‘It’s Just Been a Dream’: Wicked Director Jon M Chu Says He’s ‘Already’ Developing Other Musical Projects

As an ardent admirer of Jon M Chu‘s cinematic masterpieces, I find myself utterly captivated by his latest endeavors. From the streets of New York to the vibrant landscapes of Crazy Rich Asia, Chu has been weaving enchanting tales that resonate profoundly with me. His recent success with Wicked, a film that defied expectations and garnered over $500 million at the global box office on a mere $150 budget, is nothing short of astounding.

Under the direction of Jon M. Chu, the movie “Wicked” turned out to be one of his most successful productions, earning over $500 million worldwide after being produced with a budget of just $150 million. Some other well-known works by Chu include “Crazy Rich Asians,” “In the Heights,” “Step Up 2: The Streets,” and several others.

Following the global acclaim from Wicked’s success, Chu has found himself drawn towards creating more musical ventures. In a chat with Comic Book Resources, this renowned director shared insights into his future aspirations and the musical projects he’s currently engaged in.

He shared that he’s currently working on “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” one of his cherished shows from childhood, as he disclosed. Chu hinted they haven’t finalized a script yet but collaborating with music maestro Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and songwriter Sir Tim Rice has been an unbelievable experience for him, almost surreal.

1982 saw the debut of a Broadway musical adapted from the biblical character Joseph from the Book of Genesis, featuring music lyrics penned by renowned musicians. Besides continuing to produce live-action musicals, Chu is now also eager to explore animation musicals. His upcoming project involves animating Dr. Seuss’s book “Oh, the Places You’ll Go.

He mentioned to the news source that he’s teaming up with Ben Pasek and Justin Paul on that project. I get to partner with some of the top music creators globally,” stated Chu, having previously collaborated with the acclaimed composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz on Wicked.

He’s also worked with Tony, Grammy, and Emmy-winning actor/songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda in the 2021 musical In The Heights. “It’s just been a dream for any director, let alone someone who loves theater,” the director added. 

The idea of turning one of Dr. Seuss’s cherished books into a movie has been around since the 90s. In 2020, it was officially confirmed that an animated musical based on the book was being developed at Warner Bros. Studios. According to CBR, Chu joined the project in 2021 to co-direct with Jill Culton.

The director shared with the media that he had always cherished animated musicals such as The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, along with others. He explained, “For me, music was simply a part of my language. I don’t view it as something distinct. To me, it’s just another way to convey stories – an additional form of expression, more powerful than dialogue alone.

Wicked is currently in theaters. 

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2024-12-27 00:22