As the shrieking applause and roaring accolades from an impressive 2023 quieted to a hum, Universal Pictures was already setting their sights on the cinematic horizon. Having celebrated a pivotal victory of acquiring the coveted Best Picture award and tethering itself at the top of the box office charts, the prolific studio is gearing up to unveil yet another panorama of thrilling motion pictures, featuring on their lineup are hotly anticipated films like the grand adaptation of “Wicked,” the gripping “Twisters,” and an exciting sequel to the riveting “Five Nights at Freddy’s.”
To whet the appetites of theatre owners and operators assembled at CinemaCon in the Entertainment Capital of the World, Las Vegas, an array of distinguished stars made their presence felt. The ensemble included industry heavyweights like Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Glen Powell, Lupita Nyong’o, Daisy Edgar Jones and Anthony Ramos.
“This entire adventure is indescribably thrilling,” Grande admitted out loud, setting the tone for the grand showcase animatedly co-hosted by Cynthia Erivo.
Adding to the electricity was the charismatic Jeff Goldblum, who shared intriguing tidbits about “Wicked,” in which he personifies the enigmatic man behind the curtain. “The razzle-dazzle of this film is something I’ve never encountered in my career. It’s all been rather dreamy,” he confessed, stirring up anticipation further.
Featuring a star-studded ensemble cast with Erivo as the emerald-hued Elphaba and Grande portraying the popular Glinda, the first part of “Wicked” is set to enchant moviegoers starting Nov. 25. With part two following suit in 2025, the film also features Yeoh as the intimidating headmistress and Peter Dinklage as the scholarly goat Dr. Dillamond.
Producer Marc Platt, whose affair with “Wicked” traces back over a quarter of a century, proclaimed his cheerful certainty, “I had always envisioned ‘Wicked’ as a cinematic marvel.” The film’s director, Jon M. Chu, shared an equally exuberant reverence for the stage show, promising an unforgettable big-screen experience.
Maintaining the dizzying pace, “Twisters” star Glen Powell introduced never-before-seen, electrifying footage from the film all set to whip into theaters come July 19. Inspired by the 1996 classic, this film tells a story of a storm-studded grandeur, as imagined by Lee Isaac Chung, and has been brought to life by producers Frank Marshall and Steven Spielberg.
Universal’s banner year was propelled by productions like “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” and “Oppenheimer,” which alone accounted for a staggering $2.3 billion in ticket sales. The box-office conquest was accomplished by the likes of “M3GAN,” “Cocaine Bear,” “Fast X” and “Five Nights at Freddy’s” in the ensemble, rounding up to nearly $5 billion in gross revenue.
“Audiences have sounded a clear rally cry, they’re eager for fresh storylines,” noted Jim Orr, Universal’s head of distribution.
The studio is preparing to release more than 20 films in 2024, keeping its lineup diverse and interesting. Adding animation projects to its repertoire, Universal sees camaraderie taking root with Illumination’s CEO, Chris Meledandri. He highlighted the upcoming “Despicable Me 4” slated for July 3, along with a teaser for a new Mario film set for 2026.
Not to be overlooked, horror films continue to be a crucial commodity in Universal’s stable, with flicks like “Wolf Man,” “Speak No Evil,” and “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” ready to send chills down audiences’ spines in the coming years.
Focus Features, Universal’s independent wing, which spotlighted commendable films like “Asteroid City” and “The Holdovers” last year, is bracing itself to preview a spate of exceptional films.
Soaking in this rollercoaster of excitement, Donna Langley, Chairman of NBC Universal Studio Group, gratifyingly remarked, “Our best year should always be ahead of us, and our finest projects always in the pipeline.” As the studio enters another era of innovative filmmaking, it seems they are poised, indeed, to eclipse their own triumphs.
