Idina Menzel inWicked.Photo: Alastair Muir/Shutterstock
Idina Menzelisn’t ruling out a return to Oz!
While chatting with PEOPLE about her new QVC clothing line titledEncore, the actress and singer, 50, also opens up about the forthcoming film adaptation ofWickedand how she would be interested in making an appearance in the project.
“If they asked me to do it at the age of 51, I would say, sure — just put a little Vaseline on the lens, throw some green makeup on me, use a little CGI and I’ll look gorgeous,” Menzel tells PEOPLE with a laugh.
“But no, it’s all good. That ship has sailed,” adds the star, who originated the role of Elphaba inWickedonBroadwaybetween October 2003 and January 2005.
In the original stage production, Menzel starred oppositeKristin Chenoweth, who portrayed the role of Glinda.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Jon M. Chu, the mastermind behindCrazy Rich Asiansand the film adaptation of Broadway’sIn the Heights, waslater tapped to helm theWickedmoviein February 2021. Then, in November 2021,Cynthia ErivoandAriana Grandewereannounced as the leadsElphaba and Glinda, respectively.
Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, who co-wrote the music and lyrics to the Broadway show, are adapting the screenplay, while Marc Platt will return as a producer.
RELATED VIDEO: Idina Menzel CongratulatesAriana Grande, Cynthia Erivo onWickedCasting News: “So Much Love”
Continuing to speak with PEOPLE, Menzel says that both Erivo, 35, and Grande, 28, are “good friends of mine,” and she believes the film adaptation is “in very good hands.”
Asked what advice she’d give the two stars, Menzel says she would tell them, “Just to enjoy the moment, enjoy the process andremember the legacy of the showand how many young people it resonates with and speaks to.”
“It’s allowed for so many young people to really embrace their power and what makes them really special in the world,” the Broadway icon adds. “[So I would remind them] just to keep that in mind every day when they’re on set, and to remember why they’re doing it and who they’re doing it for.”
Last month, director Chu, 42, teased more details about the project, including thatit would now be released in two parts.
Splitting the film apart, Menzel tells PEOPLE, is something she believes will only be beneficial, as it will allow every part of the story to unfold onscreen.
“I think it’s great,” she says. “The novel … was one of my favorite novels, and I had read it before I was ever cast in the show. It’s rich in detail.”
“So the more that we can actuallydiscover all thatWickedis, I think, the more beneficial [it will be] to the story,” she adds. “It’ll be exciting.”
The firstWickedfilm will debut in theaters in December 2024, while the second part will hit screens a year later for the 2025 holiday season.
source: people.com
