One thing Depraved has already arrived — and there’s extra to return. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo introduced the enduring roles of Glinda and Elphaba to life within the first Depraved film, which hit theaters November 22, 2024. Now, audiences are gearing up for the second chapter: Depraved: For Good, set to brush into theaters November 21, 2025. Director Jon M. Chu first teased followers again in April 2023 with pictures on Instagram of Cynthia in Elphaba’s legendary inexperienced and Ariana in Glinda’s pink, captioning it, “Inexperienced & Pink. It at all times begins with inexperienced and pink.”
The films are based mostly on the Tony Award-winning Broadway present, which is a prequel to The Wizard of Oz. A Depraved film was introduced manner again in 2016, however it took till 2021 for the method to essentially get going. From the proficient forged to the discharge dates, the expectations had been very excessive for these two movies. Right here’s every part that you must know in regards to the two Depraved motion pictures.
‘Depraved’ Films Launch Dates
The primary Depraved film, titled Depraved Half One, was launched on November 22, 2024. The sequel, titled Depraved Half Two, comes out precisely one yr afterward November 21, 2025.
The runtime for Depraved Half One is about 2 hours and 40 minutes.
Jon defined why the mission was cut up into two motion pictures again in April 2022. “As we ready this manufacturing during the last yr, it grew to become more and more clear that it will be inconceivable to wrestle the story of WICKED right into a single movie with out performing some actual harm to it,” Jon wrote on Twitter. “We determined to offer ourselves an even bigger canvas and make not only one WICKED film however TWO!! With more room, we will inform the story of WICKED because it was meant to be informed whereas bringing much more depth and shock to the journeys of those beloved characters.”
Particular #Depraved Film Announcement… ✌🏼🎬🧹🌸💚despatched from my OzPhone: pic.twitter.com/4qPpvVD4rR
— Jon M. Chu (@jonmchu) April 26, 2022
Depraved: For Good Trailer
‘Depraved’ Films Forged & Crew
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo had been forged as Glinda and Elphaba, respectively, on November 4, 2021. Each actresses shared the information of their casting on Instagram. Ariana shared a photograph of her fingers over her face as she sat in entrance of an Apple MacBook after studying the information. The pop star additionally shared screenshots of a three-way name between herself, Cynthia, and Jon, adopted by only a name between the women.
In Cynthia’s publish, the British actress held her fingers over her mouth and was in tears as she came upon she acquired the position. Ariana and Cynthia additionally despatched one another flowers with heartfelt notes the place they congratulated one another on the brand new job.
Ariana is taking up the position of Glinda the Good Witch, which was originated by Kristen Chenoweth within the Broadway present. Cynthia is taking part in Elphaba, who was initially portrayed by Idina Menzel on Broadway. Each Kristen and Idina congratulated Ariana and Cynthia on snagging the enduring roles.
The remainder of the forged for the Depraved motion pictures is fairly epic. Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey is taking part in Fiyero, Elphaba’s love curiosity. Jon Chu confirmed Jonathan’s casting in September 2022. “He’s good, they’re good. They’d be good collectively. Born to be without end….. I’m too excited to faux this hasn’t been occurring. We’ve a Fiyero!!!! #JonathanBailey #Depraved,” he wrote on Twitter.
The position of Fiyero within the Depraved motion pictures was a high position for musical actors. Nick Jonas confirmed in June 2023 that he did audition for the position of Fiyero. “Sure, it’s true. Joe and I each went out, and we didn’t get it. However that’s the lifetime of an actor,” Nick informed Selection.
He added, “I feel it went very well. I used to be very joyful popping out of the room. I’m an enormous fan of the present, and that’s a job I at all times thought it will be enjoyable to play. However I feel Jonathan [Bailey] goes to do an amazing job, and I’m certain the film goes to be nice.”
Michelle Yeoh is taking part in Madame Morrible, the headmistress of Crage Corridor at Shiz College. Jeff Goldblum is confirmed to be taking part in The Wizard. Saturday Evening Stay star Bowen Yang is taking part in Pfannee, Elphaba and Glinda’s classmate at Shiz College. The Best Showman star Kaela Settle is taking part in Miss Coddle. The forged additionally consists of Ethan Slater as Boq, Marissa Bode as Nessarose (Elphaba’s sister), Bronwyn James as ShenShen, Aaron Teoh as Avaric, and Colin Michael Carmichael as Professor Nikdik.
Jon M. Chu is directing the Depraved motion pictures from a screenplay written by Winnie Holzman and Stephen Schwartz. Stephen can also be doing the music, which is ready to incorporate a number of the musical’s most basic songs reminiscent of “Defying Gravity” and “Well-liked.” Marc Platt, who’s Ben Platt‘s father, and David Stone are producing the movies. Alice Brooks is the cinematographer, Nathan Crowley is the manufacturing designer, and Paul Tazewell is the costume designer.
Manufacturing Trivia
Rehearsals for Depraved Half One started in August 2022. Each Ariana and Cynthia gave followers some behind-the-scenes glimpses into their rehearsals in October 2022. The duo posed for a cute mirror selfie throughout a break within the rehearsal studio. Ariana underwent a blonde hair makeover that month to play Glinda. Jon Chu confirmed on December 9 that filming had begun three days earlier, in London.
The forged and crew had been imagined to shoot Depraved Half One and Depraved: Half Two again to again. Nonetheless, the SAG-AFTRA strike put manufacturing on maintain in July 2023 when the forged and crew simply had just a few days left of filming. As soon as the strike was over, filming resumed and wrapped up in January 2024.
In March 2024, director Jon M. Chu revealed to Vainness Honest that Cynthia and Ariana insisted on singing dwell whereas filming. “After we had been taking pictures it, these ladies had been like ‘F**ok the pre-records. We’re going dwell,’” he mentioned.
What We Know In regards to the Plot Of the ‘Depraved’ Films
The Depraved movies are anticipated to carefully comply with the plot of the Broadway present, which is definitely based mostly on Gregory Maguire‘s 1995 novel. The story takes place earlier than and after Dorothy Gale arrives in Oz from Kansas and explores the connection between Elphaba and Glinda. The pair begin off as unlikely pals however finally, they turn into adversaries after The Wizard casts a spell on Elphaba which turns her into the Depraved Witch.
Cynthia beforehand teased how the movies are going to be even higher than the musical. “I feel it’s going to be not like something you’ve ever seen earlier than,” Cynthia informed Leisure Tonight on the 2022 SAG Awards. “I feel we’re going to benefit from the magic of it. We’re going to attempt to put our personal spin on what we all know already and present you a narrative about two ladies [who] are sisters,” she added.
Stephen Schwartz confirmed in a June 2022 e-newsletter that there might be new songs within the movies. “There are two new songs within the second film which can be full songs in themselves, after which there are new sections in a number of the present songs in each motion pictures. All the brand new materials, after all, is to satisfy the calls for of the storytelling,” he mentioned.
