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Michelle Yeoh had never heard of 'Wicked' before she was asked to join the cast of the movie-musical.
The Oscar-winning actress plays Madame Morrible in the new film version of the hit stage show - which is based around characters first seen on screen in 1939 movie 'The Wizard of Oz' - but she's confessed she knew nothing about the popular musical before she was approached by director Jon M. Chu about joining the cast.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, she said: "At that point had no clue what he was talking about because I had not seen 'Wicked' the musical before. I knew 'Wizard of Oz', who doesn’t, but not 'Wicked' because I hadn’t been going to the theatres and not doing what I love which is watching musicals, for quite a while I hate to say."
The new movie stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda during their time at Shiz University in the Land of Oz with Michelle's character Madame Morrible serving as the school's headmistress.
Michelle went on to say: "So I read it [the script] and called Jon back and said, 'This is a musical and she sings'. And he said, 'Oh easy, you’ll have fun, you’re up for the challenge'.
"And then the next thing I knew I get this video call and it was him with Ariana and Cynthia saying, 'It’s imperative you come and join us now'."
However, Michelle was scared about singing onscreen for the first time. She explained: "I was terrified, I was not just nervous ... The process of exercising, learning to use the muscles in a different way, was actually very, very good for me because it helps with my voice as an actor. So I had fun."
The movie has been filmed in two parts and the first hits cinemas on November 22.
More must-reads:
- Type cast: 21 actors who always seem to play the same character
- "Happy Gilmore 2" sets new Netflix viewing record
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NFL analyst says teams should be 'extremely scared' of this franchise in 2025
While the Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders have garnered a lot of attention lately, there is one NFC team that has quietly been flying under the radar. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost a one-score game to the Lions in the divisional round in 2023 and followed that up with another one-score loss to QB Jayden Daniels and the Commanders last season, proving how close they have been to the ultimate prize in the two seasons with Baker Mayfield under center. In an appearance on ESPN's "Get Up" Tuesday morning, analyst and former player Ryan Clark offered high praise for Mayfield and what the Buccaneers are capable of. "Baker Mayfield is a top-10 quarterback in this league," Clark said. "Baker Mayfield is a football player. And when I say that, I know people at home are gonna be like, 'Duh, he gets paid to play football.' No, not all quarterbacks are seen as football players. Not all quarterbacks are embraced in the locker room as one of us." Clark sees the Buccaneers as a team the rest of the league should be paying attention to because of who they have returning and the close calls in the playoffs the last two seasons. "This is a team that's been on the cusp the last two years," Clark said. "Now you think about some of the pieces they've added, the confidence in their quarterback and the way that he plays, and Todd Bowles with another year to understand winning at a high level at the head coach position. This is a team you better be extremely scared of because they're stacked and they're confident." Mayfield has been sensational during his time with the Buccaneers. Although he did throw 16 interceptions, Mayfield accounted for the third-most passing yards (4,500) in the league last season and has thrown the most TD passes (69) in the last two seasons, per StatMuse. To add even more incentive for Mayfield, the team restructured his contract, which is set to expire after the 2026 season, to include $30M in guaranteed salary for that season. The Buccaneers return a lot of production on both sides of the ball, in addition to bringing in first-round draft pick Emeka Egbuka, who topped 1,000 receiving yards twice at Ohio State and accounted for 26 total TDs. While Tampa Bay allowed the 17th-most points per game (22.7) last season, it returns the majority of its defensive production. On top of that, the offseason acquisition of veteran LB and two-time Pro-Bowler Haason Reddick, who agreed to terms on a one-year deal, should be a welcomed addition for a franchise that had some question marks on defense last season. The Buccaneers are projected to have the sixth-easiest schedule in the NFL this season and have the best chance to win the NFC South for the fifth consecutive season, according to ESPN Analytics. If Mayfield can cut back on his turnovers and the defense can create more pressure on opposing QBs, the Buccaneers could be a threat in the NFC once again as they look to put their recent nail-biting losses in the postseason behind them.
Orioles, Blue Jays pull off unique trade midway through doubleheader
The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired one of baseball's premier relievers to bolster their bullpen. In a trade with the Baltimore Orioles, Toronto is adding Seranthony Dominguez to its pitching staff, according to MLB.com's Keegan Matheson. While the move solidifies the Blue Jays' status as buyers, it's the timing of the transaction that stands out. The Orioles finished a 16-4 walloping of the Blue Jays just hours before the deal went down, and while it's not unheard of to see a player traded to a franchise his former team is visiting, the fact that the two teams will face off again Tuesday night at 6:35 PM EST makes this a truly unique swap. Dominguez may not suit up in his first official contest as a Blue Jay, but he will be switching clubhouses before the second half of the team's doubleheader. It won't take long for the veteran reliever to make an impact, either, as bullpen production has stood out for a Toronto team that has been dominating in most aspects of the game. In 43 appearances with the Orioles this season, Dominguez has posted a respectable 3.24 ERA over 41.2 innings. He hasn't quite returned to the impressive form he was in with the Phillies from 2018 to 2022, but the value is obvious for a team hoping to capture its third World Series in franchise history. The rebuilding Orioles acquired right-handed pitching prospect Juaron Watts-Brown, who was ranked as Toronto's 10th-best prospect in the latest MLB Pipeline team Top 30 Prospects list. The 23-year-old has gone 2-5 over 19 starts across High-A and Double-A this year, posting a combined 3.54 ERA while striking out 115 over 89 innings. As two teams heading in vastly different directions this season, it's a sensible move for both sides. Dominguez is an unrestricted free agent after this season, making him a rental for Toronto down the stretch. If Watts-Brown continues to show promise, though, the trade could ultimately be deemed a win for Baltimore.
Liverpool preparing for departures amid ambitious Alexander Isak pursuit
Despite surpassing $400 million in summer spending following the blockbuster signing of French forward Hugo Ekitike, Liverpool has been placed on high alert amid reports that Newcastle striker Alexander Isak is open to exploring a move away from St. James’ Park. While Isak’s intentions may partly reflect a bid for an improved contract, Newcastle appear increasingly resigned to the possibility of losing their star forward. Arne Slot’s side is reportedly leading the race for the 25-year-old, who is attracting interest from top clubs across Europe. A potential move for Isak would hinge on departures at Anfield, and Liverpool has already begun reshaping its front line. Luis Diaz is expected to join Bayern Munich in a deal worth approximately $87 million, with just two years remaining on his contract. Reports suggest talks over an extension broke down before the club granted the Colombian's request to leave. Darwin Nunez could also depart this summer. The striker is said to be on the radar of AC Milan and Juventus, while Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal is also monitoring his situation, according to Sky Sports. Midfielder Harvey Elliott could also be sold to generate further funds, with the 22-year-old likely to command a substantial fee. Offloading these players would significantly boost Liverpool’s transfer budget as it prepares a bid for Isak, with Newcastle reportedly seeking up to $200 million for the Swedish international, particularly given the likelihood of selling to a Premier League rival. According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle is “braced” for a formal offer from Liverpool, and the same report claims Isak is keen on the move to Anfield. Liverpool, fresh off securing a record 20th Premier League title last season, appears poised for a period of sustained dominance. Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, signed from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth over $150 million, have bolstered the club’s attacking options. The Reds have also strengthened defensively. Jeremie Frimpong arrives from Leverkusen as a direct replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who joined Real Madrid, while Milos Kerkez has been brought in from Bournemouth to add depth to the back line.
Fabrizio Romano drops overnight transfer update with huge implications for Liverpool & Isak deal
Liverpool’s ongoing pursuit of Alexander Isak looks unlikely to be resolved in the coming hours. Newcastle, for one, remain intent on keeping hold of their most valuable asset despite the prospect of a British transfer record fee being on the table. More to the point, the Magpies will need to have a top-class replacement lying in wait to seriously contemplate an exit of this magnitude. Liverpool signing Alexander Isak may depend on Benjamin Sesko The Merseysiders may need to wait on Newcastle in their ongoing efforts to land Benjamin Sesko’s signature this summer. Fabrizio Romano now reports that the RB Leipzig striker has yet to decide on his potential future destination in the Premier League. This comes amid competing interest from Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United, with the Red Devils also particularly keen on signing a central forward. “Man United keep working on the Sesko deal [and are] in contact with people close to the player, ready to also speak to Leipzig,” the Italian journalist spoke on his YouTube channel. “So, it’s not only Newcastle. Newcastle are very ready, but Manchester United need to understand if they can be ready or not. “This is also on the player; the player can decide at any moment to go to Newcastle or maybe to wait for Manchester United. Let’s see what’s going to happen. “Obviously, Sesko is going to take his time; it’s not something very imminent in terms of hours. So, it’s probably going to take some days to decide what he’s going to do. “But for sure, Benjamin Sesko remains a big topic of this window.” The key point here is ultimately that Sesko’s decision is ‘not something very imminent’ – so Liverpool fans could be left in the lurch over Isak until the end of the week at the earliest. Newcastle have a big decision to make There’s a financial logic behind opting to sell the Sweden international first before embarking on further business. Albeit, one that immediately suits Liverpool whilst requiring some risk-taking from Eddie Howe’s outfit. Selling Isak for a record fee – more than likely well above the £120m mark – would free up significant PSR headroom for the club. Certainly, it would more than likely ease the process of securing a serious replacement like Sesko from the Bundesliga. There is, of course, also the possibility of Newcastle losing their star player and missing out on their backup target to Hugo Ekitike. Ultimately, it all comes down to how much the side backs itself in the market compared to the likes of Manchester United. The Red Devils may have the prestige of (increasingly distant) glorious history on their side – but Newcastle can offer Champions League football, and, potentially, top wages, immediately.
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