Latest news with #GregoryMaguire
Geek Tyrant
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Universal Pictures Reportedly Concidering a Third WICKED Movie — GeekTyrant
It looks like we might be getting a third Wicked movie. A new rumor making the rounds suggests Universal Pictures is already exploring the possibility of Wicked 3 , even though Wicked: For Good is set to wrap up the original Broadway story in 2025. The word comes from insider MyTimeToShineHello, who claims: 'Even though Wicked: For Good covers the rest of the musical, there are talks about a possible third movie.' So what could a third film even be about? Director Jon M. Chu's two-part adaptation has so far stuck closely to the 2003 Broadway musical, but Wicked 's source material actually runs much deeper. Gregory Maguire's The Wicked Years novel series includes three sequels beyond the first book, which include Son of a Witch , A Lion Among Men , and Out of Oz . These books push past the events of The Wizard of Oz , introducing new characters and exploring the legacy of Elphaba, particularly through her son, Liir. Unlike the Broadway show, the novels go into darker, more introspective territory. Son of a Witch is especially focused on identity and trauma, as Liir searches for his place in a fractured Oz. Nor, the daughter of Fiyero and Liir's half-sister, also becomes a key player as the series evolves. These books don't sync up perfectly with the musical's tone or character outcomes. Chu's version implies Elphaba survives, just like the Broadway production, but Maguire's novels are more ambiguous and complex in how they handle that legacy. Any potential sequel would need to make some story changes if it hopes to bridge the two storytelling styles. Back in November 2024, composer Stephen Schwartz and screenwriter Winnie Holzman acknowledged they've had conversations about expanding the Wicked film universe. However, they were careful to note that any continuation wouldn't simply be Wicked Part Three or Part Four. At this point, nothing's official. But if Wicked: For Good performs well and fans want more Oz, it wouldn't be surprising to see Universal dive into uncharted waters with the franchise and expand the franchise.
Forbes
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Stay, Read, Drink! This Top Times Square Hotel Offers Books And Sips
Tempo by Hilton Times Square has partnered with Book Club Bar to offer guests a trio of bestselling books and literary-inspired cocktails. I stayed at Tempo by Hilton Times Square earlier this year, when they had the foresight to collaborate with Maybe Happy Ending, so I could score discount tickets to what turned out to be this year's Tony award winner for Best Musical. Although that promotion has long since expired, the perfectly-located hotel continues to keep its finger on the pulse of pop culture and is now offering a Reading and Relaxation package dedicated to book lovers (*raises hand*). Embracing the #BookTok trend and encouraging guests to read seems like a natural move for Tempo, Hilton's wellness brand, so it makes sense that the hotel has partnered with Book Club Bar, the popular East Village bookstore/bar, to provide a thoughtfully curated collection of books as well as a trio of literary-inspired craft cocktails to go with them. There's nothing like curling up in a hotel bed with a good book. Book selections will rotate every few months but right now, the three options include Wicked by Gregory Maguire, The Housemaid by Freida McFadden and In Tongues by Thomas Gratton. Your book of choice is accompanied by a bottle of red or white wine along with charcuterie and cheese, all delivered directly to your room. Although I loved The Housemaid, which is such a page-turner, you may not want to leave your room, I think it would be such a unique experience to (re)read Wicked with the billboard for the show literally outside your floor to ceiling windows. Room with a(n amazing) view. Thanks to those floor to ceiling windows, rooms at Tempo by Hilton Times Square seem much larger than they are. Blackout curtains ensure the lights of Broadway don't keep you awake but, when they're open, the views are magical. You can even opt for a wellness room, which comes with a yoga mat and resistance bands and lets you take a Peloton for a spin while overlooking the wonder that is Broadway. Because of this birds-eye view, the hotel would be an amazing place to spend New Year's Eve. In fact, it boasts 31 Ball Drop rooms that get you up close and personal with the iconic Times Square Ball as it makes its way down. This is such a rare opportunity, you may want to start making plans now for ushering in 2026. Highball is a great spot to get cozy and enjoy a meal or a drink. On the 11th floor, flanked by floor to ceiling windows and giving off an inviting retro vibe, Highball, Tempo by Hilton Times Square's signature restaurant and lounge, is serving these new cocktail creations in conjunction with the hotel's current book offerings: If, like me, you're not a drinker, Highball does a great job of recreating any of their cocktails as tasty mocktails. My husband and I had dinner at Highball during our stay and enjoyed one of the best burgers we've ever eaten. Trust me, we were as shocked as you probably are just reading this. Accompanied by Tater Tots and finished off with a shareable slice of Chef Kit's Chocolate Crunch Cake, it was just a perfect — and perfectly unexpected — meal. We're already planning a fall trip back to New York and can't wait to see which new titles Tempo by Hilton Times Square will be adding to the Reading and Relaxation package. We're ready to book it.
Wall Street Journal
07-02-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
News Corp Earnings Rise, Buoyed by Dow Jones and Digital Real Estate Segments
News Corp's revenue and profit increased in its fiscal second quarter, reflecting gains at its Dow Jones, digital real estate services and book publishing segments. Quarterly revenue at the company, whose properties include The Wall Street Journal and HarperCollins Publishers, increased 4.8% to $2.24 billion. Analysts had expected revenue of $2.18 billion. News Corp earned $215 million, or 38 cents per share, in the quarter. Analysts had expected earnings of 30 cents per share. A year ago, the company reported earnings of $156 million, or 27 cents per share. Class A shares rose 3% in after-market trading. The stock has risen 19% over the past 12 months. News Corp in December agreed to sell its stake in Australian pay-TV company Foxtel to sports streaming service DAZN Group. News Corp said it intended to focus more sharply on Dow Jones, digital real estate services and book publishing. More on News Corp's quarterly earnings: Book-publishing revenues grew 8.2% to $595 million. Top titles for HarperCollins included 'Cher: The Memoir' and 'Wicked' by Gregory Maguire. The Journal said digital subscriptions fell by less than 1% from the September quarter, to an average of 3.79 million. Including the print edition, total subscriptions to the Journal averaged 4.23 million, down slightly from the prior quarter. Dow Jones revenue rose 2.7% from the year-ago quarter and earnings grew 6.7%. Advertising revenue for the segment declined 4%, reflecting a decrease in print advertising. Digital advertising accounted for 64% of total advertising revenue in the quarter. Revenue in the company's digital real estate services segment increased 12.9% to $473 million.
