&34;I really love the story,&34; the filmmaker says of the world of the Wicked Witch of the West. James Cameron almost directed Wicked — here's why he didn't &34;I really love the story,&34; the filmmaker says of the world of the Wicked Witch of the West. By Patrick Gomez :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/pgomezheadshot25b24b6c6d8948899ca9b24a6a9a6844.jpg) Patrick Gomez is an Executive Editor at . Formerly at People magazine and The A.V.

"I really love the story," the filmmaker says of the world of the Wicked Witch of the West.

James Cameron almost directed Wicked — here's why he didn't

"I really love the story," the filmmaker says of the world of the Wicked Witch of the West.

By Patrick Gomez

Patrick Gomez is an Executive Editor at . Formerly at People magazine and The A.V. Club, the Critics Choice and Television Critics Association member has appeared on 'Today,' 'Extra!,' 'Access Hollywood,' 'E! News,' 'CNN,' and 'Nightline,' and can be seen frequently on 'Good Morning America.' Follow the Texas Native at @PatrickGomezLA wherever your media is social for all things 'For All Mankind' 'Top Chef,' and puppy related.

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November 26, 2025 8:34 p.m. ET

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James Cameron; Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in 'Wicked'. Credit:

Marc Piasecki/Getty; Universal Pictures

- On a recent podcast, James Cameron revealed he was in talks to direct a film version of *Wicked*.

- The *Avatar* and *Terminator* director ultimately walked away from the opportunity, but doesn't rule out doing a musical movie.

- Cameron is just the latest Hollywood A-lister to attempt to adapt Gregory Maguire's book or the Broadway production for the big screen.

*Terminator* and *Avatar* director James Cameron is known for his metallic and his blue creatures, but he almost added green to the mix.

While audiences are currently flocking to see Jon M. Chu's *Wicked: For Good*, Cameron says he almost directed a *Wicked* movie around the time he would have been moving on from 2009's *Avatar*.

"I really love the story," the Academy Award winner says on the latest episode of *The Town With Matthew Belloni* podcast of *Wicked*, which was first a 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire and then a 2003 Broadway musical starring Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel. Though his love of the characters goes back even further: "I mean, *The Wizard of Oz* is one of my favorite [movies.]"

Cameron confirms he spoke with Universal Pictures execs about taking on the project, which also excited him because he knew it would "be an event," which is what he feels needs to be the case for studios to greenlight the type of budget he is accustomed to working with.

But, ultimately, Cameron says he "couldn't find the song." That said, he doesn't rule out a musical movie in his future.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in 'Wicked'.

Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures

Cameron is, of course, not the only person who was eager to bring *Wicked* to the big screen over the years. Producer Marc Platt was president of production at Universal when they first discussed a film version of Maguire's book — before being convinced a Broadway musical was the ideal format to bring the story off the page.

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"It had been optioned initially by Demi Moore's company," Platt said in a 2024 *Vanity Fair* interview. "People who had expressed an interest in the first six months included Whoopi Goldberg and Claire Danes... Salma Hayek had had some interest, and Laurie Metcalf."**

As for who should play Glinda, he revealed that "there were a few people top of mind," including Michelle Pfeiffer, Emma Thompson, and Nicole Kidman. "There was kind of a rumble for a minute that [director Robert Zemeckis] wanted to do it," added Suzanne Todd, who was then an assistant to the producer Joel Silver.

But what about Moore?

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"I think on different days she could do either, but in the moment it was definitely for Elphaba," he said of the actress starring in the film, which he adds was not something she was dead-set on.

That said, Maguire had no doubt Moore would make a fantastic choice for his Wicked Witch, saying he could "imagine Demi Moore naked and green on the cover of *Vanity Fair*" — a reference to her iconic 1991 nude cover for the magazine while seven-months pregnant.**

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Source: "EW Movies"

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Source: Movies

Published: November 29, 2025 at 10:38AM on Source: ANDY MAG

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