(Image Source: Universal Pictures)
Fans familiar with James Cameron's extensive filmography know the acclaimed director has been attached to numerous major IP adaptations that never came to fruition. Projects like "X-Men," "Spider-Man," and "Planet of the Apes" were all subjects he once considered directing and even actively developed scripts for. Now, another title has been added to this long list of unmade Cameron films: "Wicked."
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"Wicked" has been a long-gestating project at Universal Pictures, with development stretching back to the 1990s when Demi Moore initially sought to adapt the original novel into a film, even before the musical version existed. Over the years, Universal reportedly approached several A-list directors, including J.J. Abrams, Rob Marshall, and James Mangold. Cameron recently revealed that he, too, was among those considered.
During a recent appearance on "The Town with Matt Belloni" podcast, Cameron stated, "I almost directed 'Wicked' back in the day. I loved the story, and 'The Wizard of Oz' is one of my favorite films. This was about 15 years ago." This timeframe would place the discussions around the release of the first "Avatar" film.
As for why he ultimately declined the opportunity, Cameron offered a brief explanation, saying he couldn't find a way to interpret the songs. However, he didn't rule out directing a musical film in the future: "I don't know, but my favorite film is a musical, which is 'The Wizard of Oz'."