Amid collapsing distribution windows in the streaming age, Universal Pictures’ Wicked will get a broadcast airing on NBC on Nov. 19, less than a year after the film’s Nov. 22, 2024 theatrical release. The move is designed to promote the premiere two days later of Wicked: For Good.
It took Universal Pictures and NBC parent NBCUniversal some serious maneuvering to secure the one-off broadcast run during Wicked’s Pay-One window.
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With the traditional theatrical window shrinking over the past few years, movies head to streaming about three months after their release in theaters. Wicked started its Pay-One window in March on NBCUniversal’s Peacock before shifting to Prime Video four months later. As a linear window comes significantly later (the wait was traditionally at least two years after a movie’s theatrical release), NBCU had to negotiate a deal with Amazon for the NBC airing amid Wicked’s exclusive Pay-One period.
As part of the Wicked: For Good promotional campaign, NBC also will be airing a music special, Wicked: One Wonderful Night, featuring performances from the cast, led by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, on Nov. 6.
Wicked earned $756 million globally, breaking the box-office record for a Broadway film adaptation, and landed 10 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, winning for Production Design and Costume Design. Directed by Jon M. Chu, the movie stars Erivo, Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, with Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum.
Wicked: For Good, also directed by Chu, follows the story of the witches of Oz Elphaba (Erivo) and Glinda (Grande) estranged and living with the consequences of their choices. When a girl from Kansas comes crashing into their lives, they will need to come together one final time, and truly see each other, if they are to change themselves, and all of Oz, for good. The film is produced by Marc Platt and David Stone.
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