Monday, March 18, 2024

Mary J. Blige, Queen Latifah Join NBC’s ‘The Wiz Live!’

Queen Latifah and Mary J. Blige
Queen Latifah and Mary J. Blige attend the 2014 Matrix Awards at The Waldorf=Astoria on April 28, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)

*NBC has locked down Queen Latifah and Mary J. Blige for its upcoming live musical adaptation of “The Wiz.”

According to EW, Latifah will play the Wiz, who runs Emerald City, while Blige will portray the Wicked Witch of the West.

As The Wiz, Latifah plays “the mysterious and powerful wizard who holds the keys to the Emerald City, but whose metamorphosis from ordinary to extraordinary is itself a hoax. She rose to her lofty position after being transported by accident to Oz in a hot air balloon during a snowstorm.”

Blige’s Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West, “holds sway over the Winkies and the Winged Monkeys that do her bidding. She captures Dorothy and her friends to avenge the unintentional murder of her evil sister, Evvamean, and to get back the powerful silver slippers given to Dorothy by the Good Witch of the North.”

As previously reported, “The Wiz Live!” is directed by Kenny Leon with Harvey Fierstein providing new written material. Also, Cirque Du Soleil acrobats will be used in various scenes, including the tornado and flying monkeys.

The high-powered pair join previously announced cast member Stephanie Mills, who’s playing Auntie Em.

“The Wiz Live!” is executive produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron — who also made NBC’s previously high-wire musical telecasts, 2013’s “The Sound of Music Live!” and last year’s “Peter Pan Live!”

Zadan and Meron also executive produced the film adaptation of “Chicago,” and the TV film adaptation of “Steel Magnolias,” both featuring Latifah. “We are so happy reuniting with Latifah,” said Zadan and Meron. “We’ve been friends for a long time and we’ve had quite a lot of success together. To see her play the iconic role of the Wiz and make it her own is going to be one of the joys of producing this event.”

In addition to 2002’s Chicago, for which she was nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category at the Academy Awards, Latifah’s musical past includes starring in and 2007’s “Hairspray.” Blige has nine Grammy awards under her belt, and featured in the movie musical “Rock of Ages.”

“I can’t wait to watch Mary bring the badness that is Evillene,” said Leon. “Her talent range is off the charts and I know audiences won’t be able to take their eyes off her.”

The role of Dorothy has yet to be cast.

“The Wiz Live!” premieres Thursday, Dec. 3 on NBC.

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