The holiday release calendar is shifting again.Wicked, the hotly-anticipated big-screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, has moved its release date up five days, from November 27 to November 22.Deadline reportsthat the film will now arrive the weekend before the American Thanksgiving weekend, which greatly changes the nature of its competition.
With the release date change,Wickedavoids Disney’s animated sequelMoana 2, but lands in the arena withRidley Scott’s sword-and-sandal sequelGladiator II. This could lead to another “Barbenheimer” scenario, in whichOppenheimer, an R-rated, male-aimed historical film from an acclaimed director, faced off againstBarbie, a film with a built-in female audience - and both won, leading to enormous box office dividends for both. Will this come to pass, leading to box office glory for both films? Or will audiences give the pairing a “thumbs down”, dumping a pail of water on future plans for the release ofWicked’s second installment? Also, will anyone come up with a portmanteau title half as good as “Barbenheimer”?
What Can Audiences Expect From Wicked and Gladiator II?
Wickedcomes from directorJon M. Chu, and is an adaptation of the hit stage musical bySteven SchwartzandWinnie Holzman. The musical itself is an adaptation of the 1995 novel byGregory Maguire, which itself was a take onL. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz. It follows the story of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), a green-skinned outcast with wicked witchery in her future, and her friend Galinda (Ariana Grande).Michelle Yeoh,Jeff Goldblum, andPeter Dinklagealso star in the film, which is being split into two halves, with the second expected to arrive in November 2025.Gladiator IIis the much-anticipated sequel to the 2000Russell CroweOscar-winnerGladiator. It is set decades after the original film; Lucius, the former heir to the empire, has grown up intoPaul Mescal. He’s been living in exile, but destiny comes calling as he is enslaved and forced into the gladiatorial arena. Joining him there is a star-studded cast that includesPedro Pascal,Denzel Washington, andJoseph Quinn.
Other movies that might challenge theWicked-Gladiatordue for box office supremacy this holiday season includeRobert Zemeckis’Tom Hanks/Robin WrightreunionHere, the A24Hugh GranthorrorHeretic, and the Christmas action comedyRed One, all of which will come out the week prior.
WickedandGladiator IIare now both slated for Friday, November 22. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates, and watch the official trailer forWickedbelow.
