Universal acquired the rights to “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” by American novelist Gregory Maguire shortly after it was published in 1995. And in 2003 they opened the Broadway musical, eventually becoming the second most successful Broadway music ever (after Disney’s “The Lion King”).

Chu told HuffPost’s Ellen Lee how “Wicked” transcends its magic, challenges the status quo and echoes his pursuit of the American dream beyond the “yellow brick road.”

Director Jon M. Chu has carved an interesting path into the often unforgiving corridors of Hollywood. Having started out as a director-for-hire on franchise projects, he has evolved into something of an auteur.

Picturehouse's Lucy Fenwick Elliott sits down with director Jon M. Chu to discuss his love of musicals, casting Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, and what he hopes audiences take away from Wicked.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo star in Universal's highly anticipated adaptation of the long-running Broadway musical.

Wicked Director Jon M. Chu had a quest for fans this premiere weekend when they head to movie theater to see the musical and fans were not having it. Many even pointed out that the theaters simply wouldn't comply,

Director made complaint about film’s volume at cinema screenings as theatres remind fans that singing along during screenings is prohibited