The Untold Story of 'Wicked's' Journey From Book to Blockbuster

Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg, and Robert Zemeckis were once key players in an abandoned 1990s film adaptation of Gregory Maguire's novel.

Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel 'Wicked' initially sparked interest from major Hollywood figures, including Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg, who competed for the film rights.
Demi Moore's production company optioned the novel, envisioning her as Elphaba, with potential casting ideas for Glinda including Michelle Pfeiffer, Emma Thompson, and Nicole Kidman.
A non-musical screenplay was developed by Disney alum Linda Woolverton, who later suggested adapting the story into a musical, but the project stalled due to budget concerns and creative challenges.
Composer Stephen Schwartz independently pursued the rights to create a musical, eventually convincing Universal producer Marc Platt to back the stage adaptation instead of a film.
The Broadway musical debuted in 2003, becoming a cultural phenomenon and paving the way for the current blockbuster film adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.