Wicked: For Good NYC Premiere - Full Intro w/ Jon Chu, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo

Director's Personal Journey

• 💡 Director Jon M. Chu shared his long journey in filmmaking, recalling dreaming of movies while doing homework at the bar of his parents' Chinese restaurant, Chef Chu's.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 He highlighted significant personal sacrifices, including having three children during the movie's production, with one born on a previous premiere day and another during a weekend shoot.

Honoring the Creators

• 👏 Chu acknowledged Mark Platt for seeing the potential in Gregory's book and being a true creative leader.
• 🎶 He celebrated Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman for their foundational work, emphasizing how their words, like "Something has changed within me," planted the seeds for the film.

Introducing the Star-Studded Cast

• 🌟 The director enthusiastically introduced key cast members, including Colman Domingo, James, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Ethan Slater, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Ariana Grande, and Cynthia Erivo.
• ✨ He described the cast as the seeds that the original creators planted, inspiring everyone involved in the production.

Collaborative Filmmaking & Dedication

• 🎬 Chu called upon the entire crew—editors, mixers, casting, cinematography, production design, hair, makeup, producers, and executives—to stand, recognizing their immense dedication and sacrifices.
• 🤝 He emphasized the collaborative nature of the film, where every layer, from the grout of the yellow brick road to subtle character moments, was a collective effort.
• ❤️ The director also extended gratitude to families and friends for their crucial support throughout the demanding production.

Pride in the Final Product

• ✅ Chu expressed the team's profound pride in the movie, stating they didn't wait for external validation but ensured they "dug the truth out of the material."
• 🚀 He concluded by describing the film as a "message in a bottle" now sent out to the world, no longer solely theirs, inviting audiences to see what grows from it.