Do you ever get a glimpse of an alternate history, where something small changed but would have made the world a completely different place?
That's what fans of the book and musical Wicked felt when actor Demi Moore opened up to Entertainment Tonight about how she nearly made a non-musical adaptation of Wicked the book back in the '90s when it first came out.
Moore's fledgling—and ultimately short-lived—production company had optioned the rights to the hit book, but alas, nothing came of their efforts to get it onto screen.
Instead, the adaptation became the juggernaut musical and now musical-movie directed by John Chu.
Rumors about a theoretical adaptation in the 90s were circling when Moore cleared the air.
“Many, many years ago—we’re talking 30 years ago at least—I had a production company that was active and we optioned the book for Wicked...It was in development at Universal way before it was a musical.”
She went on to talk about how maybe back then wasn't the best time for the production, clearly harboring no jealousy over the trajectory of Chu's adaptation of the musical this year.
“I think it was just maybe a little ahead of its time. And I have to say I pat myself a little bit on the back that we found good material.”
- YouTubeyoutu.be
Folks were immediately into the idea of her as a non-singing Elphaba.
They also started casting possible co-stars from actors who were huge back then.
Others pointed out that '90s technical capabilities were maybe not up to the artistic vision that any adaptation would need.
But the musical adaptation wouldn't have to be the only one.
Moore recently won a Golden Globe for her role in The Substance.
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