Jon M. Chu Shut Out of Best Director Category Despite Strong ‘Wicked’ Showing

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Although Wicked ranked as the second highest-grossing movie in total, its director, Jon M. Chu, was unfortunately not nominated for the Best Director category at the 2025 Oscars.

The much-loved stage musical that became a blockbuster movie received 10 nominations during the award ceremony on Thursday, which was hosted by Bowen Yang from Wicked and comedian Rachel Sennott. Wicked is nominated for best picture, as well as leading actress and supporting actress categories for Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande respectively.

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The adored stage musical turned successful film gathered 10 nominations at the award ceremony on Thursday, which was hosted by Bowen Yang from Wicked alongside comedian Rachel Sennott. Wicked has been nominated for best picture, as well as in the leading actress and supporting actress categories for Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande respectively.

The movie garnered numerous technical award nominations such as production design, sound, visual effects, costume design, editing, and hair and makeup styling. Yet, Director Chu was one of several overlooked in the film’s recognition. Additionally, the writers Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox were excluded from the adapted screenplay category. Regrettably, none of these talented individuals received a Golden Globes nomination for their respective fields.

Chu, an ardent admirer of the stage musical “Wicked”, eventually managed to bring the production to the big screen, despite initially having to decline due to a scheduling clash. In preparation for this transition, he and his team held daily video conferences lasting three to four hours, where they meticulously compared every line from the Broadway script with the yet-to-be-finalized movie script. They discussed with him why Stephen wrote certain lyrics in a specific way or how specific musical numbers evolved, as shared with The Hollywood Reporter before the film’s release last year.

For months on end, I merely sat and absorbed countless tales they shared,” he explained, adding that he rarely spoke himself.

Since his college days at USC, where his short film “When the Kids Are Away” caught the attention of Steven Spielberg, Chu has been steadily working as a director. He rose to prominence in 2018 when he directed the critically and commercially successful adaptation of “Crazy Rich Asians“.

The movie “Wicked” unveils an untold tale about the witches of Oz. Slated to hit cinemas in November 2025, its sequel, titled “Wicked: For Good“, follows closely. Both are derived from the 2003 musical of the same name, which was initially based on Gregory Maguire’s top-selling novel. Stephen Schwartz, an Academy Award-winning composer and lyricist, revisited the show to adapt it for the big screen. Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who originated the roles of Elphaba and Glinda on Broadway, made appearances in the film.

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2025-01-23 19:24