WICKED SHIFTS ITS RELEASE DATE & SETS UP A NEW BOX OFFICE BATTLE
- Wicked: Part One has been rescheduled for November 22.
- It now shares a release date with Gladiator II.
- Wicked was originally set for November 27, the same day as Moana 2.
Wicked: Part One has changed its release date. The long-awaited movie adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande was originally set to release on Wednesday, November 27, which is the day before Thanksgiving and the same day that Disney's Moana 2 is slated to be released. The following Wicked movie is scheduled to debut in theaters approximately a year later, on November 26, 2025, with director Jon M. Chu adapting the second act of the musical's story.
According to Deadline, Wicked will now come to theaters on Friday, November 22. Wicked will share its new release date with Ridley Scott's long-gestating sequel Gladiator II, starring Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, and Pedro Pascal. This leaves Moana 2 without any high-profile new films releasing alongside it during Thanksgiving weekend.
Why Wicked: Part One's Release Date Is Good News
Wicked: Part One Has More Room To Flourish
Getting to see Wicked five days earlier than anticipated automatically makes its new release good news. Beyond that, facing off against Gladiator II is likely a better scenario for Wicked than facing off against Moana 2. During Thanksgiving weekend, a weekend where many families go to the movie theater, more were likely to choose the animated adventure Moana 2 over Wicked, especially with the former generally being more appealing to younger audiences.
Wicked Cast & Character Guide: Who Stars In The Broadway Musical Adaptation?
The characters of the Broadway hit Wicked head to the big screen with a cast that includes a pop star, an Oscar winner, and numerous stage veterans.
With Wicked being seen as a movie aimed more at a female audience and Gladiator II being aimed at more of a male audience, there is potential to recreate a Barbenheimer phenomenon. Barbenheimer proved that the "boy movie" and the "girl movie" can do incredibly well simultaneously, with their concurrent releases actually helping with marketing and turning opening weekend into an event. Wicked being an adaptation of a popular Broadway musical and Gladiator II being a sequel to an iconic movie doesn't have quite the same newness as promised by Barbie and Oppenheimer, but it could reap the same rewards.
Wicked can still benefit from the Thanksgiving weekend crowd, but it won't have the same opening weekend pressure of facing the practically surefire success of Moana 2. As cherished as Gladiator is, the premise of Gladiator II is still being met with skepticism as it won't feature Russell Crowe in his career-defining role from the original film, and will have a difficult time outdoing its predecessor's powerful ending. If that skepticism continues, it could be another way that Wicked: Part One benefits and potentially outperforms the action-packed sequel.
Source: Deadline
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