It’s time to try defying gravity—here’s everything we know about the movie version of Wicked
Everyone deserves a chance to fly—and to see Wicked the musical. If you haven’t had a chance to experience the Broadway sensation, you won’t have to wait much longer forever. There’s a movie version of Wicked that’s coming to theaters—and its release is even sooner than we expected.
Part of the reason we’ll be able to return to Oz so soon is because Wicked is now being split into two movies. But the first installment has also been bumped up a month earlier than planned. Originally slated for a release around Christmas, Wicked part one is now set to open in theaters nationwide on Nov. 27, 2024. According to Variety, Universal thought a Thanksgiving release would give it a better chance of success since Christmas 2024 is already stacked with Avatar 3 and a new Sonic the Hedgehog movie.
Wicked will be directed by Jon M. Chu, who announced the new release date on Twitter.
WICKED NEWS: We are deep into production on WICKED and everyday we get more and more excited to share with u the mischief we’ve been up to. So…We’ve decided to get it to you all a little earlier than planned. OUR NEW RELEASE Date is NOV 27th 2024! A little Thanksgiving treat! pic.twitter.com/6YvjA1gRDr
Wicked acts as a sort of prequel to The Wizard of Oz, telling the story of how green-skinned Elphaba became the Wicked Witch of the West, long before Dorothy and pals hit the Yellow Brick Road. The original Broadway production opened in 2003, with Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth in the iconic roles of the two witches, Elphaba and Glinda. The Broadway show is well known for hit songs like “Defying Gravity,” “Popular,” and “For Good,” and the movie version is expected to feature at least two new songs.
Who is starring in Wicked?
The leads in the movie version have some big (pointy) shoes to fill. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are set to star as Elphaba and Glinda. Also on board: Bridgerton‘s Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard, Oscar winner(!) Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, and Ethan Slater as Boq.
At these themed restaurants in Boston, kids can play ping pong, bowl, or watch their food being made during an interactive dinner
Dining out with kids can definitely be a dilemma for parents. On one hand, you don’t have to cook. On the other, keeping kids entertained can be challenging, no matter how many crayons you’ve packed in the diaper bag. When it comes to fun restaurants for families in the city, we’ve found a few themed restaurants in Boston that fit the bill. These eateries will not only fill little tummies, but they’ll also keep kids entertained, so you might be able to grab a bite too.
You don’t have to be a ping pong wizard to appreciate this art-adorned restaurant in the Seaport District that puts play center stage. With 14 ping pong tables and a menu with plenty of kid-friendly options that are super shareable, it’s easy to see why this is a great spot for kids who can’t sit still during dinner. Tables are rented by the hour ($39/hr.) and reservations for parties as small as two (and as large as 20) can be made online. Kids are welcome before 9 p.m.
Another spot to play and eat, American Flatbread took over the beloved Sacco’s Bowling a while back. They’ve been pairing scrumptious flatbreads with candlepin bowling like pros ever since. It’s easiest for families to reserve a lane on a weekday, where parties of fewer than eight can reserve a spot. Or take your chances on the weekend with one of the walk-in lanes that are first come, first served.
Is it us or is there something super satisfying about watching someone cook a meal? Or maybe it’s the fact it’s not you doing it (for a change). That’s the theme at this spot where families choose their food, and then watch the chefs cook it up on the iconic circular grill, the centerpiece of this eatery. We love the variety of foods families can choose from—Asian, Italian, and Latin flavors are all on the menu—and the kids will be forever entertained by the cooking antics.
Even if your kids have never seen the movie for which this Allston restaurant is named, they’ll appreciate the kitschy feel of this ‘80s-themed diner. It’s everything you love about the ‘80s plus that hard-to-beat greasy spoon food that fills you up so you’re ready to play all day. The walls are lined with memorabilia that will surely generate conversations about your younger days. And you might find your kids asking you if you were a Jock, Princess, Basket Case, or Criminal over a hearty plate of eggs.
There’s something comforting about this restaurant that’s been serving traditional Polish dishes since 2002. The welcoming exterior looks like a European cottage, and the cozy interior will make you want to settle in for a bit. Order any of your traditional Polish faves from the menu, like pierogi, Kielbasa, or potato pancakes. Don’t forget the chocolate babka for dessert!
Historic places aren’t hard to find in Boston. In fact, they’re everywhere you turn. But if you’ve got out-of-town guests, or just want to play tourist for a day, the Warren Tavern in Charlestown should be on your visit list. The oldest tavern in the state, it has seen the likes of George Washington and Paul Revere through its doors. It’s an easy spot for crowd-pleasing dishes too. The clam chowder and lobster mac and cheese should definitely be on your gotta-try list.
More than a restaurant, this two-story Back Bay eatery will delight everyone in the fam. Whether you go to shop for fresh pasta, meat, or baked goods, or you want to sit down at one of their three restaurants, it’s a culinary experience that’s monumentally memorable. If you go with the kids, plan to stay for a while, and stop by the cannoli cart too.
Prudential Center
800 Boylston St.
Boston Online:eataly.com
8. Tiki Rock
Feel like you’re on vacation at this Polynesian-themed eatery with a diverse menu. Kids will love the just-for-them items that are comfortingly familiar. Or they can branch out with fish tacos, poke, or coconut shrimp that will leave leftovers. The over-the-top drinks are the draw here. We love that they have a few fun mocktails on the menu too, so you can be festive with kids in tow.
How much Harry Potter trivia can you and your little muggles answer correctly?
Whether you’re a Ravenclaw or a Gryffindor, the wizarding world is filled with fun facts that keep the excitement going even after you’ve read every last page of the epic Potter series. We’ve rounded up some of the most magical Harry Potter trivia from the books and the movies that are sure to mystify everyone in the entire house—even your wisest wizards.
4. What’s in a name? A lot. Rowling carefully chose 40 Hogwarts students' names, including the golden three, before she even began writing the first novel. Not every name made it to the books, however. An early iteration of Luna Lovegood, for example, was Lily Moon.
5. Many magical phrases in the book are inspired by Rowling’s academic background in classical languages, including the Hogwarts' motto, "Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus" which in Latin means, “Never tickle a sleeping dragon.”
6. Dumbledore’s Patronus, though never actually seen in the movies, takes the shape of a phoenix, much like his beloved Fawkes.
7. Rowling has admitted that her favorite chapter from the first book and the entire series is “The Mirror of Erised.”
8. In the movies, seven different owls played the part of Harry’s beloved pet Hedwig. Their names were Gizmo, Kasper, Oops, Swoops, Oh Oh, Elmo and Bandit. Dozens of rats helped bring to life Scabbers, Ron’s not-so-favorite rodent.
9. A secret character is hidden in the movies. Look carefully at the magical newspapers featured in the original films, as well as The Fantastic Beasts series, and you’ll spot the Ginger Witch, a crafty criminal who often graces the cover of The Daily Prophet.
10. To prevent Deathly Hallows from leaking early, Potter publisher Bloomsbury gave the seventh book several secret code titles, including The Life and Times of Clara Rose Lovett: An epic novel covering many generations and Edinburgh Potmakers.
11. Hogwarts' Headmaster is known for his ever-flowing beard and robes, but did you know Albus Dumbledore’s full name also goes on forever? The professor’s full name is Albus Wulfric Percival Brian Dumbledore. Speaking of Dumbledore, the name means “bumblebee.”
12. Hogwarts has 142 staircases throughout the massive school.
13. All the plants that make herbology class so entertaining, like Furbish Lousewort and Sneezeweed, are based on real-world plants. While they may not have the same magical properties, the names are certainly enchanting.
14. Ginny Weasly's Pygmy Puff's name was Arnold.
15. He Who Must Not Be Named has a very meaningful name. In French, the phrase “vol de mort” means “flight of death.”
16. Rupert Grint never did any professional acting before playing the part of Ron Weasley. For his audition he filmed himself performing a rap he had written about why he was perfect for the part.
17. J.K. Rowling revealed that when she took a Sorting Hat quiz, it placed her in House Hufflepuff.
18. Fred and George Weasely were aptly born on April Fool’s Day.
19. Hermoine's Patronus is an otter.
20. There are 1,100,086 words in the entire Harry Potter series. Harry Potter’s name is mentioned 18,956 times.
21. Merlin, the legendary wizard of King Arthur’s court is also a member of the Potter wizarding world. Merlin is mentioned many times in the book series, but what you might not know is that, surprisingly, he hails from House Slytherin.
22. While Harry, Hermione and Ron appeared to be diligently studying spells and potions, the actors portraying them on screen—Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint—were completing their real-life homework.
23. Muggles can’t see Hogwarts. Anyone lucky enough to stumble upon the enchanted school grounds would simply see a ruin with a sign reading “Keep Out.”
24. Dumbledore’s elder wand isn’t the only rare wand in the Potter-verse. Hermione Granger’s wand is also an uncommon specimen made of vine wood, which is said to be used by wizards who seek a greater purpose. Hermione’s wand is also the only one of the golden trios that remains unharmed till the end of the series.
25. When Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was first released in the UK, the publisher requested that bookstores not sell the books until after the end of the school day to prevent kids from being absent.
26. Although Snape’s true allegiance was not revealed to fans until the end, J.K. Rowling let actor Alan Rickman in on his character’s secrets from the very beginning to help his on-screen portrayal.
27. Dumbledore tells Harry that he sees “thick woolen socks” in the Mirror of Erised, but Rowling has revealed that he sees himself with his family, all alive and happy.
28. Mary GrandPré, the illustrator of the original book covers, said that her Saint Bernard, Chopper, was the inspiration for her drawings of Hagrid.
29. The different translations of the book series have some hilarious alternative phrases. For example, to make Tom Marvolo Riddle successfully change into “I am Voldemort” in the French version, his name is Tom Elvis (as in the King) Riddle. Another great example is the Scottish version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, in which the first chapter is titled, “The Laddie Wha Lived.”
30. I see… Dementors? Actor Haley Joel Osment was originally pegged for the role of Harry by director Steven Spielberg before he left the film over creative differences.
31. October 31, 1991, marks the day Harry, Hermione, and Ron became friends after defeating the troll in the girl’s bathroom. It is also the 10th anniversary of the deaths of Lily and James Potter.
32. The original Harry Potter manuscript was turned down by 12 publishers before being accepted by Bloomsbury.
33. If all the Harry Potter books ever sold were placed end to end, they would circle the equator 16 times.
34. An enchanted music box is what keeps the three-headed dog asleep.
After living in this great city, at some point, you may think you’ve seen and done it all (raise your hand if you’ve crossed off everything on our ‘100 Things to Do in San Diego with Kids‘ list or already tackled our guide for ‘Free Things to Do this Month‘). But there’s still so many quirky, wacky, magical, unbelievable and curiously strange places, aka hidden gems, to explore in San Diego. From a hidden message on a beach to a house that is teetering on the edge of a high-rise building, there are so many cool hidden gems around San Diego, we bet even the most in-the-know local has yet to uncover them all.
The sand dunes at the entrance of Coronado Beach are not only fun for kids to climb and slide down, they actually spell out "Coronado." While you can only see the full display from an aerial view (hello helicopter ride?), it's fun nonetheless. Why is it there? A city worker decided to get creative when removing the built-up kelp and seaweed from the beach.
Music makes the world go round—and across this quasi-pedestrian bridge (one of only four pedestrian bridges in all of San Diego)—you can listen to an artful melody as you walk. Called Crab Carillon Musical Bridge, artist Roman de Salva and composer Joseph Water made this giant xylophone art piece. "To play, ring chimes while walking." Bring a large stick or other object to ring the chimes as you cross the bridge. Fun Fact: This musical installation is a palindrome—it plays the same way in either direction.
Strike gold in Julian with a guided adventure through the world of a 1870s mining operation. Explore 1,000 feet of tunnels, learn about the mining process and the tools they used, and try your hand at panning for gold. Take the crew for apple pie and ice cream and explore the town of Julian once you're finished.
Passersby young and old delight in the garden creations of owner (and artist) Edna Harper who (along with her husband) fashions all kinds of magical topiary critters for the enjoyment of everyone. Inspired by her worldly travels, you'll find elephants, a Buddha, a surfer, a fairy and even Mickey Mouse. You can't walk through the garden, so it's a street-side view only and will take you about 5-10 minutes to oooh and ahhh over it, but it's worth the trip to find this secret spot.
Good to Know: This spot is not only near Balboa Park so you could stop here before spending the day museum hopping, but it's also close to the Spruce Street Suspension Bridge—a pedestrian-only bridge that is a thrilling, wobbly walk that delivers epic views of downtown San Diego.
This precariously-teetering home looks as if a tornado dropped it on the corner of the Jacobs Engineering building at the University of California, San Diego. Created by Do Ho Suh for the Stuart Collection, it "explores the notions of home, cultural displacement, one’s perception of space and how one builds a memory of it." While it's closed at the moment, typically you can go inside the cantilevered house and see the interior that emphasize the sense of dislocation thanks to the mis-matched angles of the floors and walls.
Little climbers will love playing on this wacky, playful, gator-like sculpture. This beautiful, yet quirky mosaic-tile creature, designed by Niki de Saint Phalle, and is lovingly called the 'Nikigator' is located just outside the Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park.
Balboa Park Plaza de Panama 1439 El Prado San Diego
Located just 22 miles north of San Diego, here you can enter a bootlegger’s tunnel through the historic Cave Store and follow it down through the sandstone cliffs and into a sea cave. The story goes that the creator of The Wizard of Oz inspired the cave’s names when he noticed that the opening looks like the Sunny Jim cartoon character. Tours are self-guided and take about 15 minutes to complete.
Head up Hillside Dr. in La Jolla and look for the white house that's low to the ground with smaller-than-usual features. What is it? Legend has it, it's called 'The Munchkin House' because a few actors from the 'Wizard of Oz' moved here after filming the movie. Famed architect Cliff May apparently embraced the natural hill, giving the illusion that the features are much smaller than they really are—head here and decide for yourself—small in person or an optical illusion?
Have you ever wondered about Albus Dumbledore’s origin story? The newest film in the Fantastic Beasts franchise is about to let the wizard out of the bag.
As the April debut date draws closer, fans can now feast their eyes on the second trailer of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, which digs deep into the life of the young and powerful wizard, before Harry Potter took center stage. What are you waiting for? Keep scrolling to watch!
For unknown reasons, the trailer was originally supposed to drop on Feb. 24, but was pushed back a few days. No matter, as long as we get to watch it we don’t care!
The third film follows sees Dumbledore and his fellow wizards try to stop Grindelwald from taking over the wizarding world with heart-stopping action and lots of fantastic beasts. In a video shared on the Fantastic Beasts Instagram account, actor Jude Law (aka Dumbledore himself) shares, “What a privilege it is to play Albus Dumbledore. One of the world’s most powerful wizards…I’m thrilled to say that some of the backstory that helped shape the legendary wizard that we came to love in Harry Potter will be revealed in this film.”
If you’re just now tuning into the franchise and the upcoming film, you’ll recognize tons of faces returning, including Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Katherine Waterston and more. Die-hard fans will notice newcomer Mads Mikkelson taking on the role of Grindelwald in the wake of Johnny Depp, as the character becomes more and more sinister.
Did you miss the first trailer? You’ll want to give it a watch before heading to the theaters:
Start saving your galleons and be sure to mark your calendars: the film hits theaters on Apr. 15, 2022.
Summer is nearly in the books, and if you’re looking for a festive LEGO-filled way to count down the holiday season, then you’re going to want to get your hands on all the new 2021 LEGO advent calendars!.
After a bit of a wait, the LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar is done orbiting the galaxy and is here. Great for kids six and older, the Mandalorian-inspired set it comes with 335 pieces that include seven minifigs and mini builds!
Included minifigures are The Mandalorian and the Child, a Scout Trooper, Stormtrooper, Tusken Raider, IG-11 and IT-O Interrogator Droid. Little builders can also construct The Razor Crest, TIE Fighter, Tusken ballista snow launcher, training targets and the Child’s hoverpram.
The 2021 LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar is designed for kids seven and up, has 274 pieces and features 24 little gifts for your brick builders including six minifigures and buildable models like a Hogwarts letters arriving through the fireplace.
photo: LEGO
The minifigures include Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, Dudley Dursley and Griphook. Mini builders will also get two wizard card tiles to add to their collection.
You can order both calendars starting Sept. 1 from LEGO.com for $39.99 each.
Looking for some indoor activities for when the weather is too hot? LEGO to the rescue!
The brick maker has dropped a slew of new sets for all ages and stages. From darling DUPLO sets to a whole new range of Harry Potter scenes, there are tons of ways to get creative this summer. Keep scrolling to see some of our favorites.
Calling all Muggles! Universal Studios has made a big announcement: hot Butterbeer can now be enjoyed the entire year long.
Prior to the happy news, which Universal Studios Orlando made on Twitter, fans of the butterscotchy-drink were only privy to it during the cold, winter months. Now it doesn’t take a drizzle to get your hands on a steaming cup of the novel-worthy beverage.
— Universal Orlando Resort (@UniversalORL) May 24, 2021
If you can’t fathom enjoying the hot drink on an equally hot day, you can still enjoy the rest of The Wizard World of Harry Potter’s other treats. Cool off with a cold or frozen Butterbeer, and then top it off with some Butterbeer soft serve.
There’s only one catch: so far, only the Orlando theme park has made the announcement. That means, you can currently only snag a cup of hot Butterbeer if you head to Florida!
Where’s Waldo? Anywhere you go, thanks to a new book featuring the classic character!
Where’s Waldo? Awesome Adventures is a new travel-size compendium full of searches, puzzles, games and more. It’s available now to spice up your summer entertainment.
The 64-page book is targeted at elementary-aged children and is divided into five sections, each for a different character: Waldo, Wenda, Woof, Odlaw and Wizard Whiteboard. It’s compact and flexible, so it’s easy to slip into a pool bag or car seat to stave off boredom. Better yet, it comes with complimentary game cards and a poster, plus an elasticized closure to keep everything together.
Searching for Waldo has been a beloved family tradition for the last three decades. Martin Handford created the bespectacled, red-and-white sweater-wearing character and there are more than 75 million copies of books about Waldo printed worldwide. You can buy Where’s Waldo? Awesome Adventures for $12.99 online or at your local bookstore.
For even more Waldo fun, you can preorder Where’s Waldo? The Ultimate Watcher Collectionnow. The seven book set features puzzling classics with new games and searches, plus a cohesive redesign. It officially launches for hours of activity in September 2021.
Do you cringe when you hear the word “math”? Or maybe you remember trying to get out of going to school because you had a multiplication test that day? Us too. Math anxiety is actually a common thing and paired with learning loss from the COVID-19 pandemic, kids (not to mention, parents) need all the support they can get. It probably won’t surprise you, but math during COVID suffered more than other subjects; since math tends to be learned at school, parents are often less equipped to help their kids with math, and it’s more challenging for teachers to engage kids in math using remote platforms. A study published in January 2020found that 67% of teachers reported that students’ math anxiety was a problem.
Now for the good news: We’ve found a solution! Osmo is an innovative, hands-on digital learning tool that’s interactive and engaging. These games pack a learning punch, and to kids, they are just playing video games—very sneaky, Osmo, but we are into it! The big news is that the geniuses behind the brand have created Osmo’s Math Wizard to help kids ages 6-8 enjoy learning math—it’s a creative take on math curriculum-based content for first and second-graders. Read on to learn four ways that Osmo’s Math Wizard Series is the math anxiety cure you’ve been searching for.
Everyone learns differently, and being rushed to keep up with a group is not ideal when it comes to learning a new skill. Osmo’s Math Wizard is perfect for this because it’s a self-paced math game series. By combining digital gameplay with active, hands-on learning methods, kids build math confidence and understanding before moving on to the next challenge. This way, they can actually retain what they learn.
2. They're Not Being Put On the Spot in Front of Peers
A big part of anxiety is the fear of failing. Taking a risk answering a question from the teacher or being put on the spot to give an answer they are not prepared for can be embarrassing—this can lead to “I can’t!” and kids giving up. Osmo works with your kid one-on-one, guiding them along the way, even giving hints when they need them. Instead of breaking them down, Osmo’s learning system builds up their confidence and encourages their curiosity about the subject—that is no easy task for a virtual school or classroom full of peers.
One of our favorite things about Osmo's Math Wizard game system is that with the help of Osmo, your kid takes the wheel when it comes to learning. That means you can kick back and relax for a bit since they don't need your help or guidance to get through these learning games! This is a series of activities they can do all on their own; in fact, it's even better if they do—it's another confidence-boosting opportunity that will keep the math scaries at bay for years to come.
4. It's FUN To Play!
If you haven't guessed it by now, Osmo's Math Wizard makes learning math an incredibly fun and rewarding experience. This series features four action-packed game boxes (two of them brand-spanking-new!). The first box, The Magical Workshop, takes kids on an adding and subtracting adventure! Brew potions with dragon claws and magic sparkles to master place value on a magical quest—add and subtract balloons to help dragons fly! Box two is Secrets of the Dragons, where they'll explore the Dragon Reserve to discover the rarest of dragons, learning how to measure their growth as they feed them to become big and strong.
Big news: Two hot new boxes were just added to the Math Wizard family! The Amazing Airships box features fantastical two mini-games. Build awesome airships to deliver packages all across Spellbarrow Port! Here's the catch: Airships need to balance their lift and the combined weight of the packages and vessel to work. In Clockwork, get ready to guide a team of quirky clockwork robots through the skies. Use your finger and your counting skills to wind up your robots just the right amount and watch them go. As you explore, more and more robots will join your cause, each bringing their unique abilities, whether it's bashing through walls, hovering over gaps, or walking upside down on the ceiling.
The second new box, The Enchanted World Games, includes two games that combine sports with math skills. In Bento Box, kids put together a magical lunch box. Players can choose from five different sports, including sprinting, pole vaulting, archery, swimming and wrestling, and help the athletes by feeding them the best combination of fruits. Add the points from the fruits you place to make the correct total. In Juice Team, teams are counting on the right blend of juice to win their trophies. Add the superfood fruits to create a magical juice, using the right combination of numbers to reach the target. Players will learn to make the same number in different ways and will need to blend wisely for maximum results. Win trophies and unlock more sports like soccer, basketball, baseball and more.
These games build foundations of multiplication, mathematical thinking, reasoning, problem-solving, strategy, mental math and more. The more they learn...eh hem...play, the more rewards they earn to unlock new worlds, trophies, gear for their dragons or airships and more, so they will always want to come back for more!
