Wicked and Gladiator II set to face off in theaters on same release day

Wicked serves as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, focusing on the unlikely friendship between Elphaba and Galinda.

We'll get to defy gravity sooner than expected.

It was announced on Monday that Wicked will have an exclusive theatrical release on November 22nd.

The updated release date is now a week earlier than originally intended. Initially set to premiere on November 27th alongside Disney's Moana 2, Wicked will now debut on November 22nd, coinciding with Gladiator II's release just before Thanksgiving weekend.

The Wicked movie will bring to life the story from Gregory Maguire's novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, spanning two films. This live-action adaptation has been in development for nearly twenty years and will be directed by Jon M. Chu, known for Crazy Rich Asians.

The Wicked Broadway musical, premiered in 2003, has become a cherished staple of musical theater, grossing over $1 billion on Broadway by 2016. The original production starred Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, both highly anticipated choices for the film adaptation.

What is the plot of the Wicked movie?

Wicked serves as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, focusing on the unlikely friendship between Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Galinda (later known as Glinda the Good Witch). Their story unfolds through contrasting personalities, rivalry for the same love interest, reactions to the Wizard's corrupt rule, and Elphaba's eventual downfall from public favor.

Who is going to star in the Wicked movie?

The cast features Ariana Grande as Galinda, Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Ethan Slater as Boq, Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard, Peter Dinklage as Dr. Dillamond, Bowen Yang and Bronwyn James as Pfannee and ShenShen, Marissa Bode as Elphaba's sister Nessarose, Keala Settle as Miss Coddle, Aaron Teoh as Avaric, and Colin Michael Carmichael as Professor Nikidik.

As noted earlier, Wicked will now premiere exclusively in cinemas on November 22nd.