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Entertainment Stephen Daldry exits as Wicked director

13:40  21 october  2020
13:40  21 october  2020 Source:   msn.com

Gregory Maguire says his latest book 'is like comfort food'

Gregory Maguire says his latest book 'is like comfort food' NEW YORK (AP) — Gregory Maguire attributes the first grain of the idea for his new book “A Wild Winter Swan” to “Mary Poppins” author P.L. Travers. He met her 25 years ago as he was getting ready to publish the hugely popular “Wicked," written from the perspective of the witches in Oz. “We talked about fairy tales that we loved and mythology that we were attracted to, and when the subject of Hans Christian Andersen came up she said, ‘Well, there's that boy with one wing,'" (from “The Wild Swans.”) 'Give him something to do.'" Maguire says he hung onto that nugget for 24 years until last year when he was transferring decades of handwritten journals to the computer.

Director Stephen Daldry is exiting the project, a studio representative confirmed Tuesday. The “Billy Elliot” director has been associated with the adaptation for years, going back as far as 2012. Writer Winnie Holzman, who wrote the musical, wrote the script with “ Wicked ” composer and lyricist

Director Stephen Daldry has exited Universal's long-gestating musical film Wicked , prompting the studio to look for a replacement. Serving as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, Wicked is based on the Broadway musical adaptation of Gregory Maguire's acclaimed 1995 novel Wicked : The Life and

Stephen Daldry has exited the film adaptation of 'Wicked'.

Stephen Daldry standing in front of a sign © Bang Showbiz Stephen Daldry

The 60-year-old filmmaker had been due to helm the cinematic take on the hit stage musical for Universal but has departed amicably from the project for creative reasons.

Deadline report that insiders wanted the film to come to fruition more quickly than Stephen – who has helmed 'Billy Elliot' and 'The Reader' - was comfortable with.


Gallery: Will Smith's greatest movies (BANG Showbiz)

  • Slide 1 of 11: Hollywood superstar Will Smith turned 52 on September 25.The Philadelphia-born actor began his career as a rapper in the 80s as one half of duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, which led him to his first acting role 90s NBC sitcom 'The Fresh Prince of Bel Air'.Over the decades, Will has shown off his talent in a wide range of movie genres, earning himself five Golden Globe nominations and two Academy Award nominations.Here is a look at Will's best films...
    1/11 SLIDES © BANG Showbiz

    Happy Birthday, Will Smith!

    Hollywood superstar Will Smith turned 52 on September 25.The Philadelphia-born actor began his career as a rapper in the 80s as one half of duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, which led him to his first acting role 90s NBC sitcom 'The Fresh Prince of Bel Air'.Over the decades, Will has shown off his talent in a wide range of movie genres, earning himself five Golden Globe nominations and two Academy Award nominations.Here is a look at Will's best films...
  • Slide 2 of 11: One of Will Smith’s first major roles after ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel Air’ was in Michael Bay’s 1995 directorial debut ‘Bad Boys’. The action film followed Miami cops Mike Lowrey, played by Will, and Marcus Burnett, played by Martin Lawrence, as the two partners become entangled in a deadly drugs investigation. The duo’s interaction was highly praised by audiences and the film gained a cult following, which has prompted two sequels, 'Bad Boys II’ in 2003 and 2020's ‘Bad Boys for Life’.
    2/11 SLIDES © BANG Showbiz

    Bad Boys

    One of Will Smith’s first major roles after ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel Air’ was in Michael Bay’s 1995 directorial debut ‘Bad Boys’. The action film followed Miami cops Mike Lowrey, played by Will, and Marcus Burnett, played by Martin Lawrence, as the two partners become entangled in a deadly drugs investigation. The duo’s interaction was highly praised by audiences and the film gained a cult following, which has prompted two sequels, 'Bad Boys II’ in 2003 and 2020's ‘Bad Boys for Life’.
  • Slide 3 of 11: Will Smith is probably best known for playing James Darrell Edwards in the ‘Men in Black’ franchise. The first film was released in 1997 and told the story of New York cop Edwards who is recruited by a secret intelligence agency to protect the citizens of Earth from aliens. The sci-fi comedy was a box office hit and received three Academy Awards nominations, winning one. Three further films have since been released, ‘Men in Black II’, ‘Men in Black 3’ and the latest sequel ‘Men in Black: International’, which was released earlier this year.
    3/11 SLIDES © BANG Showbiz

    Men in Black

    Will Smith is probably best known for playing James Darrell Edwards in the ‘Men in Black’ franchise. The first film was released in 1997 and told the story of New York cop Edwards who is recruited by a secret intelligence agency to protect the citizens of Earth from aliens. The sci-fi comedy was a box office hit and received three Academy Awards nominations, winning one. Three further films have since been released, ‘Men in Black II’, ‘Men in Black 3’ and the latest sequel ‘Men in Black: International’, which was released earlier this year.
  • Slide 4 of 11: In 1998, Smith found success once again, starring with Gene Hackman in ‘Enemy of The State’. The film told the story of a lawyer named Robert Dean, played by Smith, who was framed for the murder of Congressman Phil Hammersley and forced to team up with a former communications expert, played by Hackman, to go on the run and clear his name.
    4/11 SLIDES © BANG Showbiz

    Enemy of The State

    In 1998, Smith found success once again, starring with Gene Hackman in ‘Enemy of The State’. The film told the story of a lawyer named Robert Dean, played by Smith, who was framed for the murder of Congressman Phil Hammersley and forced to team up with a former communications expert, played by Hackman, to go on the run and clear his name.
  • Slide 5 of 11: Michael Mann’s 2001 biopic ‘Ali’ earned Will Smith his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor in 2001. The movie focuses on 10 years in the life of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, played by WIll, documenting his victory over Sonny Liston to become world heavyweight champion, his conversion to Islam to his refusal to fight in the Vietnam War which robbed him of his career for years. It culminates with Ali beating George Foreman in the 'Rumble in the Jungle' to reclaim the title. Wil spent almost two years learning everything about Ali, from the fundamentals of his faith, to his boxing skills and dialect. When Ali saw the final result, it was clear Will had succeeded, as the boxer said, “He is a perfect actor. I even thought he was me.
    5/11 SLIDES © BANG Showbiz

    Hitch

    Will Smith starred alongside Eva Mendes and Kevin James star in the 2005 romantic comedy ‘Hitch’, playing a professional “date doctor” whose job is to teach other men how to charm gorgeous women. But his toughest case yet arises when he fails to get his woo love interest, Sara, who is played by Eva Mendes.
  • Slide 6 of 11: Will Smith starred alongside Eva Mendes and Kevin James star in the 2005 romantic comedy ‘Hitch’, playing a professional “date doctor” whose job is to teach other men how to charm gorgeous women. But his toughest case yet arises when he fails to get his woo love interest, Sara, who is played by Eva Mendes.
    6/11 SLIDES © BANG Showbiz

    The Pursuit of Happyness

    Stepping away from action films in ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ Will played Chris Gardener in the biographical drama based on his autobiography. The 2006 critically acclaimed biopic follows Gardener as he interns at a brokerage firm whilst being homeless with his five-year old son, played by Smith’s own son, Jaden Smith. Will explained that starring alongside Jaden added an element of reality to his performance. He said, “Part of being an actor is almost self-hypnosis during those brief moments when the cameras are rolling ... And having my son, and being able to lay in a subway bathroom, with my real son, just added to the ability to be able to transform and to become Chris Gardner for those moments.”
  • Slide 7 of 11: Stepping away from action films in ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ Will played Chris Gardener in the biographical drama based on his autobiography. The 2006 critically acclaimed biopic follows Gardener as he interns at a brokerage firm whilst being homeless with his five-year old son, played by Smith’s own son, Jaden Smith. Will explained that starring alongside Jaden added an element of reality to his performance. He said, “Part of being an actor is almost self-hypnosis during those brief moments when the cameras are rolling ... And having my son, and being able to lay in a subway bathroom, with my real son, just added to the ability to be able to transform and to become Chris Gardner for those moments.”
    7/11 SLIDES © BANG Showbiz

    I am Legend

    Will has a long history of starring alongside his children. In 2007, Smith acted in ‘I Am Legend’ alongside his daughter Willow. The post-apocalyptic flick is set in New York after a virus has wiped out almost all humanity and scientist Robert Neville, played by Will Smith, is the last living human left in the city. Speaking about working with his then six-year old daughter, Will joked, “You kind of don’t work with Willow, you work for Willow."
  • Slide 8 of 11: Will has a long history of starring alongside his children. In 2007, Smith acted in ‘I Am Legend’ alongside his daughter Willow. The post-apocalyptic flick is set in New York after a virus has wiped out almost all humanity and scientist Robert Neville, played by Will Smith, is the last living human left in the city. Speaking about working with his then six-year old daughter, Will joked, “You kind of don’t work with Willow, you work for Willow.
    8/11 SLIDES © BANG Showbiz

    Hancock

    Will Smith starred alongside Charlize Theron in the unusual superhero film ‘Hancock’ in 2007. Will played John Hancock, a larger than life but unpopular superhero, who has become unpopular over the years due to the collateral damage of his actions. However, after meeting a PR man, played by Jason Bateman, and his wife, played by Charlize, things start to change for the better for him. The film includes scenes of Hancock flying at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour through the air, 60 feet up, which Smith admitted scared him a little. He said: "All right, I was scared. I can say that. It's a superhero movie, but I think in real life I was a little nervous."
  • Slide 9 of 11: Will Smith starred alongside Charlize Theron in the unusual superhero film ‘Hancock’ in 2007. Will played John Hancock, a larger than life but unpopular superhero, who has become unpopular over the years due to the collateral damage of his actions. However, after meeting a PR man, played by Jason Bateman, and his wife, played by Charlize, things start to change for the better for him. The film includes scenes of Hancock flying at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour through the air, 60 feet up, which Smith admitted scared him a little. He said:
    9/11 SLIDES © BANG Showbiz

    Aladdin

    Will Smith joined the long list of A-Listers who have voiced Disney characters when he took on the role of the Genie in Disney’s 2019 live-action remake of ‘Aladdin’. In the family favourite, Smith helps the lowly Aladdin woo Princess Jasmine and then stop the Jafar from usurping The Sultan. After Robin Williams’ acclaimed portrayal of the Genie in the animated version, Will knew he had a challenge on his hands to match the late comic. Will settled on a hip hop version of the character, saying: "“Genie is timeless, you get to really say and do anything so I started to feel confident that I could deliver something that was an homage to Robin Williams but was musically different and just the flavour of the character would be different enough and unique enough that it would be in a different lane versus trying to compete.”
  • Slide 10 of 11: Will Smith joined the long list of A-Listers who have voiced Disney characters when he took on the role of the Genie in Disney’s 2019 live-action remake of ‘Aladdin’. In the family favourite, Smith helps the lowly Aladdin woo Princess Jasmine and then stop the Jafar from usurping The Sultan. After Robin Williams’ acclaimed portrayal of the Genie in the animated version, Will knew he had a challenge on his hands to match the late comic. Will settled on a hip hop version of the character, saying:
    10/11 SLIDES © BANG Showbiz
  • Slide 11 of 11: David Ayer cast Will Smith as Deadshot in the 2016 DC Extended Universe blockbuster ‘Suicide Squad’. The film follows super villains recruited by a US government agency to step in and save the world from meta threats. A sequel is scheduled for release next year, but Will Smith is not reprising his role as Deadshot as the filming clashed with another project he is doing.
    11/11 SLIDES © BANG Showbiz

Universal are now searching for a new director to take on the flick, which has been in development for over a decade. J.J. Abrams and James Mangold have previously been linked to the film.

New study reveals the scariest horror movie of all time

New study reveals the scariest horror movie of all time The heart-stopping Hereditary doesn’t make it to number oneSo, the scariest horror movie of all time? That would be 2012’s Scott Derrickson-directed horror movie Sinister. Following in second place is Insidious, while The Conjuring, Hereditary, and Paranormal Activity round out the top five.

The Wicked movie is still set to be directed by Daldry , who’s best known for directing Billy Elliot. He also directed The Reader and Extremely Loud and He’ll be joined by Winnie Holzman (who adapted the book for stage) and Wicked mastermind Stephen Schwarz (Godspell, Pippin), who are working

A long-gestating big-screen version of the hit stage musical Wicked could see a release as early as 2016, with the acclaimed British director Stephen Daldry taking charge of the Speculation over the film version’s release was sparked when UK cinema chain Vue listed Wicked as a 2016 release.

The studio has a stake in the stage musical and believe that it will be a cinematic hit. However, they are wary of what happened with 'Cats', which flopped despite its all-star cast. The movie has also been taken off the release schedule to the COVID-19 pandemic.

'Wicked' is a prequel of sorts to 'The Wizard of Oz' and tells the story of what happened before Dorothy arrived in Oz. It is based on the novel 'Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West' by Gregory Maguire. It has gone on to become of the most successful shows on Broadway and on London's West End.

Stephen Schwartz, who wrote the music and lyrics to the Broadway show, is adapting the screenplay along with Winnie Holzman. Marc Platt, who served as a producer on the musical, is also producing the motion picture.

Alongside classic songs such as 'Defying Gravity' and 'Popular', the film adaptation is expected to feature at least two new musical numbers.

Week to Wicked 1969 Camaro: Installing Four-Link Rear Suspension and Brakes .
We start our Super Chevy Week to Wicked Presented by POL 1969 Camaro project by installing POL’s new four link Lateral X suspension.The POL Lateral X Four-Link requires that brackets be welded to your rearend housing. Now, if you are a do-it-yourselfer with a welder, POL will sell you just the brackets. But a much better way to go is to get a new Currie housing from POL that has the brackets already welded in place and clocked correctly.

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