Musical theater’s about to get wickedly experimental. NBC just dropped a bombshell that’s sending ripples through Broadway circles — they’re bringing “Wicked” to the small screen in a groundbreaking live special featuring powerhouse duo Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. And yeah, it’s kind of a big deal.
The whole thing’s going down this fall at L.A.’s Peacock Theater (fitting name, right?). But here’s where it gets interesting: this isn’t just another tired TV musical adaptation. It’s actually the first time “Wicked” has ever allowed its songs to hit broadcast television in this format — after 22 years of zealously guarding its theatrical magic.
Jon M. Chu dropped the news at NBCUniversal’s upfront presentation at Radio City Music Hall. The guy’s basically become Hollywood’s musical whisperer at this point, and you could practically feel his excitement bouncing off Radio City’s art deco walls. “Something that’s never been done in the 22-year history of ‘Wicked,’” he gushed. Talk about raising the stakes.
The timing? Pretty genius, actually. Sandwiched between the first “Wicked” film and its sequel (“Wicked: For Good,” swooping into theaters November 21, 2025), this special’s working overtime. It’s part victory lap, part hype machine, and completely calculated to keep audiences spellbound between installments.
But what’s really got theater nerds buzzing is Chu’s cryptic hint about “wonderful surprise guests” and possibly sneaking in some material from the sequel. He even joked about having fly monkeys posted around the theater to prevent anyone from recording his preview of the “Wicked: For Good” trailer. Classic industry paranoia meets Broadway dramatics — you love to see it.
The special’s definitely not playing it safe. Matching Erivo’s raw theatrical power with Grande’s pop princess prowess? That’s either brilliant or bonkers — probably both. Stephen Schwartz’s score’s about to get a fresh spin that’ll have purists clutching their playbills while TikTok explodes with hot takes.
Let’s be real — this is NBC throwing everything at the wall during a time when traditional TV’s fighting for relevance. Live events are network television’s last real trump card against the streaming tsunami, and this one’s got all the ingredients: Broadway cred, movie star voltage, and the kind of must-watch appeal that makes people actually tune in live (imagine that).
The next-day Peacock streaming option’s just icing on the emerald cake. Because in 2025, even appointment television needs a backup plan.
For “Wicked” fans, this special’s like finding an extra chapter in their favorite spell book. For NBC, it’s a shot at proving broadcast TV can still conjure up some real magic. And for everyone else? Well, something has changed within them — something is not the same. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)
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