"Zoë Schiffer: Welcome to WIRED's Uncanny Valley. I'm Zoë Schiffer, WIRED's Director of Business and Industry. Today on the show, we want to share with you one of the best conversations that happened during our big interview event in San Francisco last week. Our senior culture editor, Manisha Krishnan sat down with Jon Chu, the director of Wicked, to discuss what made the film franchise such a success. Even if you're not a fan of musicals, it's a fascinating conversation about the power of viral marketing and how forward-looking filmmakers like Chu are trying to navigate the AI era without compromising their creative vision and their execution."
"You don't have to be a fan of musicals to know about the Wicked film franchise-it's been everywhere since the first film launched last year, and that's exactly how director Jon. M Chu wanted it."
Jon M. Chu intentionally designed Wicked for broad cultural saturation by leveraging viral marketing and fan engagement to maximize reach. The production prioritized immersive world-building, visual spectacle, and meticulous technical execution to satisfy devoted fans and attract mainstream audiences. Clear, proactive approaches to AI were emphasized to balance technological tools with protection of artists' rights and creative control. Cross-department collaboration, early testing, and audience-driven promotional tactics were identified as key production elements. Adapting to industry shifts while preserving storytelling integrity and execution remained a central priority throughout planning and release strategies.
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