“This isn’t half the homework”: Ariana Grande’s ‘Wicked’ Director Refuses to Follow Denis Villeneuve’s Dune Movies Despite Their Over $1.1 Billion Box Office

Ariana Grande started out in Hollywood as an actress. It started with a role in the Broadway musical 13 and did not take long for her to rise to stardom with her role as Cat Valentine in the Nickelodeon TV series Victorious. However, she always aimed to become a singer so she began recording songs while still working on the show.

Grande went on to become one of the most iconic pop singers ever with her impressive vocal range and signature whistle note. She returned to acting in 2021 with the black comedy Don’t Look Up and is now all set to mesmerize audiences with her upcoming musical fantasy film Wicked. Recently, the film’s director, Jon M. Chu, revealed that he refused to use one tactic Denis Villeneuve used for the Dune franchise.

Ariana Grande’s Wicked Director Did This One Thing Unlike Denis Villeneuve

Grande is one of the best-selling artists with albums like Dangerous Woman and Sweetener. The most recent of her musical albums is Eternal Sunshine which consists of the hit singles Yes, And? and We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love). This was her first album in four years so fans were overjoyed.

To sweeten the deal, the 7 Rings singer is also bringing a visual treat in the form of the movie Wicked, a prequel to Frank L. Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It explores the tale of the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba’s (Cynthia Erivo) origins, and her unlikely friendship with Ariana Grande’s Glinda the Good Witch (known as Galinda initially) at Shiz University.

It is a two-part story of which the first part is scheduled to be released this year and the second part in 2025. Even so, director Jon M. Chu refused to name the first movie the way Denis Villeneuve named his Dune movies, that is, Dune: Part One and Dune: Part Two.

Chu, however, decided to do it differently. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, he said:

This isn’t half the homework. If we were going to split it into two, we need to make sure that movie one is emotionally satisfying and by the end, you feel like that was a f—ing movie. I don’t like movies where you leave and feel like, ‘Well, I’ve got to wait for the next one.’ This should leave you with the highest of highs and so connected to these women.

Every creative has their own way of doing things and each of them is unique. Villeneuve’s technique led to the making of a billion-dollar franchise. The craze for Chu’s two-part fantasy adventure is also high. It remains to be seen how it performs commercially.

The Changes to the Original Story Does Not Affect the Film’s Essence

Like most other book-to-film adaptations, Wicked too differs from the source material a little bit. Chu told the outlet that they had not touched the heart of the story, but some changes had to be made to make the experience even better.

At the heart of the story is Elphaba’s friendship with Galinda and their togetherness is something that has been portrayed well in the movie. Chu said:

Cynthia and Ari are living these roles. When I watch them now, the nuance is so specific. I feel like I know the feelings of it, and every time I watch it, I see something new. They’re giving so much that it’s so real.

This is good news for fans because the Crazy Rich Asians director has been working on the two movies, which are now in post-production, for years. For him to say that he discovers something new in Galinda and Elphaba’s bond every time he watches it proves just how much work has been put into it.

Wicked will be in theatres from November 22, 2024.