‘Wicked’ movie soundtrack makes history on ‘Billboard’ charts
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Wicked is defying sales records left and right.
The soundtrack for the film debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 album chart, making it the all-time highest debut for a film adaptation of a stage musical.
It was blocked from the top spot by Kendrick Lamar‘s surprise album, GNX, which earned the singer his fifth consecutive #1 album.
The Wicked soundtrack also scored the top spot on Billboard‘s Top Album Sales, Soundtracks and Vinyl Albums charts.
Wicked released in theaters on Nov. 22 and became the highest-grossing movie based on a Broadway musical at the domestic box office over the Thanksgiving weekend. It stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. By Sunday, Dec. 1, the movie had earned a total of $263.1 million.
Wednesday Addams will be returning to Netflix sooner than you think.
The hit series Wednesday has wrapped production on season 2, and to celebrate the streamer released the first image of Jenna Ortega dressed as the titular, gloom-loving daughter of the fictional Addams family.
In the photo, Ortega stands in front of a spooky, cemetery-esque backdrop with her arms crossed and a frown on her face. Season 2 of the series is set to return in 2025, where it will follow Wednesday’s continued adventures at Nevermore Academy.
Not much is known about the plot of season 2, though showrunners Al Gough and Miles Millar are teasing more complexity.
“This season, Wednesday’s journey is darker and more complex as she navigates family, friends, new mysteries, and old adversaries, propelling her headlong into another year at Nevermore,” they told Netflix’s Tudum.
Catherine Zeta-Jones, who stars as Morticia Addams, recently teased in a behind-the-scenes clip shared by Netflix that the second season will “be bigger and more twisted than you could ever imagine.”
She celebrated her return home from filming Wednesday in Ireland in a post shared to Instagram on Nov. 26.
“Thank you to all in Ireland … who welcomed me and the whole Wednesday @wednesdaynetflix team so graciously whilst we were shooting season 2!” Zeta-Jones wrote.
She also shared a video reuniting with her dog, Taylor, after months of separation.
“After seven months away from my little guy, Taylor my dog was the best homecoming gift. Oh yes, why 7 months…I was shooting season 2 of @wednesdaynetflix Wednesday!!!” Zeta-Jones wrote.
While at Disney’s APAC Content Showcase Wednesday at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, Anthony Mackie shed a little light on his upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe entry, Captain America: Brave New World.
The movie, which debuts in theaters Feb. 14, will be Mackie’s first after his character Sam Wilson took on the mantle of Captain America in the Disney+ show The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
According to Deadline, Mackie said his character — which fans met as a veteran counselor in Captain America: The Winter Soldier — is staying true to his roots.
“He’s still a [counselor]. He’s still serving soldiers, but at the same time, now he’s a leader of his community in the country,” Mackie reportedly said.
Unlike Chris Evans‘ Steve Rogers, however, Wilson never took the super soldier cocktail that gave Steve’s Cap his superior strength.
“When you don’t have the serum, you have to be smart and engineer different ways of [fighting],” the actor said, explaining that “he uses more of his brains than brawn. He uses more of his wit than his fist.”
That said, the trailer to the movie shows him going toe-to-toe with Harrison Ford‘s Red Hulk.
The trade also reports head Kevin Feige made a virtual appearance and revealed that The Fantastic Four: First Steps is about to wrap, and with its debut in July, “Marvel’s First Family … [goes] right into the next Avengers movies.”
The Broadway League has announced it will dim its lights the night of Sept. 23 in honor of the late James Earl Jones.
The EGOT-winning actor, who passed away at 93 years on Sept. 9, was a force on the Great White Way, in addition to his big-screen work. Now the national trade association for the Broadway industry says it will pay tribute to him on Thursday at 6:45 p.m. ET.
“James Earl Jones was a true pillar of the Broadway industry, providing unforgettable experiences to multiple generations of theatregoers — all while accumulating many well-deserved honors, awards, and achievements for his iconic performances in other entertainment fields,” said Jason Laks, interim president of The Broadway League.
“While we acknowledge and celebrate Mr. Jones’ significant legacy across multiple mediums, we are particularly proud of his legacy on Broadway, and are grateful for the many memorable performances with which he graced our stages.”
Jones made his Broadway debut in 1957 as an understudy in The Egghead. A decade later, he won his first Tony Award for his performance in The Great White Hope.
Throughout his career, he was nominated for four Tonys and won two. In 2017 he was honored with a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement. Jones last appeared on the stage in 2016’s The Gin Game.
Additionally, on Sept. 12, 2022, New York City’s Cort Theatre was renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre in his honor.
