Disney's 'Frozen' Movie Cast News: Original 'Wicked' Stars Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth Rejected From Movie Adaptation
Idina Menzel's fame recently skyrocketed thanks to her role as Elsa in Disney's "Frozen," but apparently that's not enough to get you back into Oz. The actress recently revealed that she was turned down from a role in an upcoming "Wicked" movie because of her age.
Back in 2003, Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth graced Broadway's stage as the play's first Elphaba and Glinda, respectively. However, the stars apparently don't make the cut anymore.
"I would die to be in [the 'Wicked' movie], except I'm afraid Kristin and I ... they told us we're a little over the age for that," Menzel said in an interview on "Watch What Happens Live."
The 40-year-old actress joked that she was only approached to appear "as the mother of Elphaba," and Chenoweth, 45, joked that she'd be interested in playing Madame Morrible in an early April interview with Broadway.com. Still, Menzel would be happy if she could be incorporated in the movie adaptation.
"If I could be a part of it in some way, that would be great, but I already feel like I received -- and continue to receive -- the gifts from 'Wicked' and how it affects audiences," Menzel told Digital Spy.
Perhaps Menzel and Chenoweth will be in fact "too old" for the roles -- a release date for "Wicked" has yet to be announced.
"I don't know exactly how many years away it is," Stephen Schwartz, "Wicked" composer, told Vulture late March.
Still, fans may be more receptive to an older Elphaba and Glinda than the movie creators think. Currently, Rebecca Mader, who is 37 years old, plays a rendition of the Wicked Witch on ABC's "Once Upon a Time." Sunny Mabrey portrays Glinda the Good Witch at 38 years old. This is just a few years younger than the originals, but what can you do?
Perhaps Menzel could make her way to "Once Upon a Time" instead. The creators have expressed a lot of interest in having her on the show, 40 years old or not.
"We would be completely honored if ['Frozen' co-star] Kristen Bell or Idina Menzel wanted to do our show," Edward Kitsis, show co-creator, told E! News last month.
Of course, Menzel would more likely be portraying a version of her "Frozen" character, but based on the record breaking success of the film, fans shouldn't have too hard of a time time settling.
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Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @SH____4.