Cynthia Erivo, star of Wicked, has signed a big new deal with Universal Pictures.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Erivo and her production company, Edith’s Daughter, have agreed to a “first-look” deal with the studio. This means Universal will have the first opportunity to work with them on future projects. While there are no details about specific projects yet, this deal could be a big step in Erivo’s career.
Erivo said in a statement, “I’ve worked with Universal on Wicked for the last three years, and I’ve seen their passion for storytelling. They really support creators and lift up diverse voices. I’m excited to continue our partnership with this new deal. It’s a big step for my production company and shows how important it is to tell stories from different perspectives. I can’t wait to bring new ideas to life.”
Peter Cramer, President of Universal Pictures, praised Erivo, saying, “Cynthia is an incredible talent, and she truly cares about telling authentic stories. She inspired us all while working on Wicked. We’re thrilled she’s chosen to partner with us and share her vision.”
While we don’t know what Erivo’s next project will be, she is currently starring as Elphaba in Wicked, the first part of a two-part movie series based on the popular Broadway show.
The decision to split Wicked into two films was explained by director Jon M. Chu, who said, “We tried making it one movie, but it didn’t work. We had to cut out songs, and it just didn’t feel like Wicked. We wanted to make sure the story stayed true to the original, so we decided to split it into two parts, which we believe the audience will appreciate when they see the movie.”