Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz had forgotten about the Golden Globes until he got a text Monday from director Jon M. Chu congratulating him on his two nominations.
“I couldn’t, obviously, think of anyone better to have to have heard from,” Schwartz said.
“Though I have to say, I’m quite disappointed that Jon himself wasn’t nominated, because I feel he’s done such an exceptional job on both this movie and the first movie and was such an inspiring leader that I wish it had been possible for him to be recognized as well.”
Schwartz was nominated for writing the new original songs “No Place Like Home” and “The Girl in the Bubble” for Wicked: For Good in a somewhat rare double nomination (“I’m pleased that both songs were considered worthy,” he said). Wicked received five Golden Globe nominations, including for stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande but did not receive nods for best motion picture or for direction.
Throughout this awards cycle, the idea of another Wicked installment has been popping up. Schwartz confirms he and Winnie Holzman, who wrote the book for the Broadway musical and was a co-writer on the film, are working on another Wicked-related film project. The idea was brought to Schwartz before either Wicked film was released, but now the feeling is that the success of the two films may allow it to proceed.
“It’s a little bit premature to discuss, but not that premature,” Schwartz said. “It is not a ‘Wicked’ sequel, but it is a story which, if it goes ahead, occurs within the world of Oz.”
“It’s so early, I’m hesitating to say anything about it, because who knows if it’ll even go forward,” he added.
Between Wicked and his new musical The Queen of Versailles (which ends its run in January) and a revival of The Baker’s Wife Off-Broadway, Schwartz said he’s planning to take a bit of a break. But he said he also has a “notion for something” that he plans to look at next year for the stage.
As for the enduring popularity of Wicked, which opened on Broadway in 2003 and is still one of the highest grossing show in the industry each week, Schwartz attributes it to the friendship at the center of the story.
“We all seem to like being in Oz and have for decades. I think this particular story of this intense friendship speaks to a lot of people and makes them feel good to encounter it,” he said.
Schwartz previously told The Hollywood Reporter that he wrote the two new songs in Wicked: For Good with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s voices in mind. The Girl in the Bubble was meant to be an internal song for Grande, relying on the soft, folk-like part of her voice as she contemplates breaking away from her comfortable life.
When it came to No Place Like Home, where Erivo as Elphaba contemplates her love of Oz even as she’s being persecuted, Schwartz said he couldn’t help but tie in references to the current political moment.
“How can we not be looking at what’s going on in our country, what’s going on in the world around us, and be thinking in terms of our personal relationship to and responsibility to our own society and the country and world we live in?” Schwartz said Monday.
While he may be competing against himself with his double-nomination, he’s also in a category that includes the top-charting “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters, which has lyrics from his friend, Mark Sonnenblick.
“Mark, as we’ve discussed between ourselves, I think, brought a certain musical theater sensibility and storytelling to the writing that has elevated the song. So I was really pleased to see him recognized as well,” he said.
Golden Globes producer Dick Clark Productions is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Penske Media Corporation and Eldridge that also owns The Hollywood Reporter.