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ABC is looking to get back in the event mini-series business with Wicked, an eight-hour mini-series produced by Salma Hayek, TVLine‘s Michael Ausiello reports. The project is not based on the highly-successful Broadway musical but on Gregory McGuire’s bestselling book that spawned it. Despite a long tradition of TV musicals like Cinderella, Annie and The Music Man at ABC that flourished under Susan Lyne as head of TV movies and mini-series and then entertainment president, the genre disappeared from the network under Lyne’s successor Stephen McPherson. In fact, McPherson passed on the Wicked mini-series a couple of year ago, a decision that was reversed by new ABC president Paul Lee. Wicked, which is in active development, is being produced by ABC Studios and Hayek and Jose Tamez’s studio-based Ventanarosa Prods. Erik Jendersen (Band of Brothers) is writing the script. For now, there are no plans for Hayek to star. Coincidentally, ABC and ABC Studios are developing a comedy musical series starring Idina Menzel, who originated the role of Elphaba in the Wicked Broadway musical, winning a Tony for the part. The musical, perennial top Broadway grosser that premiered in 2003, is currently being developed as a feature.
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Happy that ABC picked this up. Event-like things are also bread & butter of broadcast television.
If conceived and marketed right this’ll be huge for ABC. Even though Paul Lee has a cable background he is really getting in touch with the broadcast landscape spirt. He’s stated ABC as one of the “premier iconic American storytelling brands.” Good job.
Really great move on Paul Lee’s part. The book is a far more complex narrative than the musical – but i think the fans of the musical will gravitate to this mini-series and fans of the book will finally get to see the story fully realized on screen. It’s a fantastic, complex world McGuire has built.
Wow, between this and the Sam Raimi/Robert Downey Jr. Oz project, Disney appears to be doing everything they can to outright kill NBCUni’s big screen adaptation of the musical before it gets any traction.
The book is wildly different (and IMHO, significantly better) then the broadway production. It will be interesting to see someone take this on, and what direction they go.
“IMHO”???? Ugh. Posts ARE opinions.
Ooo… I can’t wait!! Score for ABC!
Selma married a billionaire. More proof that as long as you have $, you can produce whatever you want.
She has credibility for producing the film version of the Frida Kahlo story and for producing Ugly Betty on ABC. Those projects had nothing to do with her husbands money.
I loved the book for its darkness and was stupefied by the bizarre Dinseyfied show on Broadway. I hope they’ll do a better job of capturing the elements that made this such a great novel. Please don’t turn this into an 8-hour Hallmark special. Think “Pan’s Labyrinth.” That movie was called “A fairytale for adults” and Wicked is very much the same. Done right, a mini series could be incredible. Good luck!
P.S. Speaking of Pan’s Labyrinth, maybe bring Guillermo del Toro on board to executive produce??
If you like a good story, than this mini may be for you. If you like a production, it may be disapointing.
I think it’s spelled Jendresen and he was lead writer and supervising producer of Band of Brothers.
+1 for the book being greatly superior to the musical.
Doesn’t Marc Platt have the rights? Is he involved or do his rights somehow not include TV?
I can just see the audience tuning out with each act that fails to deliver a musical number from the awesome score of the broadway musical that everybody loves. BOMB written all over it in spite of the more complex story in the book or whatever else was mentioned above. Remember the big events that worked back in Susan’s era were MUSICALS. That said Universal should vetoed the dime and get this broadway hit adapted for the big screen. This is not RENT or Spring Awakening were talking about here!
Kasaja, at least Paul Lee is creatively taking some risks as opposed to the bland programming that Steve McPherson. Besides, look at the miniseries Stephen King did for ABC. Those were non musicals and they were great except for Rose Red.
Selma is too old to play either of the characters
Love that Jendresen is writing this…what a trip.
I’ve yet to see the musical but definitely will even if it differs from the book, but I must say I’m so happy this might happen! The book is amazing and I hope if it’s a success they do the same for Son of a Witch!
She could play another character though, like an Ama or even Madame Morrible, also with a little weight, maybe Sarima or one of her sisters?
This’ll be amazing! The complex story won’t matter if it’s in 8 parts, it won’t overwhelm anyone like the book may have (IMO the book was brilliant) I just hope Fiyero is accurate is this unlike the musical
You’re right, Salma Hayek is too old for Elphaba or Glinda, but I think she’d make a very interesting Madame Morrible.
Thank you very much I am so looking forward to this. Possibly do with limited breaks
Stephen McPherson actually turned down this Wicked project two years ago, huh? Well, that pretty much says all you need to know about his credibility in the entertainment biz.
Hasn’t Wicked been the hottest property, books and Broadway, for several years now? This has instant-success written all over it before a single frame is shot.
I’m only surprised the book is not headed to the Big Screen, where is would surely rake in half-a-billion.
Think this is a fantastic idea and with a movie of the musical being thought about it’s a fantastic opportunity for lovers of the musical and the book.
I’m extremely exited!!! Wicked is my favorite thing in the world, and I hope that they do a good job expressing its awesomeness!
Am soooo excited about this! I hope they do a good job with it! I’ll be crushed if it sucks.
I love the musical, but I love the darkness of the tone of the book and am excited to see that aspect brought to the silver screen.
Very excited!