Director Jon M. Chu misses ‘Wicked’ premiere for birth of fifth child

Director Jon M. Chu had a good reason for missing the star-studded Los Angeles premiere of his latest film, Wicked: he was welcoming his fifth child, a baby girl, on November 9—the same day as the pink-and-green celebration.

Chu shared the news on Instagram Stories, calling it a dream come true to welcome "two babies" (his movie and his newborn daughter) at once. With humor, he noted they wouldn’t be naming her “Galphaba,” a playful nod to Wicked characters Elphaba and Glinda.

Wicked, adapted from the Broadway hit, stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Michelle Yeoh, with Part 1 set to premiere in theaters on Nov. 22. While Chu couldn’t be at the event, he encouraged fans to support the cast and crew who brought the film to life.

Chu and his wife, Kristin Hodge, already have four children: Willow, Jonathan, Ruby, and Iggy. During the premiere, Chu shared a touching video of Hodge and their newborn with the caption, "Magic is in the air."