and he's been developing this film and the screenplay since around 2013 when he was first announced so he probably won't leave the director chair, it's looking more likely we will see Wicked around 2021.
If anyone has heard her singing The Song that goes like this in Carpool karaoke it makes me think she'd be better at playing Glinda and might be able to pull it off better. Ofcourse I'm dumping this into the rumour mill regardless because it's very unlikely.
Executives studies in the industry are showing musical films are in demand with young and family audiences with further profits generated in chart topping album sales and opportunity with a lengthier cinema run with releases of additional sing-a-long screenings. Expect this year to have a lot of announcements for musical themed films.
To be honest I'm expecting news later in the year. I know Stephen Schwartz is going to be tied up for a while writing this Hans Christian musical which has been a pipe dream for him. Fortunately movie musicals are very profitable at the moment since the release of La La Land, Beauty and the Beast and The Greatest Showman and as far as I know Mamma Mia 2 is tracking very well with audiences. I'd expect Wicked to accelerate sooner rather than later.
