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‘Wicked: Part One’ Stuns CinemaCon with Exclusive Trailer Reveal

Hey Moviegoers, Universal Pictures stunned us WOW’d the world with a mind-boggling exclusive “Wicked: Part One” trailer at CinemaCon 2025, a modern film for movie and theater lovers alike. Its big-screen adaptation, featuring Renstar, Cynthia Erivo, and Ariana Grande, is one of the most Webby-obsessed, world-famous pieces of the Broadway smash you’ll have the treat to see off-Broadway released in 2025. The first “Wicked: Part One” trailer was released at CinemaCon, the biggest gathering of movie theater owners and insiders. It’s been exciting in the entertainment world. With its dazzling visuals, career-defining songs, and an all-star cast, the trailer teased a movie poised to take over the 2025 holiday box office.

Fans of Wicked and The Wizard of Oz have been anticipating the film version of the smash hit Broadway show that has delighted audiences for over 20 years. Wicked: Part One will be directed by Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights) and promises to bring the magical land of Oz to the big screen through advanced visual effects, awe-inspiring musical moments, and a new perspective on Elphaba and Glinda’s story. The trailer starts with a breathtaking shot of the Emerald City, with an ocean of glowing green lights, teasing the magical wonder it promises to bring. Fans were excited to see glimpses of Cynthia Erivo’s powerful performance as Elphaba, the misunderstood witch whose transformation from pariah to Wicked Witch of the West is the story’s beating heart. Ariana Grande dazzled as her Good Witch, Glinda, a bubbly but ambitious girl who becomes best friends with Elphaba, the misunderstood teenage outcast.

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Universal Pictures spared no expense to make “Wicked: Part One” a visual and emotional tour de force. The CinemaCon footage offered quick glimpses of some of the musical’s most treasured songs, including Defying Gravity, which sent chills down attendees’ spines. Erivo’s powerhouse vocals during the climactic scene where Elphaba ascends into the sky sealed the movie as an instant watch for both fans of musical theater and casual moviegoers alike. Another standout from the trailer was Grande’s performance of Popular, which brought to life bright costumes, playful choreography, and trademark vocal flourishes that helped make Glinda feel both new and recognizable. The ensemble of “Wicked: Part One,” including Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard, is ready to deliver unforgettable performances.

The trailer, which debuted exclusively at CinemaCon this week, received rapturous applause and excited social media reactions from industry insiders and attendees able to score a sneak peek. Many touted the film as the next great blockbuster, likening its epicness to Les Misérables and The Greatest Showman, while others sang praises of Jon M. Chu’s visionary direction in bringing the land of Oz to the big screen. Fans took to X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram to share their responses, with some calling the trailer “spellbinding” and “everything we dreamed of.” Others lauded the film for maintaining the Broadway production’s faithful adaptation, thereby preserving the magic of Wicked on the big screen.

What lies ahead for ‘Wicked: Part One’?

With the initial entry scheduled for release in November 2025, Universal’s marketing push is likely to kick into high gear after the CinemaCon debut. The studio has teased more trailers, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and interactive fan events ahead of the movie’s release.

Moreover, splitting the film into two parts enables the full depth of Elphaba and Glinda’s journey to receive ample time to fill the screen. “Wicked: Part Two” is currently scheduled for a 2026 release. This two-part format opens up the possibility of a more expansive story, allowing viewers to get a much deeper experience than a singular, tragically told film would reach.

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The “Wicked: Part One” trailer screened at CinemaCon 2025 has laid the groundwork for what could be one of the most popular movie musicals of all time. The movie is a true nostalgic playground with exciting visuals and powerhouse performances that are sure to entice long-time fans as well as newcomers.

As the months continue to dwindle until “Wicked: Part One” hits the theaters, one thing is for sure: this film will take us on a magical ride, and we will all be defying gravity. “Wicked: Part One,” but stay tuned to Honk Magazine for exclusive updates, interviews, and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film that you won’t find anywhere else.

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Artist Spotlight

Malammore unveils a new voice rising from portugal’s margins on new album “Aurora”

Malammore, whose real name is Sandro Feliciano, is a singer, songwriter, and producer from Lisbon, Portugal. “Aurora” is his first album. The album comes out on January 23 and tells the story of his life as a young Black man, his search for belonging, and his country’s cultural resistance. The lyrics talk about love, adoption, thoughts on humanity, and how the artist sees his role in the world. The concept for the album originated from a notebook containing poems, narratives, and my self-perception within this world. It’s a record of the Black experience in Portugal, of belonging and feeling alone, of love and loss.

Sandro, also known as Malammore, was born in 2005 and lived with the Portuguese State for two years until he was adopted in 2008, which was a big change in his life. One of the main ideas in Aurora is to turn the idea of a “black hole” into “the world’s white hole,” which shows a universe that erases identities. He challenges dominant narratives and changes how people see black bodies in society by filling it with the idea of blackness.

The album mixes hip-hop, rap, trap, and spoken word, which is not something that is usually done. Malammore gets the political tone of the project from people like Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Angela Davis, and Fela Kuti. No Icon (Rodrigo Fernandes) did the production, mixing, and mastering for the album at Lisbon Sound Society.

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Mainstage

Ant Thomaz creates when cultures collide and joy leads the Way on “Good Times Roll”

Ant Thomaz starts a bold new chapter with his new single, “Good Times Roll.” It’s a rhythm-based celebration that leads up to his first solo album. The track is a perfect example of community, movement, and global connectivity. It has a sound that is both big and very personal.

The track centers on the concept of a “Scottish Mardi Gras,” exuding vitality from its opening beat. Thomaz assembled a diverse group of musicians and asked each to bring their own cultural background and musical style to the performance. The result is a lively mix of influences that brings together elements of Louisiana Mardi Gras traditions, Bollywood energy, South African beats, and Celtic subtleties into a joyful whole. The track doesn’t sound crowded; instead, it resonates, letting each influence build on the one before it and creating a groove that feels natural and alive.

“Good Times Roll,” which he co-produced with longtime collaborator Chris Gordon, took almost a year to perfect. The track has more than 60 mixes, which shows how much Thomaz cares about making people feel something instead of just making a sound. The result is a composition that exudes warmth, dynamism, and expansiveness, an invitation to commemorate, contemplate, and reestablish connections.

The track’s lyrics explore how to find peace amid chaos and how to navigate life’s ups and downs with clarity and balance. It means new beginnings and personal growth, and it gives people comfort and motivation. “Good Times Roll” is more than just entertainment; it brings people together and shows that when people share happiness, it can be a powerful force.

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