The Wicked movie has signed on a new director to take on the project is has been announced. Jon M Chu, who directed mega-hit Crazy Rich Asians and the hotly anticipated In The Heights movie will now head up the project after the departure of Stephen Daldry last year.

The musical's, which has been on Broadway for 17 years, original creators Stephen Schwartz (score) and Winnie Holzman (book) are collaborating on the movie's screenplay. The story of Wicked is based on the book by Gregory Maguire.

As well as directing Crazy Rich Asians (2018) and In The Heights (which is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2021), Jon M Chu has also directed Now You See Me 2 (2016) and GI Joe: Retaliation (2013).

An official timeline or cast for the Wicked movie is yet to be announced.

WHAT IS WICKED ABOUT?

Our story begins in the hallowed halls of Oz's Shiz University, where we meet the Elphaba. Born with green skin, she has been made an outcast, by everyone including her own father, but deep within Elphaba is a great power that's just waiting to be set free. Unfortunately, her time at college gets off to a rocky start when she's given a new roommate - the perky, more perfect-than-perfect Glinda. In the beginning, the two absolutely despise each other, but after a simple act of kindness at a party, they realize that they may not be so different after all.

Over the course of their studies, they become firm friends, but when Elphaba uncovers a sinister plot that could destroy the whole world of Oz, she must choose between keeping her friend or learning how to become... Wicked!

Don't miss Wicked on tour in 2021!