‘Wicked’ was almost made into a movie 30 years ago …with this “popcorn actress” as Elphaba
A post shared by Wicked Movie (@wickedmovie)Before Cynthia Erivo or Idina Menzel defied gravity, another major leading actress tried to make Wicked into a movie and star as Elphaba.Wicked was just nominated for five SAG Awards, including acting nods for Erivo, Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey, but prior to becoming a box office juggernaut it was almost made 30 years ago with this season’s award show darling – Demi Moore.Subscribe to our newsletter for a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.Wicked has been nominated for five awards at the 2025 SAG Awards!Outstanding Female Actor in a Leading Role (Cynthia Erivo)Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting Role (Ariana Grande)Outstanding Male Actor in a Supporting Role (Jonathan Bailey)Outstanding Cast in a Motion… pic.twitter.com/PdpsK79SLSAfter recent reports came out alleging The Substance actress was almost cast as Elphaba in a non-musical version of Wicked in the ’90s (with Michelle Pfeiffer, Emma Thompson and Nicole Kidman mentioned as possible Glindas), Moore has now come forward to set the record straight. “Many, many years ago – we’re talking 30 years ago at least – I had a production company that was active and we optioned the book for Wicked,” Moore told Entertainment Tonight about the 1995 source novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire. “It was in development at Universal way before it was a musical.” While the project with Moore’s non-defunct Moving Pictures production company never got off the ground, it eventually got turned into the 2003 Tony-winning musical and into the 2024 Jon Chu-directed blockbuster film.Moore harbors no ill-will and actually takes the whole thing as a badge of honor for her producer instincts.“I think it was just maybe a little ahead of its time,” she added. “And I have to say I pat myself a little bit on the back that we found good material.”A post shared by Demi.
