Inside the Making of ‘Wicked'
Years later, the composer Stephen Schwartz contacted Holzman to ask if she'd be interested in adapting Maguire's book for the stage. The musical they wrote together opened in 2003, and it is now one of the most successful shows in Broadway history. The producers started talking about a movie adaptation, but Holzman was cautious: 'We had to really kind of clear our minds and kind of reconceive the whole story.'
The film version of 'Wicked' opened in 2024, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, and with a screenplay by Holzman and Dana Fox. It is one of the highest-grossing movies of the year and is nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Winnie Holzman joins Gilbert Cruz, the editor of the Book Review, to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of adapting your own adaptation.
We would love to hear your thoughts about this episode and about the Book Review's podcast in general. You can send them to books@nytimes.com.
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