BLOAT Trailer (2025) Ben McKenzie

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BLOAT Trailer (2025) Ben McKenzie
© 2025 - Lionsgate
Bloat – Watch the trailer! In Theaters, On Demand and On Digital March 7. Starring Ben McKenzie, Bojana Novakovic, Malcolm Fuller, Sawyer Jones, Kane Kosugi.
"You think you're gonna wake up from a nightmare – but it ain't no nightmare, it's real." Lionsgate has revealed an official trailer for an indie horror thriller movie called Bloat, made by filmmaker Pablo Absento who is based in Tokyo, Japan. Ready for release in March including on VOD, though we haven't seen this show up at any festivals before. The film follows a mother and two sons vacationing in Japan. Their younger son almost drowns in a lake, and soon after the accident, the parents realize that something is wrong with their boy. From a producer of Searching and Unfriended, Ben McKenzie and Bojana Novakovic star in this chilling tale of horror and suspense. The boy's family is horrified to discover he has become possessed by a legendary demon from the depths of the lake. As the family races against time to save the boy's soul, the evil monster tears the family apart as it seeks to destroy anything in its path. Also with Malcolm Fuller, Sawyer Jones, and Kane Kosugi. This is actually yet another screen story movie – told entirely through computer screens. Which seems a bit strange for this kind of drowning possession story, but sure why not.

Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Pablo Absento's horror film Bloat, direct from Lionsgate's YouTube:

Bloat Poster

Ben McKenzie and Bojana Novakovic star in this chilling tale of horror and suspense from director Pablo Absento. After a near-death drowning accident in Japan, a young boy's family is horrified to discover he has become possessed by a legendary demon from the depths of the lake. As the family races against time to save the boy’s soul, the evil monster inside him tears the family apart as it seeks to destroy everyone in its path. Bloat is written & directed by up-and-coming filmmaker Pablo Absento based in Tokyo, making his feature directorial debut after a few other short films previously. Produced by Timur Bekmambetov and Mariya Zatulovskaya. This hasn't premiered at any festivals or elsewhere, as far as we know. Lionsgate will debut Absento's Bloat film in select US theaters + on VOD starting March 7th, 2025 coming soon. Scary?
Searching and Unfriended producer Timur Bekmambetov returns to screenlife horror with Bloat.

The J-horror-inspired film will possess select theaters and Digital on March 7 via Lionsgate. Check out the trailer below.

After a near-death drowning accident, a young boy’s family is horrified to discover he has become possessed by a legendary demon from the depths of the lake. As the family races against time to save the boy’s soul, the evil monster inside the child tears the family apart as it seeks to destroy everyone in its path.

Ben McKenzie (“Gotham”) and Bojana Novakovic (Devil) star with Malcolm Fuller, Sawyer Jones (Antlers), and Kane Kosugi (Godzilla: Final Wars).

Writer-director Pablo Absento makes his feature debut on the film.
Nearly three years have gone by since we heard that Ben McKenzie (Gotham) and Bojana Novakovic (Beyond Skyline) were the stars of the Japanese horror film Bloat, which had already started filming at that time. Now, Bloat is finally ready to make its way out into the world, as it’s set to receive a theatrical, on demand, and digital release on March 7th. Although with the release date announcement comes the unveiling of a trailer, which can be seen in the embed above.

Written and directed by Tokyo-based filmmaker Pablo Absento, Bloat is a co-production between Timur Bekmambetov‘s company Bazelevs, the Russian streaming service Okko, French production and sales company Pulsar Content, and Japanese production company flag Co., Ltd. Filming took place in New York and Japan. Bloat does indeed use Bekmambetov’s Screenlife filmmaking technique, “in which the story unfolds on the screens of the devices used by the movie’s characters.” So this is something along the lines of Unfriended, Searching, etc.

Bloat tells the story of a military officer stationed in Turkey while his wife is vacationing in Japan with their kids. During the stay, their younger son almost drowns in a lake. Soon after the accident, the parents realize that something is wrong with their boy. Sawyer Jones (Antlers) and Malcolm Fuller (New Amsterdam) are also in the cast.

McKenzie and Absento produced the film with Bekmambetov, Maria Zatulovskaya, and Anna Shalashina of Bazelevs; Gilles Sousa and Marie Garrett of Pulsar Content; Hiroko Oda of flag Co., Ltd; and Dzhanik Fayziev of Okko. The Fantasia Film Festival’s artistic director Mitch Davis and Aleksandr Fomin serve as associate producers.

Bloat earned an R rating from the Motion Picture Association for language and some violent content.

This marks the feature directorial debut of Absento, who previously directed the short films Call My Name, Shi, and Slit. Variety noted that she has also directed several episodes of SMA Horror (Smartphone Horror), a series produced by Takashi Shimizu, the creator of the Ju-on / Grudge franchise.

What did you think of the Bloat trailer? Will you be watching this movie in March? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
From the producers of Unfriended and Searching, the latest “Screenlife” movie is Bloat, coming in March. Ben McKenzie stars as a soldier deployed away from his family. While on a video call with his wife (Bojana Novakovic), while she and their two sons are visiting Japan, one of their sons almost drowns in a lake. After the incident, their son starts to exhibit increasingly disturbing behavior, but McKenzie’s Jack is denied leave, forcing him to do all he can remotely from his computer screen. Kane Kosugi co-stars as Jack’s friend who agrees to help in person. Pablo Absento, who previously directed horror shorts, makes his feature film debut with Bloat. The movie is in theaters and on VOD and Digital on March 7th, and you can check out the trailer below.
Lionsgate has shared a trailer, poster and images for Bloat, the upcoming horror from writer-director Pablo Absento.

Ben McKenzie and Bojana Novakovic star as parents who discover their young son has been possessed by a legendary lake demon after he almost drowns while on vacation in Japan.

Along with Ben McKenzie and Bojana Novakovic, the cast also includes Malcolm Fuller, Sawyer Jones, and Kane Kosugi. Watch the trailer below…

After a near-death drowning accident, a young boy’s family is horrified to discover he has become possessed by a legendary demon from the depths of the lake. As the family races against time to save the boy’s soul, the evil monster inside the child tears the family apart as it seeks to destroy everyone in its path.
Bloat is set for release on March 7th.
After the success of coronavirus Zoom nightmare Host, it was only a matter of time before more video call-based horror movies rolled out.

Next up is Bloat, a film that unfolds via video calls between a soldier and his family who are vacationing abroad in Japan. The problem? After almost drowning, one of their sons starts to exhibit some unusual symptoms — and the dad has to contend with things via ever-glitchy long distance technology.

Ben McKenzie and Bojana Novakovic star in writer/director Pablo Absento's modern take on the found footage genre.

Bloat is in theatres and on demand from March 7.
Films like The Den and Unfriended are quintessential examples of screen-life horror, or horror films told exclusively through a series of screens rather than through the traditional narrative camera. Often, these films are either about human monsters or unseeable supernatural forces. But now, writer and director Pablo Absento is putting a creature feature spin on it with her new film Bloat.

Read the full synopsis below:
After a near-death drowning accident, a young boy’s family is horrified to discover he has become possessed by a legendary demon from the depths of the lake. As the family races against time to save the boy’s soul, the evil monster inside the child tears the family apart as it seeks to destroy everyone in its path.

Watch the official trailer:

Kappa horror?? In the year of our Lord 2025?? While it’s through the lens of a white family, which is always questionable, Absento is no stranger to J-horror, directing Japanese horror shorts, including the award-winning “Shi”. She’s also filtering that through the found footage horror lens, which is particularly exciting for this writer. Also, according to Variety, Bloat marks a massive first: it is the first Japanese screen-life film.

Ben McKenzie (Gotham), Bojana Novakovic (Birds of Prey), Malcolm Fuller, Sawyer Jones, and Kane Kosugi star in the film.

Bloat comes to theaters, digital, and VOD on March 7, 2025.
Ben McKenzie

McKenzie in 2022.
Born Benjamin McKenzie Schenkkan
September 12, 1978 (age 46)
Austin, Texas, U.S.
Alma mater University of Virginia (BA)
Occupations
Actorcommentator
Years active 2002–present
Spouse Morena Baccarin ​(m. 2017)​
Children 2
Relatives Robert Schenkkan (uncle)
Benjamin McKenzie Schenkkan (born September 12, 1978) is an American actor, author and commentator. He is best known for his starring television roles as Ryan Atwood on the teen drama The O.C. (2003–2007), Ben Sherman on the crime drama Southland (2009–2013), and James "Jim" Gordon on the crime drama Gotham (2014–2019). McKenzie made his film debut in the Academy Award-nominated film Junebug (2005), before appearing in films including 88 Minutes (2007), Goodbye World (2013), Some Kind of Beautiful (2014), and Line of Duty (2019). In 2020, he made his Broadway debut in the Bess Wohl play Grand Horizons.

Outside of acting, McKenzie is noted for his critical commentary on the cryptocurrency bubble and fraud with journalist Jacob Silverman. Their book on the subject, Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud, was published in July 2023.

Early life
McKenzie was born in Austin, Texas.[1] He is one of three sons born to Frances Schenkkan, a poet, and Pete Schenkkan, an attorney.[2][3] He has two younger brothers, both of whom are former actors.[3][4] He is the brother-in-law of photojournalist Scout Tufankjian.[5]

His grandfather, Robert F. Schenkkan, was a professor at the University of Texas at Austin and worked on passing the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967.[6][7] He is a nephew of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan;[6] McKenzie appeared in his 2019 work The Investigation. His middle name, McKenzie, is his paternal grandmother's maiden name; he uses it as part of his stage name to avoid confusion with actor Ben Shenkman.[8] His second cousin is actress Sarah Drew.[9]

For middle school, he attended St. Andrew's Episcopal School, where he was friends and flag football teammates with future Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees.[10] He attended Stephen F. Austin High School, playing wide receiver and defensive back for the school's football team. From 1997 to 2001 he attended the University of Virginia, his father and paternal grandfather's alma mater, where he majored in foreign affairs and economics.[11]

Acting career
2001–2007: Early career and The O.C.
After graduating from college in 2001, McKenzie moved to New York City where he worked in part-time jobs and performed in some off-off-Broadway productions.[12][13] During this period, he also participated in summer stock theater and the Williamstown Theatre Festival.[13]

At age twenty-three,[14] he moved to Los Angeles where he waited tables and slept on the floor of his friend Ernie Sabella's apartment.[15][12] He was soon cast as Ryan Atwood in The O.C.[12] On August 5, 2003, Fox premiered the television series, about affluent teenagers with stormy personal lives in Orange County, California. The show became an overnight success and made McKenzie famous. His performance in The O.C. earned him "Choice Breakout TV Star – Male" and "Choice TV Chemistry" nominations in the Teen Choice Awards as well as "Choice TV Actor – Drama/Action Adventure" and "Choice TV Actor – Drama" wins. McKenzie reportedly earned between about $15,000 and $25,000 per episode throughout the show's run.

The O.C. was the first time McKenzie played what The New York Times later described as the "quiet, guarded leading man" role he would repeatedly portray.[12] As a result of the show's success, McKenzie appeared in magazines including People, In Touch Weekly and Us Weekly. He was ranked No. 5 in Independent Online's "100 Sexiest Men Alive" and twice appeared on Teen People magazine's annual list of "25 Sexiest Stars under 25". McKenzie was also voted one of InStyle's "10 Hottest Bachelors of Summer" in July 2005. The O.C. dropped in ratings dramatically during its third and fourth seasons, and ended in early 2007.[16]

While appearing in The O.C., McKenzie made his feature film debut in the Academy Award-nominated film Junebug alongside Amy Adams and Embeth Davidtz. The film was nominated for "Best International Film" and "Outstanding Ensemble Acting" in the Amanda Awards and won the Sarasota Film Festival award for "Outstanding Ensemble Acting". It also received high praise at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.[17] According to Production Weekly, McKenzie was set to star in the thriller Snakes on a Plane, formerly known as Pacific Air 121, but later dropped out to film 88 Minutes, which starred Al Pacino.[18]

2007–2019: Southland and Gotham
In 2008, McKenzie earned critical acclaim for his solo performance in the "live on stage, on film" version of Dalton Trumbo's 1939 novel Johnny Got His Gun, his first starring role in a film. He stars as Joe Bonham, a role previously played by James Cagney, Jeff Daniels, and Timothy Bottoms.[19] The movie premiered at the Paramount Theater in Austin, McKenzie's hometown, while he was filming the pilot for Southland. In 2009, he appeared in the short film The Eight Percent. The movie won the Delta Air Lines Fly-in Movie Contest and entered as an official selection on the Tribeca Film Festival's Short film category.

McKenzie starred as rookie police officer Ben Sherman on the NBC drama Southland, which premiered on April 9, 2009. The show was canceled while in production on its second season. TNT bought the rights for the show and showed the seven episodes that had been produced. The show was subsequently renewed and ran for five seasons before being canceled in 2013. From September to October 2010, he starred in an off-Broadway transfer of The Glass Menagerie at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.[20]

Following the end of Southland, McKenzie was cast in the CBS drama television pilot The Advocates, opposite Mandy Moore.[21] The show was not produced. In late 2013, he was cast in the drama film The Swimmer, a Norwegian production that was not produced.[22] In October 2013, he signed an exclusive talent deal with Warner Bros. Television Studios, the home of The O.C. and Southland.[23] A few months later, in February 2014, it was announced that McKenzie was cast in the pilot of Gotham.[24]

McKenzie returned to Fox in the Batman prequel television show Gotham, which premiered on September 22, 2014. In the series, he portrayed James "Jim" Gordon as a young detective new to Gotham City.[25][12] After five seasons and 100 episodes, the show concluded in April 2019. In the same series, he made his directorial debut with the season 3 episode "These Delicate and Dark Obsessions".[26] McKenzie went on to direct "One of My Three Soups" and write "The Demon's Head" from the fourth season.

In 2017, he appeared in the first season of The Accidental Wolf, a miniseries series created by Arian Moayed and the theater production company Waterwell.[27] He shot Line of Duty, a real-time action thriller, in Birmingham, Alabama in early summer 2018; it was released in 2019.

2019–present: new projects and theater
Following the conclusion of Gotham in 2019, McKenzie indicated the end of one chapter in his career, turning to new efforts including writing and directing.[28]

On June 24, 2019, McKenzie, along with an ensemble cast, presented The Investigation: A Search for the Truth in Ten Acts, a dramatic reading of Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III's Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election. McKenzie portrayed President Donald Trump's former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, as well as Donald Trump Jr.[29]

McKenzie made his Broadway debut on January 23, 2020, in the Second Stage production of Grand Horizons at the Hayes Theater.[30] McKenzie starred as Ben, one of two sons struggling with their elderly parents' divorce. A limited-run production, the play began previews on December 23, 2019[31] and closed on March 1, 2020. In February 2022, it was announced that McKenzie would star in and produce Bloat, an internationally produced J-horror film.[32] In February 2023, he was announced as a star in the ABC medical drama pilot The Hurt Unit which was not picked up to series.[33][34]

Criticism of cryptocurrency
Ben McKenzie
@ben_mckenzie
Twitter logo, a stylized blue bird
I'm just a former teen idol standing here (alone?) asking people to consider downside risk and the possibility of fraud. I hope I'm wrong, but pretty sure we'll find out soon enough. Good luck folks - don't take financial advice from celebs, including me.

February 4, 2022[35]
Since 2021, McKenzie has been an outspoken critic of cryptocurrency.[36][37][38][39] He is noted as one of the few celebrity skeptics of the technology.[40][41][42] As such, he has been particularly critical of the proliferation of celebrity endorsements of unstable cryptocurrencies, their speculation, and NFTs.[43][44][45] McKenzie testified at the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs hearing "Crypto Crash: Why the FTX Bubble Burst and the Harm to Consumers” in December 2022.[46]

McKenzie's debut book Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud with journalist Jacob Silverman was released by Abrams Press on July 18, 2023.[47][48] [49] The book includes a claim from McKenzie that the CIA "begged" him to explain cryptocurrency to them.[50] With Silverman, he has written a number of critical articles on crypto for publications including Slate, The New Republic, The Washington Post, and The Intercept.[51][52][53][54][55] They had a featured session on the topic at the 2022 SXSW Festival and McKenzie at WSJ Tech Live 2022[56] and the 2022 Web Summit.[57] As of 2023, he is working on a documentary on the subject.[58][59]

As a pundit, McKenzie has also appeared on CNN Business, CNBC, CBS News, and Real Time with Bill Maher to discuss the topic.[44][60][61][62][63][64] He has been a guest on podcasts like What Next: TBD, Deconstructed, and Chapo Trap House, and radio programs Marketplace Tech and Morning Edition.[65][66][67][68][69]

McKenzie attributes his initial interest in the subject to his undergraduate degree in economics and friends' interest in cryptocurrency, as well as coursework on the blockchain from MIT professor and SEC chairman Gary Gensler and Capital in the Twenty-First Century by economist Thomas Piketty.[36][37][38]

Personal life
In September 2015, actress Morena Baccarin said in a legal declaration involving her divorce from Austin Chick that she planned to marry her Gotham co-star, McKenzie, adding that she was pregnant with their child.[70][71] Their daughter Frances Laiz Setta was born on March 2, 2016.[72] Sixteen days later, on March 18, Baccarin and Chick's divorce became official.[73] Baccarin and McKenzie announced their engagement in November 2016. They were married on June 2, 2017 (Baccarin's 38th birthday) in Brooklyn, New York.[74] They announced the birth of their son Arthur in March 2021.[75] With Baccarin, McKenzie has one step-son, Julius.[72]

Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
2005 Junebug Johnny Johnsten
2007 88 Minutes Mike Stempt Credited as Benjamin McKenzie
2008 Every Monday Matters Himself Documentary
2008 Johnny Got His Gun Joe Bonham Filmed stage performance
2009 The Eight Percent John Keller Short film
2011 Batman: Year One Bruce Wayne / Batman (voice)
2011 The Blisters: How Three Became Four Dave Short film; also a producer
2012 Adventures in the Sin Bin Michael
2012 Decoding Annie Parker Tom
2013 Goodbye World Nick Randworth
2014 Some Kind of Beautiful Brian
2019 The Report Scrubbed CIA Officer
2019 Line of Duty Dean Keller
2022 I Want You Back Leighton's Dad
TBD Bloat Jack Post-production[76]
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2002 The District Tim Ruskin Episode: "Faith" (credited as Benjamin McKenzie)
2003 JAG Petty Officer Spencer Episode: "Empty Quiver" (credited as Benjamin McKenzie)
2003–2007 The O.C. Ryan Atwood 92 episodes
2004 MADtv Ryan Atwood 1 episode
2004–2005 Punk'd Himself 2 episodes
2009–2013 Southland Ben Sherman 43 episodes
2011 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Odnarb (voice) Episode: "The Wild Brood"
2013 Men at Work Bryan Episode: "Tyler the Pioneer"
2013 The Advocates Henry Bird CBS pilot
2014–2019 Gotham James "Jim" Gordon 100 episodes; director (3 episodes), writer (2 episodes)
2017 The Accidental Wolf Webseries
2023 The Hurt Unit Danny ABC pilot
Audio
Year Title Role Notes
2020 Phreaks Audio book[77]
2023 Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud Narrator/co-author Audio book
Theater
Year Title Role Venue Notes
2001 The Blue Bird Various Williamstown Theatre Festival Credited as Benjamin Schenkkan[78]
Street Scene Neighbor
2010 The Glass Menagerie Jim O'Connor Mark Taper Forum
2011 Marriage Performer Atlantic Theater 10x25 Festival
2019 The Investigation: A Search for the Truth in Ten Acts Michael Flynn / Donald Trump Jr. Riverside Church Reading
2020 Grand Horizons Ben Hayes Theater Broadway
Bibliography
McKenzie, Ben; Silverman, Jacob (2023). Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud. Abrams Press. ISBN 978-1-4197-6639-8. OCLC 1338834619.
Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2004 Teen Choice Awards Choice Breakout TV Star – Male The O.C. Nominated
Choice TV Actor – Drama/Action Adventure Nominated
2005 Choice TV Actor Drama Nominated
Choice TV Chemistry (shared with Mischa Barton) Nominated
2012 PRISM Award Male Performance in a Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline
Southland
Nominated
2015 People's Choice Awards Favorite Actor In A New TV Series[79][80]
Gotham
Nominated
2016 Teen Choice Award Choice TV Actor Drama Nominated
2019 Choice Action TV Actor[81] Nominated
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I'm somewhat skeptical of cryptocurrency: Actor and crypto critic Ben McKenzie (video). CNBC Television. April 8, 2022.
Market fraud and skepticism fuel crash of cryptocurrency (video). CBS News. June 15, 2022.
Slate Daily Feed. "What Next TBD: Why Does Matt Damon Want Me to Buy Crypto?". Listen Notes. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
Deconstructed. "Is Crypto a Big Scam? - Deconstructed (podcast)". Listen Notes. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
Chapo Trap House. "626 - Simian Slurp feat. Ben McKenzie (5/9/22) – Chapo Trap House – Podcast". Podtail. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
Marketplace Tech. "El Salvador citizens mostly avoid bitcoin, despite government adoption". Listen Notes. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
Martinez, A (December 14, 2022). "Lawmakers on Capitol Hill hold hearings into the failed cryptocurrency giant FTX". NPR.org. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
Gomez, Patrick (September 21, 2015). "Gotham's Morena Baccarin and Benjamin McKenzie Dating". People. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
Lovece, Frank (September 28, 2015). "Morena Baccarin, Ben McKenzie plan to marry, her divorce docs say". Newsday. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
Mandell, Andrea (March 11, 2016). "Exclusive: Morena Baccarin, Ben McKenzie welcome baby girl". USA Today. Archived from the original on May 12, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
"Morena Baccarin Officially Divorced". E! News. March 18, 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
Jordan, Julie; Stone, Natalie (June 7, 2017). "Morena Baccarin and Ben McKenzie Are Married!". People. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
Campione, Katie (March 9, 2021). "Morena Baccarin and Husband Ben McKenzie Welcome Son Arthur: '2021 Is Looking Up'". People. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
Miska, Brad (October 3, 2022). "'Bloat' – Screenlife J-Horror Wraps Production in Japan! [Image]". Bloody Disgusting!. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
"Audiobooks narrated by Ben McKenzie | Audible.com". www.audible.com. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
"Ben Schenkkan". Williamstown Theatre Festival. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
"People's Choice Awards 2015 hosts, nominees announced". CBS News. November 4, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
"NOMINEES & WINNERS". People's Choice Awards. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
Moreau, Jordan (June 19, 2019). "'Avengers: Endgame,' 'Riverdale,' 'Aladdin' Top 2019 Teen Choice Award Nominations". Variety. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
External links

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Wicked
The poster mimics Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam and is pink on the left and green on the right. Glinda is in the bottom left in a pink dress, reaching up to Elphaba, who's in the top right in a black dress, witch's hat and on a broomstick, reaching down to Glinda. In the middle, both hands are outstretched but not touching, and the film's tagline is written in white text on separate lines: "Everyone deserves the chance to fly". The landscape of the Land of Oz is in the background.
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Jon M. Chu
Screenplay by
Winnie Holzman[a]
Dana Fox
Based on
Wicked
by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman
Wicked
by Gregory Maguire
Produced by
Marc Platt
David Stone
Starring
Cynthia Erivo
Ariana Grande[b]
Jonathan Bailey
Ethan Slater
Bowen Yang
Peter Dinklage
Michelle Yeoh
Jeff Goldblum
Cinematography Alice Brooks
Edited by Myron Kerstein
Music by
John Powell (score)
Stephen Schwartz (score and songs)
Production
company
Marc Platt Productions
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release dates
November 3, 2024 (State Theatre)
November 22, 2024 (United States)
Running time 160 minutes[3]
Country United States
Language English
Budget $150 million[4]
Box office $710.5 million[5][6]
Wicked (titled onscreen as Wicked: Part I) is a 2024 American musical fantasy film directed by Jon M. Chu and written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox. It is the first installment of a two-part film adaptation of the stage musical of the same name by Stephen Schwartz and Holzman, which is loosely based on the 1995 novel, in turn based on the Oz books and the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.

The film covers the musical's first act. It stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp and Ariana Grande[b] as Galinda Upland, with Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum rounding out the principal cast. Set in the Land of Oz, before Dorothy Gale's arrival from Kansas, it follows Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West, and her friendship with her classmate Galinda, who becomes Glinda the Good.

Universal Pictures and Marc Platt, who both produced the stage musical, announced the film adaptation in 2012. After a long development and multiple delays, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chu was hired to direct, with Erivo and Grande cast in 2021. The adaptation was split into two parts to avoid cutting plot points and expand the characters' journeys and relationships. Principal photography began in England in December 2022, was interrupted in July 2023 by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, and was resumed and completed in January 2024.

Wicked premiered at the State Theatre in Sydney, Australia, on November 3, 2024, and was theatrically released in the United States on November 22. It received positive reviews, was named one of the best films of 2024 by the American Film Institute, and won Best Film at the National Board of Review. Its other accolades include ten nominations at the 97th Academy Awards (including Best Picture, Best Actress for Erivo, and Best Supporting Actress for Grande), seven at the 78th British Academy Film Awards, and a record-tying five at the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards. It also won for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards. It has grossed $710 million worldwide on a $150 million budget, becoming the highest-grossing Oz-related film, the highest-grossing musical film adaptation, the highest-grossing musical film released by Universal Pictures, and the sixth-highest-grossing film of 2024. The sequel, Wicked: For Good, is scheduled for release on November 21, 2025.

Plot
In the Land of Oz, Glinda the Good joins the citizens of Munchkinland as they celebrate the death of the Wicked Witch of the West. A child asks Glinda why wickedness happens, and she reflects on the question by discussing the Witch's backstory: born from an affair between the wife of then-Governor Thropp and a traveling salesman, she was ostracized from birth due to her unnaturally green skin and uncontrollable magical abilities ("No One Mourns the Wicked"). When asked if she and the Witch were friends, Glinda reveals that they knew each other and explains their past.

Years earlier, Elphaba Thropp arrives at Shiz University to see off her paraplegic younger sister Nessarose ("Dear Old Shiz"). Following an unintentional release of her powers, Madame Morrible, Shiz's Dean of Sorcery Studies, offers to enroll Elphaba and privately tutor her in sorcery. Elphaba accepts in the hopes that it will allow her to meet Oz's ruler, the Wizard, and be "de-greenified" ("The Wizard and I"). To her discontent, she is forced to room with bubbly Galinda Upland; the two clash constantly ("What Is This Feeling?"). One night, Elphaba follows Dr. Dillamond, a talking Goat who faces discrimination as one of Shiz's last Animal professors, to a meeting of Animals off-campus. Dillamond reveals other Animals are losing their civil rights and ability to speak, but Elphaba assures him the Wizard will set things right ("Something Bad").

Rebellious transfer student Fiyero Tigelaar arranges to take a group of students to the Ozdust Ballroom ("Dancing Through Life"). Galinda convinces Boq Woodsman, a happy-go-lucky Munchkin with a crush on her, to invite Nessarose so she can accompany Fiyero. At the Ozdust, Galinda learns from a begrudging Morrible that she will be allowed to join the sorcery seminar at Elphaba's request. Elphaba arrives and is ridiculed for wearing a pointed hat that Galinda gave her as a joke. A remorseful Galinda dances with her ("Ozdust Duet"), and the two later bond ("Popular").

Dillamond announces that Animals are no longer allowed to teach at Shiz and is forcefully removed from his classroom. His replacement, the unscrupulous Professor Nikidik, demonstrates a new contraption – a cage – with a frightened lion cub enclosed within, designed to prevent animals from learning to speak. A frustrated Elphaba releases her magic and spins poppy dust over the room, putting everyone except herself and Fiyero to sleep. They escape campus and release the cub into the forest. After sharing a moment, Elphaba laments that Fiyero prefers Galinda over her ("I'm Not That Girl").

Elphaba receives an invitation to meet the Wizard, who has heard of her powers from Morrible. Galinda, now shortening her name to "Glinda" in solidarity with Dillamond, accompanies her. They ride a train to Oz's capital, the Emerald City, where they affirm their friendship while sightseeing ("One Short Day"). After being introduced to the Wizard ("A Sentimental Man"), Elphaba says she wishes to help the Animals instead of changing her skin color. Morrible arrives to witness Elphaba and the Wizard's first meeting, and the two encourage Elphaba to cast a spell from the sacred Grimmerie spellbook. She casts a levitation spell that makes the Wizard's monkey guards painfully sprout wings, allowing the delighted Wizard and Morrible to use them as spies. Elphaba realizes that they are the ones behind the persecution of the Animals and that the Wizard is a fraud with no magical power. Horrified, Elphaba steals the Grimmerie and flees.

Glinda follows Elphaba and implores her to reconcile with Morrible and the Wizard, but Elphaba decides to stop their plans. She bids an emotional farewell to Glinda, who supports her but is apprehended by guards. Elphaba repeats the levitation spell on a broom and escapes the Emerald City. As Morrible warns Oz that Elphaba is a "wicked witch," Fiyero leaves Shiz on horseback amidst a mass evacuation, and Governor Thropp suffers a heart attack after he and Nessarose receive the news. Elphaba flies west, leaving Glinda behind ("Defying Gravity").

Cast
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo at the Wicked Premiere in Los Angeles
Jonathan Bailey at the Wicked Premiere in Los Angeles
Jeff Goldblum at the Wicked Premiere in Los Angeles
Michelle Yeoh at the Wicked Premiere in Los Angeles
Ethal Slater at the Wicked Premiere in Los Angeles
Marissa Bode at the Wicked Premiere in Los Angeles
The film's principal cast (left to right from top left) includes Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater, and Marissa Bode.
Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp, a misunderstood young woman born with green skin who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West[7][8]
Karis Musongole as young Elphaba[9]
Ariana Grande[b] as Galinda "Glinda" Upland, a popular young woman who becomes Glinda the Good[2][7][8]
Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar, a prince from Winkie Country who meets Elphaba and Galinda at school[10][11]
Ethan Slater as Boq Woodsman,[12] a Munchkin in love with Galinda[8]
Bowen Yang as Pfannee, one of Glinda's college friends[13]
Peter Dinklage as the voice of Dr. Dillamond, a talking Goat and history professor at Shiz University that befriends Elphaba[14]
Luisa Guerreiro was the movement artist for Dr. Dillamond[15]
Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, the Dean of Sorcery at Shiz University[16]
Jeff Goldblum as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz[17]
Marissa Bode as Nessarose Thropp, Elphaba's paraplegic younger sister[13]
Cesily Collette Taylor as young Nessarose
Bronwyn James as Shenshen, one of Galinda's college friends[13]
Andy Nyman as Governor Thropp, Elphaba and Nessarose's father and the Governor of Munchkinland
Courtney-Mae Briggs as Mrs. Thropp, Elphaba and Nessarose's mother, who died after giving birth to Nessarose
Keala Settle as Miss Coddle, the headmistress of Shiz University
Aaron Teoh as Avaric, Fiyero's friend
Sharon D. Clarke as the voice of Dulcibear, a talking Bear who helps deliver Elphaba during her birth and acts as a nanny to the Thropp family
Madeline Wilson was the movement artist for Dulcibear[15]
Jenna Boyd as the voice of Wolf Doctor, who helps deliver Elphaba during her birth[18]
Sarah Mardel was the movement artist for Wolf Doctor[15]
Colin Michael Carmichael as Professor Nikidik, a professor at Shiz University
Additionally, the Cowardly Lion makes an appearance as a cub. Dorothy Gale, a Kansas farm girl who is transported to the Land of Oz by a tornado with her dog Toto, is featured alongside the Scarecrow, Tin Man and an adult version of the Cowardly Lion in a brief cameo early in the film.[19] Robin Guiver performs the role of Chistery, the leader of the Wizard's monkey army and Elphaba's favorite winged monkey.[15] Stephen Stanton voices Fiyero's Horse.[c]

Multiple cameos take place during the "One Short Day" sequence. Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who originated the roles of Elphaba and Glinda in the stage musical, portray the leading members of the Emerald City Players. Former Fiyero replacement Michael McCorry Rose appears as the Wiz-O-Mania Narrator.[21] Book writer and screenwriter Winnie Holzman exclaims, "He can read it [the Grimmerie]! He must be a Wizard!" in a cameo during Wiz-O-Mania, and composer Stephen Schwartz cameos as the Emerald City Guard, who announces to Elphaba and Galinda that "the wizard will see you now".[22] Adam James and Alice Fearn appear briefly as Galinda's parents, nicknamed "Popsicle" and "Momsie" by Galinda.[23] Shaun Prendergast appears as Shiz President and Cherida Strallen as the Shiz Librarian.[24] Various West End actors make cameos, including Kerry Ellis,[25] Luke Bayer, Georgina Onuorah, and Dianne Pilkington.[26]

Production
Development

Director Jon M. Chu (left) and composer Stephen Schwartz
In 2003, the Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, a revisionist exploration of the characters and setting of L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, was adapted as the Broadway musical Wicked. The musical was produced by Universal Pictures' stage division and directed by Joe Mantello, with musical staging by Wayne Cilento. The Broadway production has inspired long-run productions in Chicago, London, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, as well as Germany, Australia and Japan. It was nominated for ten Tony Awards, winning three, and is the 4th longest-running Broadway show in history, with over 7,500 performances, running for over 20 years. The original Broadway production starred Idina Menzel as Elphaba and Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda.

In a 2009 interview, Maguire stated that he had sold the rights to ABC to make an independent non-musical TV adaptation of Wicked. It would not be based on Holzman's script.[27] On January 9, 2011, it was reported by Entertainment Weekly that ABC would be teaming up with Salma Hayek and her production company to create a TV miniseries of Wicked based solely on Maguire's novel. No further information, such as casting, had been revealed yet.[28]

Chenoweth, Menzel, Lea Michele, who portrayed Dorothy Gale in Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return, and Amy Adams were all rumored to be potential leads, Holzman and Schwartz were rumored as potential writers, and J. J. Abrams, Rob Marshall, James Mangold, and Ryan Murphy were all mentioned as possible candidates for director.[29] In December 2012, following the success of Les Misérables,[30][31] Marc Platt, also a producer of the stage version, announced the film was going ahead,[32] later confirming the film was aiming for a 2016 release.[33] After a long development, Universal announced in 2016 that the film would be released in theatres on December 20, 2019, with Stephen Daldry directing.[34] By 2024, Holzman was credited as the sole writer.[35] In August 2024, it was determined by the Writers Guild of America that Dana Fox collaborated with Holzman on the screenplay and that Craig Mazin contributed additional literary material.[1]

Pre-production
Christopher Scott at the Wicked Premiere in Los Angeles
Alice Brooks at the Wicked Premiere in Los Angeles
Paul Tazewell at the Wicked Premiere in Los Angeles
Frances Hannon at the Wicked Premiere in Los Angeles
The film's creative team (left to right from top left) includes choreographer Christopher Scott, cinematographer Alice Brooks, costume designer Paul Tazewell, and make-up artist Frances Hannon.
In May 2017, Schwartz said that the film would feature "at least two" new songs.[36] On August 31, 2018, Universal put the film on hold, due to production scheduling, and gave the film adaptation of Cats the release date formerly held by the film.[37] On February 8, 2019, Universal announced a new release date of December 22, 2021, for the Wicked film.[38] On April 1, 2020, Universal put the film on hold once again due to Universal shifting release dates amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and gave Sing 2 the 2021 release date.[39] On October 20, 2020, it was announced that Daldry had left the production due to scheduling conflicts.[40] On February 2, 2021, it was announced that Jon M. Chu would take over as director. Serving as executive producers would be Schwartz, Holzman, Fox, David Nicksay and Jared LeBoff.[41] In August, Alice Brooks was confirmed as the cinematographer, after working with Chu on the film version of In the Heights.[42]

In November, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were cast as Glinda and Elphaba.[7] Grande had previously recorded "Popular Song" (a remix of "Popular" from the musical) in 2012,[43] and had performed "The Wizard and I", a song from the musical, in the NBC special Wicked 15th Anniversary. Erivo previously had performed "I Couldn't Be Happier", an excerpt from the song "Thank Goodness", in the PBS special Wicked in Concert.[44][45][46] It was reported that Grande auditioned five times for the role of Glinda.[47] Dove Cameron, Taylor Louderman, Renee Rapp and Amanda Seyfried were also reported to have auditioned for Glinda.[48] In June 2022, Chu confirmed the hiring of Nathan Crowley as production designer.[49] On September 21, 2022, it was reported that Jonathan Bailey had joined the cast as Fiyero, beating, among others, actors Ryan McCartan (who played the role in 2018–2019 on Broadway), Cooper Koch,[50] Nick Jonas and Joe Jonas for the part.[10][51] In October 2022, it was announced that Jeff Goldblum was in final talks to star as the Wizard.[52] Goldblum completed talks by December,[17] when Ethan Slater, Michelle Yeoh, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Keala Settle, Aaron Teoh and Colin Michael Carmichael were added to the cast.[8][16][13] In April 2024, it was revealed at CinemaCon that Peter Dinklage had been cast as the voice of Dr. Dillamond.[53]

On preparing for the role of Elphaba, Erivo told Variety, while expressing her desire to see the stage version on Broadway again before filming: "I'm relearning everything ... I want to go and see it again. ... When I get to New York at some point I'll pop in and see the show again, that'll be my fifth time." She also said at that time that discussions were underway on what the film will look like, particularly its production design and visual style, and confirmed the hiring of Paul Tazewell as costume designer. Her request to him for Elphaba's costume when she becomes the Wicked Witch of the West involved "a Jean Paul Gaultier collection with a 'new world, kind of gilded age' feeling".[54] Erivo also contributed to several other parts of Elphaba's appearance, notably her hair and nails: "I knew I wanted [Elphaba] to have micro braids and I wanted her to have a full set [of nails] for two reasons: [they are] a nod to my culture and a nod to the world of Oz." She also stated: "I imagined that her nails were a part of her magic—that they just grew out of her and she hadn't yet discovered why, like her green skin."[55]

Dialog includes made-up words such as "hideoteous" and "confusifying".[56]

Filming

The interior of the wizard's castle was inspired by Hans Poelzig's Großes Schauspielhaus.[57][58]
Principal photography was set to commence in June 2022 at the Sky Studios Elstree facilities in the United Kingdom.[59] In July 2021, Schwartz indicated there were plans to film in Atlanta that year.[60] On April 26, 2022, Chu announced the adaptation would be filmed in two parts, Wicked and Wicked: For Good, saying:[61]

As we prepared the production over the last year, it became impossible to wrestle the story of 'Wicked' into a single film without doing some real damage to it ... As we tried to cut songs or trim characters, those decisions began to feel like fatal compromises to the source material that has entertained us all for so many years. We decided to give ourselves a bigger canvas and make not just one 'Wicked' movie but two! With more space, we can tell the story of 'Wicked' as it was meant to be told while bringing even more depth and surprise to the journeys for these beloved characters.

In June 2022, Schwartz confirmed that a new song would be written for one of the two films:[62]

We found it very difficult to get past 'Defying Gravity' without a break ... That song is written specifically to bring a curtain down, and whatever scene to follow it without a break just seemed hugely anti-climactic ... Even as a very long single movie, it required us cutting or omitting things that we wanted to include and that we think fans of the show and the story will appreciate. What we have discussed is that changes need to be 'additive', to use (producer) Marc Platt's term. They need to add something to the story or the characters. They can't just be changes to do something different. I feel confident that by the time the movie is made, if we all continue to have the same degree of input, I could have a conversation with anyone who has a question about any of the changes made from the stage show and justify why I think it's better for the movie.

On July 18, it was revealed that with the filming process settled at the newly built Sky Studios Elstree in Borehamwood, England, rehearsals would begin in August with principal photography beginning in November.[63] On December 9, Chu confirmed on Twitter that filming had begun.[64]

On September 23, Planning Statement, in support of a planning application submitted on behalf of Western Sky Limited, indicated that outdoor filming would occur at a site being developed at Ivinghoe Turf[65] in Ivinghoe, Buckinghamshire, UK. Early into filming, paparazzi from The Daily Mail were seen flying over the Munchkinland set by hang glider with GoPro cameras attached to their feet as Ariana Grande and the cast and crew filmed "No One Mourns the Wicked", the opening number of the first film. The first pictures of Grande in costume as Glinda were leaked online and sparked anticipation. Grande said in an interview for VMan: "I think we were very spoiled to have done this with [Chu]. It felt like a teeny, little secret student thing – it's intimacy ... It felt so small and private until all of a sudden, we were outside, and the Daily Mail was hand gliding [sic] over our set".[66][67][68]

Shooting was planned to take place between April 6 and July 14, 2023, with principal photography set to wrap with the "One Short Day" sequence on July 25.[69][70] Filming was suspended from July 13 to November 8 due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.[71] Filming resumed on January 24, 2024, and concluded on January 26. The song vocals were recorded live on set at the insistence of Erivo and Grande.[72][73] Academy Award-winning production sound mixer Simon Hayes collaborated with Chu on the recordings of the actors' vocals, using a variation of the same recording techniques that were implemented on Les Misérables.[74][75][76][77] Chu also cited Steven Spielberg's 1991 film Hook as inspiration for the large-scale sets and practical effects, including nine million colorful tulips planted on location to surround the Munchkinland set, a paved yellow brick road with real mud and a life-size art deco-inspired train to transport Elphaba and Glinda to the Emerald City, which he called the "Unlimited One".[78][79] Chu also cited the 1998 films Pleasantville and The Truman Show as influences on how both Wicked and Wicked: For Good thematically portray the Land of Oz, saying, "It helps create this idea of the rebelliousness that this new younger generation are discovering ... How far will that take everybody in Oz throughout the course of the whole story of both movies? It's an awakening of a generation. You start to see the truth about things that maybe you were taught differently."[80] The interior of the wizard's castle was inspired by Hans Poelzig's Großes Schauspielhaus.[81][82]

Although the film was described by media sources as a prequel to the 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film The Wizard of Oz, it was not allowed legally to be considered as such. The film lists as its source material the musical and the book it was adapted from, which in turn were based on L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which is in the public domain; the 1939 film is under copyright protection and was not licensed source material.[83] The filmmakers had to toe a fine line between calling the film to mind but not infringing upon it. To that end, Universal had a copyright expert on set to ensure no infringement occurred.[citation needed] The production team worked under the constraint of abiding by the stipulations set forth by Warner Bros., the legal owner of the rights to iconic elements of the 1939 film, including the ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland. Therefore, Universal was unable to use them nor any original character likenesses from the 1939 film. This extended to the green of the Wicked Witch's skin for which Cynthia Erivo and SFX makeup artist David Stoneman used what they considered a sufficiently different shade dubbed "Cynthia Green" (named after Erivo).[84] Additionally, the studio was unable to use Margaret Hamilton's signature chin mole of the Wicked Witch of the West nor could they imploy the yellow brick road's swirl design for Munchkinland.[85] The expert also ensured that the Emerald City was not too close in appearance to the original Emerald City in the 1939 film.[citation needed]

Post-production and visual effects
On February 6, 2024, it was confirmed that Industrial Light & Magic and Framestore[86] provided the film's visual effects with Pablo Helman serving as production visual effects supervisor, and that post-production work was in progress, with Chu working remotely with editor Myron Kerstein via communication through the newly released Apple Vision Pro.[87][88][89] Throughout editing, Kerstein felt emotionally connected to the film and its story, particularly during post-production work on the Ozdust Ballroom and "Defying Gravity" sequences, while reflecting on the former scene: "We always felt like the Ozdust Ballroom was basically the set piece we had to get right, because if that didn't work, the rest of the movie was going to fall apart." The sequence involved watching the entireties of every ten-minute-long take of Elphaba and Glinda's dance duet and picking the right portions that provoked the most emotional response.[90] Editing on the entire film was done through Avid Media Composer.[91] Post-production on the first film was completed on September 19, 2024.[citation needed]

Music
Main articles: Wicked: The Soundtrack and Wicked (score)
The soundtrack album for Wicked was released by Republic Records/Verve Label Group, Grande and Erivo's respective record labels, on November 22, 2024.[92] In July 2024, it was announced that John Powell had composed the incidental underscore for the film and is set to do the same for Wicked: For Good. Jeff Atmajian updated the late William David Brohn's original orchestrations for the songs and enlarged the orchestra from the stage version's original 23 musicians to 125 for the film.[93] The recording sessions for the music took place at AIR Studios in London,[94] with the musical's original music director Stephen Oremus conducting the song cues and Powell conducting the incidental score cues alongside Gavin Greenaway, all with the London Symphony Orchestra. Greg Wells, Oremus and Schwartz served as music producers.[95][96][97] The score album was released on December 6, 2024.[98]

Musical numbers
"Overture" – The Wicked Orchestra
"No One Mourns the Wicked" – Glinda, Governor Thropp, Mrs. Thropp, Traveling Salesman, Dulcibear, Wolf Doctor and Ozians
"Dear Old Shiz" – Students and Glinda
"The Wizard and I" – Madame Morrible and Elphaba
"What Is This Feeling?" – Glinda, Elphaba and Students
"Something Bad" – Doctor Dillamond, Snow Leopard, Piebald Deer, Tamarin, Owl and Elphaba
"Dancing Through Life" – Fiyero, Glinda, Boq, Nessarose, Elphaba and Students
"Ozdust Duet" – The Wicked Orchestra
"Popular" – Glinda
"I'm Not That Girl" – Elphaba
"One Short Day" – Elphaba, Glinda, Wiz-o-Mania Superstars and Ozians
"A Sentimental Man" – The Wizard
"Defying Gravity" – Elphaba, Glinda and Ozians
"Part 1 Finale" – The Wicked Orchestra
Some songs from Wicked: For Good appear throughout the score, most prominently "For Good" whenever Elphaba and Galinda's friendship is seen or mentioned, "Thank Goodness" when Galinda changes her name, and "Wonderful" when Elphaba receives her invitation from the Wizard.[99]

A few days later, the production company released the "Sing-Along" playlist on the main digital platforms, while also scheduling this type of screening in cinemas around the world. In this format, viewers are encouraged to sing along live, with lyrics added to the film as if it were a karaoke session.[100]

Stage-to-screen changes
Changes for the film include adding new characters: Dulcibear, Elphaba's childhood nanny; Miss Coddle, a headmistress at Shiz University; and Galinda's parents, who drop her off at Shiz. In the musical, Madame Morrible is the university's headmistress, but in the film, she is repositioned as its Dean of Sorcery so that the university can have its own President, with Miss Coddle assuming the headmistress role on screen.[101] The film shows Elphaba's private tutoring sessio