KQED's Forum ‘Wicked’ Director Jon M. Chu on How His Career Defies Gravity
Dec 29, 2025
Jon M. Chu, an acclaimed director from the Bay Area known for hits like Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights, discusses his latest project, the film adaptation of Wicked. He reflects on how COVID and his family's immigrant story made the musical particularly resonant. Chu shares insights into his upbringing, the importance of cultural representation, and his transformative experiences at USC. He emphasizes the value of theatrical distribution for underrepresented talent and previews exciting new projects, highlighting storytelling as a source of hope.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
First Theatrical Spark
- Jon M. Chu first saw Wicked as a USC student with his mother and was deeply moved by seeing The Wizard of Oz reexamined through Elphaba's view.
- That early theatrical experience lodged the film as a lifelong dream he later pursued for decades.
Raised To Represent
- Chu describes his parents dressing his family like the 'Asian Kennedys' to shape how they were perceived in public.
- His parents taught him to represent his culture positively while softening others' preconceptions.
Film School Wake-Up
- At USC Chu saw classmates laugh at an Asian dating joke, which planted a seed to make films that counter stereotypes.
- He later made a musical short about cultural identity but hid it, then made another short that launched his career when Steven Spielberg noticed it.