Menzel, Chenoweth told they’re too old for ‘Wicked’ movie
By Josh Haggis
Idina Menzel has revealed that studio executives have said she and Kristin Chenoweth are now “over the age” to star in the film adaptation of Wicked.
Menzel and Chenoweth originated the roles of Elphaba and Glinda in the Broadway musical in 2003 – and the following year, Menzel beat her co-star to the Best Actress in a Musical Prize at the Tony Awards.
A film adaptation has been in the works since 2004 but following the success of the Les Misérables movie, Universal Pictures chairman Adam Fogelson said last year (2013) that the studio is working towards bringing Wicked to the big screen “sooner rather than later”.
However, 42-year-old Menzel and 45-year-old Chenoweth are apparently out of the running for the lead roles.
Asked if she had been approached to appear in the film on Andy Cohen’s Bravo TV show Watch What Happens Live on Thursday night (May 1), Menzel joked: “Yeah, as the mother of Elphaba.”
She then added: “I would die to be in [the film], except I’m afraid Kristin [Chenoweth] and I… they told us we’re a little over the age for that.”
During the interview, Menzel was also asked about John Travolta’s legendary mispronunciation of her name at last month’s Oscars.
“For eight seconds I felt very sorry for myself,” Menzel recalled. “It threw me a little, but now it’s like the best thing that ever happened.”
Last month (March) it was reported that One Direction’s Harry Styles is being lined up for a role in the Wicked movie – click here to find out more.
Watch Idina Menzel sing classic ‘Rent’ song for AIDS charity