Off to a flying start! Broadway musical Wicked heading to the big screen with director Stephen Daldry at the helm

By Michelle Ganney For Dailymail.com

Published: 20:52 EST, 16 June 2016 | Updated: 23:00 EST, 16 June 2016

The time has finally come for these witches to hit the big screen and just in time for the holidays - in about three years that is.

Wicked, the iconic Broadway musical, will be turned into a movie and it has been given a release date of December 20, 2019, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Universal Pictures will launch the highly anticipated movie which will be directed by Stephen Daldry, who brought the charming 2000 flick Billy Elliot to the screen.

Wicked news: The iconic Broadway musical Wicked will be turned into a big-screen movie with an expected release date of December 20, 2019

Wicked news: The iconic Broadway musical Wicked will be turned into a big-screen movie with an expected release date of December 20, 2019

There is no word yet on who will play Galinda and Elphaba, the roles that made Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel famous in the original Broadway show. 

Marc Platt, the musical’s original producer, will help bring the famous musical to the big screen.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Gregory Maguire who wrote the book that inspired the musical, and the show’s composer Stephen Schwartz will work together on the screenplay. 

Director appointed: The Universal Pictures film will be directed by Stephen Daldry who helmed the touching 2000 musical drama Billy Elliot

Director appointed: The Universal Pictures film will be directed by Stephen Daldry who helmed the touching 2000 musical drama Billy Elliot

Witches not so wicked: The original Broadway production of Wicked made Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth famous

Witches not so wicked: The original Broadway production of Wicked made Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth famous

The show, which tells the Wizard of Oz story from the viewpoint of its witches, is one of the highest ranked musicals and has been in the pipeline to become a film for quite some time.

According to Broadway.com the film will be an imaginative version of the classic The Wizard of Oz with Wicked spotlighting the untold stories of Oz's most famous and  infamous characters.

The movie will follow the life of green-skinned star Elphaba and explore the life-changing events that eventually labelled her wicked.

Back for more: Marc Platt, the musical's original Broadway producer, will help bring the famous story to the big screen

Back for more: Marc Platt, the musical's original Broadway producer, will help bring the famous story to the big screen

It will obviously include the local prince and heartthrob Fiyero and even the Wizard of Oz himself, a troubled man very unlike the one you may remember.

Elphaba seeks to undo the mistakes of the past that ultimately shaped the history of Oz.

The film promises to pay homage to the classic Wizard of Oz story while simultaneously changing fans' understanding of it forever. 

It will be a cautionary tale about love, friendship and trust, Wicked effortlessly reveals that there are indeed two sides to every story.

Dynamic duo: Gregory Maguire (left) who wrote the book that inspired the musical, and the show’s composer Stephen Schwartz (right) will work together on the screenplay
Dynamic duo: Gregory Maguire (left) who wrote the book that inspired the musical, and the show’s composer Stephen Schwartz (right) will work together on the screenplay

Dynamic duo: Gregory Maguire (left) who wrote the book that inspired the musical, and the show’s composer Stephen Schwartz (right) will work together on the screenplay

 

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