Director Chu misses ‘Wicked’ premiere, welcomes fifth child
“Wicked” Director Jon M. Chu Misses Premiere for Special Reason
“Wicked” director Jon M. Chu was unable to attend the film’s premiere in Los Angeles due to a joyous occasion.
Chu took to his Instagram Stories to announce that he and his wife Kristin Hodge welcomed their fifth child over the weekend, expressing disbelief that the birth coincided with the movie’s premiere.
Sharing a heartwarming photo of Hodge cradling their newborn daughter, Chu wrote, “Magic is in the air.”
He also penned a message to his newest family member, saying, “Welcome to our world, you’re gonna do great. You have a lot of witches on your side.”
“Wicked” features singer Ariana Grande and Oscar-nominated actress Cynthia Erivo in the lead roles of Glinda and Elphaba. The film is a two-part adaptation of the popular Broadway musical, serving as a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz” and offering a fresh perspective on Oz before Dorothy’s arrival.
Although Chu couldn’t be present at the premiere, his presence was felt in a special way.
Footage from inside the theater showed a video of Chu addressing the audience from the hospital before the screening, expressing his gratitude for the moment and the arrival of his fifth child.
Jonathan Bailey, Bowen Yang, Ethan Slater, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum also star in the ensemble cast of “Wicked.”
The first part of “Wicked” is set to hit theaters on November 22, with the second installment scheduled for November 2025.
