London was transported to Oz Monday night for the European premiere of ‘s highly-anticipated (part one). The director made his first premiere of the film’s press run (thanks to a newborn baby, ) at the city’s Royal Festival Hall, alongside his Glinda and Elphaba, who braved the torrential U.K.
rain. An umbrella-ed duo of and — donning chiffon yellow and waist-hugging, black frocks, respectively — succeeded , Bowen Yang, Ethan Slater, Michelle Yeoh, Marissa Bode, Bronwyn James and on the fan-flanked green carpet. “It’s been a long journey to get here,” producer Marc Platt, who has overseen Broadway’s historic run of the musical, said.
“ started 20-some years ago. I set out to make it as a film first. But then one of my favorite composers who inspired me as a kid and has inspired generations since, called me and said, ‘This should be a musical first.
’ And that man was Mr. Stephen Schwartz.” Academy Award-winning composer Schwartz took to the stage as Platt continued speaking.
“We then started on a journey. We made the stage musical. I want to thank my colleagues and friends at Universal Pictures for their support of the show and of the film for all these many, many, many years.
” It turned out, he said, that the movie took so long because he was waiting for the perfect director. Platt said: “I was waiting for someone who had such imagination, such talent and such humanity to raise his hand and say, ‘I want to direct this film’.” Chu gracious.
