IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit 'Wicked: For Good' Director Jon M. Chu
Nov 25, 2025
Join Jon M. Chu, the visionary director behind blockbuster musicals, as he unveils the magic of the two-part film 'Wicked: For Good'. He reveals how he crafted a unified story with a fresh perspective on Elphaba and Glinda's journeys. Dive into his creative choices, from establishing Glinda’s visually stunning bubble to Jeff Goldblum's charming Wizard number. Chu discusses the emotional weight of the wedding scene and his innovative approach to filming both movies simultaneously. Plus, get insights on his future projects!
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Two Films, One Continuous Story
- Jon M. Chu sees Wicked as one continuous story where part two fractures childhood fairy-tale illusions into adult complexity.
- He framed movie two as the emotional payoff that interrogates consequences, courage, and what stories we pass to our children.
Expand By Deepening Character Stakes
- Do deepen characters when expanding a story into multiple parts by exploring consequences of their choices.
- Ask why a character holds beliefs and create new moments (songs/scenes) that reveal internal questioning and growth.
Popping The Bubble As A Visual Motif
- Chu used Glinda's surface happiness to examine performative goodness and the work of popping one's bubble.
- He built a visual and sonic motif of reflections and distortions culminating in a new song 'Girl in the Bubble' to show transformation.