Adam McKay shares an unpopular opinion.
The 56-year-old director praised Wicked on social media earlier this week, but said its “extreme” subject matter could lead to the musical being banned.
“On a pure storytelling level, Wicked Part 1 is one of the most radical Hollywood big studio films ever made,” said McKay. I wrote to X. “I know ‘Part 2’ is a little bit back to center, but ‘Part 1’ is' A frank depiction of radicalization in the face of careerism, fascism, and propaganda. ”
He also compared the project, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, to a number of self-proclaimed “radical” films, including The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Sound of Music and The Hunger Games. . And “Citizen Kane.”
“What's really amazing about 'Wicked Part 1' is that it's coming out at a time when America is more right-wing and propaganda-oriented than ever before,” McKay continued. “Yes, I know the stage production and the book are much older, so some of the timing is coincidental, but still…”
“Wicked” is based on the 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire and the Tony Award-winning musical starring Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel. The film follows a witch named Elphaba (Erivo) attending Shiz University and befriending her roommate Glinda (Grande). Elphaba also becomes an advocate for animal rights after witnessing animals being stripped of their jobs and language skills.
One X user commented that his interest peaked after learning about the movie's subject matter. I wrote a reply“I think you'll be shocked. If America keeps going the way it is, I wouldn't be surprised if this movie gets banned within three to five years.”
A second follower asked McKay how much he believed the film could be banned, but the former “SNL” writer refused to backtrack.
“Jesus, dude. Do you really think I'm 100% saying this movie is definitely going to be banned until no one can see it?” McKay joked. “The idea of shutting down nonprofits at the president's discretion is moving forward. Things are changing rapidly.”
The Hollywood director has long been unafraid to speak his mind, most recently slamming Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost the presidential election to Donald Trump last month. Mr. McKay called on others to join him in “dumping” the Democratic Party.
He wrote, in part, that “Biden lied for two years about his cognitive health, refused to hold a public convention for new candidates, never mentioned public health care, and condoned fracking.” Who would have thought the year-long massacre of the Cheneys and their children in Gaza?” Isn't that a winning strategy? ”
Meanwhile, “Wicked” has been making headlines since its release last month, with an over-the-top interview between Erivo, 37, and Grande, 31, going viral during their press tour.
A bizarre remark made by Out magazine reporter Tracy Gilchrist has gone viral on social media, with the journalist telling two people online that they are “holding space” for people to “defy gravity.” He said he saw the post.
Erivo and Grande seemed to have a strong emotional reaction to this phrase. encounter clip racked up tens of millions of views, leading some viewers to ask if they were having “fever dreams.”
In an interview with Variety, the actresses explained their reactions.
Erivo said she got so emotional because she didn't know people would “hold space” for her character's breakout song and “really feel the power in it,” but that Instances I chalked up to the fact that I wasn't “looking for” anything documented.
“I mean, it's happening on some platforms. I mean, I think so. I didn't know this was happening,” the actress said.
Grande admitted she was taken aback by Gilchrist's comments.
“So I had no idea what that meant,” the Grammy winner candidly revealed.
“I didn't understand the first sentence. And I had no idea what was going on – how did you [Erivo] I answered. I thought, “Oh, what did she say?” What did you hear? 'And I just wanted to be there.' “Because I knew something big was happening, but I didn't know how to be there,” Grande added.
Erivo teased. I I had no idea how I was there. ”
