News has just hit that a movie adaptation of Wicked is currently in the works. I can’t say I’m surprised, what with the recent influx of stage-to-screen musicals including Hairspray, Mamma Mia! and Sweeney Todd. Adaptations are a delicate process and for every hit there is a miss, but the industry is in a positive place right now and that will surely help.

Winnie Holzman, who wrote the book for the musical version, is currently slated to write the movie’s screenplay, which means that a great deal of the musical’s sensibilities will be brought to the big screen. That’s fine, because the musical in its current form is the one that became an international phenomenon. What I’m looking forward to are the changes that will be made from stage to screen, because now Holzman has the advantage of hindsight and knows what the audience responds well to, and what it doesn’t.

The casting would be an interesting challenge, because they could either go the route of Mamma Mia! and Sweeney Todd and cast famous people, or Hairspray and cast a mix of names and unknowns, or Rent and The Producers and bring back some of the original cast. Kristin Chenoweth is a somewhat famous enough name that she might get to play Glinda again, as is Idina Menzel thanks to Enchanted, but are they young enough to play the roles convincingly? I doubt Norbert Leo Butz will get play Fiyero, and I predict someone akin to James Marsden will get the role instead.

Whatever the issue with casting, I have only one wish.

Change the ending.

I know it’s too much to ask that they address all the problems I have with the show, but I will breathe a tad easier if they pay some respect to those who love and cherish the original Oz books and the MGM film.

For the love of L. Frank Baum, change the ending.