Jon M. Chu misses ‘Wicked’ LA premiere for birth of daughter

Update: Evil Filmmaker Jon M. Chu’s daughter arrived late Saturday night while the LA premiere of his latest Universal musical was underway at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

The executive shared a photo of his newly arrived daughter on social media.

“I can’t believe this happened while the movie was premiering,” he said in a post. “There is magic in the air. Welcome to our world. You will do well. You have many witches on your side.”

Earlier in the night, Chu shared a photo of a suit for the premiere in a duffel bag, joking: “Should I just wear the suit to the birth?”

Chu and his wife have four other children: Willow, 7; Jonathan, 5; Ruby, 3; and Iggy, 20 months, the latter born during the production of Evil.

Evil, based on the long-running Broadway show, opens Nov. 22 and is expected to do well north of $85 million at the domestic box office.

Previous, 9 November at 18:58: Jon M. Chu had a bit of a scheduling conflict with the Los Angeles premiere of his sweeping musical Evil.

Ahead of the film’s West Coast debut, held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Chu spoke to attendees, cast and crew in a taped clip, explaining that he was in the hospital awaiting the birth of his fifth child with wife Kristin Hodge .

With filmmaking flair, the Crazy rich Asians Helmer opened his video showcasing hospital surveillance systems to audible gasps and laughter from the audience.

“I’m so sorry I can’t be there,” he said. “It’s the 9th of November, I was at the hotel across the street ready to come. All my family is there, my friends, all our loved ones are there. And I’ve waited three years to have this moment to share our film with you, but I’ve waited my whole life to have this moment to have our fifth child right now.”

Chu jokingly added, “Of course this little girl knows when to show up, so anyway I wish I could be there. But here I am.” He went on to thank Universal Pictures, original Broadway creatives Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, and producer Marc Platt.

“To everyone who has believed in this project from the very beginning, before I ever came along, and believed in me to carry on this tradition,” Chu said. “And I’m so excited for you to see the movie on this big screen with the speakers.”

He then told Platt, who introduced the cast and the film, “I tried to make a video introducing them and it was very awkward.” As he signed off, Chu kissed and said, “Love you guys.”

Chu also addressed the big life update in an Instagram story posted today: “This movie has always moved in mysterious ways,” he wrote. “Today is a day I have dreamed of for a long time. Two babies (a movie and a little girl) at once and I really couldn’t be happier. I won’t be able to be at the Wicked Premiere tonight with all of you… there was a change of plans around to name her Galphaba.”

He continued: “Sending all the love to our insanely talented cast and crew togiht (sic). They deserve it and send a little extra welcome to my little girl bursting her bubble and entering our world any day now. If she can even have a fraction of the bravery of my wife @cynthiaerivo @arianagrande @michelleyeoh_official or @marissa_edob she too will defy gravity one day.”

In a separate post, with a photo of his tuxedo for the night, he joked: “Should I just wear the suit to the birth?”

Out in theaters on November 22nd, the adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway production – itself based on Gregory Maguire’s bestselling novel, which retells the story of The Wizard of Oz from Wicked Witch of the West – follows the relationship of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda the Good Witch (Ariana Grande) before their ultimate fate.

Speaking to Deadline ahead of the festivities, stars Erivo and Grande heaped praise on Chu as a director: “I think Jon Chu is one of the most incredibly generous directors in the entire world. Not only is he a genius, visionary and director and art child … but he also conducts the warmest, safest, most gracious space in the world, and I think that’s why people feel so comfortable going there with their performances, because he gets everyone to to feel so safe,” Grande said.

Watch the clip below: