‘I hope we are on the pitch for it all’

On December 25, 2024By Littum

Michelle Yeoh stopped by the Variety Lounge presented by Film AlUla at the Red Sea Film Festival where she chatted with Black‘s London Bureau Chief Alex Ritman about working with director Jon M. Chu on “Wicked,” her hopes for the film’s chances at awards and the current whereabouts of her “Everything Everywhere All at Once” Oscar trophy.

When Chu first approached Yeoh about starring in the film, she had not yet seen the original Broadway musical.

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“Because he invited me to join ‘Wicked,’ I thought, ‘Well, first of all, I need to know what I’m going to do and why it’s been around for 20 years,'” Yeoh said. “And when I saw it first in New York and then in London, I think I caught it very quickly. I understood the magic, the allure of ‘Wicked.’ Then I went up to him, I said, ‘You know John, I don’t sing.’

Yeoh remembers the first time she sang “The Wizard and I” with Cynthia Erivo, who is a trained and professional singer: “I didn’t sing it and whisper it to myself … (Erivo) just looked at me, she held my hand and said, ‘I know you can do this. I heard you.'”

Talking about “Wicked” and its box office success led to the topic of awards. Yeoh hopes people take the film seriously this awards season.

“I think every part has helped create this phenomenon,” Yeoh said. “There’s not one position and they all have to be filled, and I hope we’re in the running for it all. The National Board of Review just (awarded) Jon M. Chu and ‘Wicked.'”

Speaking of awards, Yeoh said her lead Oscar for “Everything Everywhere All at Once” never stays in one place very long. She explained: “Right now there’s a little bit of a fight between my mom and my husband. So they’re taking turns. When I come back for Christmas, I’m going to bring Oscar back to mom.”

While Yeoh said she won’t be able to see as many films at this year’s Red Sea Film Festival with her packed schedule and ongoing work on the TV series “Blade Runner 2099” in Prague, she described the opening ceremony as warm.

“For me, the really important message behind it is to empower women in cinema and have more opportunities,” Yeoh said. “And I’m so happy to see that, especially here.”

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