Don't cast James Corden in musicals! 'Wicked' fans start petition
We often see fans of certain productions betting on their favorite actors to be cast in it. But Late Late Show host James Corden has found himself standing at the opposite end of this spectrum. Thousands have come out and signed a petition that appeals to the production studio behind the upcoming movie Wicked to "in no way shape or form" cast Corden. Ouch!
Why does it matter?
Wicked is a hit Broadway musical, forming the prequel to The Wizard of Oz. Now, Universal Pictures is adapting it into a movie and has already cast Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. As soon as this was reported, Corden's name started trending on social media with users NOT wanting his participation. The host's prior work in film adaptations of musicals might be a reason.
Over 75K people have already signed the petition
Things did not stop at just some social media flak. One individual (wickedly) started a petition addressed to Universal, demanding exclusion of the Tony-winning artist. Titled, Keep James Corden out of Wicked the movie, the petition has garnered over 75,000 signatures. "James Corden in no way shape or form should be in or near the production of Wicked the movie," the super-brief description reads.
After 'Cats,' 'Cinderella,' netizens just don't want him in musicals
To understand the hate, one might look at Corden's work in musicals-turned-into-movies such as 2014's Into the Woods and 2019's Cats. He had received wide-ranging criticism for both the films. Corden's performance in the Netflix musical The Prom, starring Meryl Streep, was lambasted by viewers and critics alike. When he also showed up in Cinderella, it apparently proved to be the last straw.
Is the hatred justified?
But the hatred seems to be more of a "we don't want to see Corden because he is everywhere" thing than a critique of his ability to carry his weight in high-profile productions. In fact, the 43-year-old won a Tony award for the 2012 drama One Man, Two Guvnors. Notably, there have been no reports suggesting Universal is thinking of casting him.
