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    “Wicked” movie slated for Dec. 2019; Stephen Daldry to direct 

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments1575 Views
    In this Feb. 5, 2015 file photo, Tony Award-winning theater and film director Stephen Daldry poses for a portrait in New York. Daldry will direct the film adaptation of the musical, "Wicked." The film will arrive in theaters in time for the 2019 holiday season. (Photo by Drew Gurian/Invision/AP, File)
    LOS ANGELES (AP) --

    The long-gestating film adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical "Wicked" has been slated for a release on Dec. 20, 2019, Universal Pictures announced Thursday.

    No cast has been set yet, but composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz will be working adaptation with writer Winnie Holzman. Both collaborated on the stage musical, which is based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West."

    The story imagines the world of "The Wizard of Oz" before Dorothy's arrival, focusing in on the tale of two witches, Glinda and Elphaba, who will grow up to become the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West.

    The musical opened in 2003 and is said to have been seen by some 50 million people. The hugely popular show effectively introduced the broader public to stars Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel.

    Stephen Daldry, best known for "Billy Elliott," is set to direct, and "Into the Woods'" Marc Platt will produce.

    Tags:Stephen DaldryWicked



    India’s legendary filmmaker Shyam Benegal dies at age 90

    Tuesday, December 24, 2024
    Indian film directors Shyam Benegal, right, is seen during a discussion on Indian Cinema in Hyderabad, India, Monday, Feb. 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A, File)

    Shyam Benegal, a renowned Indian filmmaker known for pioneering a new wave cinema movement that tackled social issues in the 1970s, has died after suffering from chronic kidney disease. He was 90.

    His contribution to cinema was recognized as a director, editor and screenwriter. He was also credited with a new genre of filmmaking.

    Benegal passed away on Monday at Mumbai's Wockhardt Hospital, and his cremation will take place on Tuesday, the Press Trust of India news agency reported, citing his daughter Piya.

    "Benegal had been suffering from chronic kidney disease for several years but it had gotten very bad. That's the reason for his death," Piya said.

    Many paid tribute to the legendary filmmaker on social media platform X.

    Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt wrote that Benegal told stories without pretense. "They were raw and real, about the struggles of ordinary people. His films had craft and conviction."

    "Deeply saddened by the passing of Shyam Benegal, whose storytelling had a profound impact on Indian cinema. His works will continue to be admired by people from different walks of life," India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.

    He was a mentor to top Indian actors, including Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, and Om Puri who made their mark in Bollywood's popular cinema as well.

    "I have lost my foster father, a man to whom I owe more than I can say," posted Naseeruddin Shah.

    "Shyam Benegal was not just a legend; he was a visionary who redefined storytelling and inspired generations," said actor Manoj Bajpayee.

    Benegal came into the limelight in the 1970s, with a series of films that challenged mainstream Bollywood. His films Ankur (1974), Nishant (1975), Manthan (1976), and Bhumika (1977)... Read More

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