Two highly anticipated movies, Wicked and Gladiator 2, are set to premiere on the same day in November, creating a potential double bill reminiscent of the Barbenheimer phenomenon from last year.
Universal's film adaptation of Wicked, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as Glinda and Elphaba respectively, was originally scheduled for release on November 27. However, it was moved up to November 22 to avoid competing with Disney Animation's Moana 2.
Meanwhile, Ridley Scott's Gladiator sequel, titled Gladiator 2 and starring Paul Mescal as the main character Lucius, is also set for release on November 22. The internet has already started buzzing with excitement about the potential double feature.
The viral sensation of Barbenheimer last year saw Greta Gerwig's Barbie and Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer releasing on the same day, creating a cultural moment and generating massive box office numbers for both movies. Wicked and Gladiator 2 could potentially follow suit, offering moviegoers an intriguing combination of musical fantasy and historical epic.
Wicked is based on the popular Broadway musical with a reported fanbase of 30 million people worldwide, having grossed $2.5 billion during its lifetime. The film is directed by Jon M. Chu and produced by Marc Platt and David Stone.
Gladiator 2, a sequel to the Oscar-winning 2000 film Gladiator, stars Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius alongside Paul Mescal as Lucius. Ridley Scott returns to direct this highly anticipated sequel.
Both movies are expected to attract large audiences and generate significant buzz, especially with their shared release date. The potential for a double feature could lead to increased ticket sales and further excitement for moviegoers.