Fans of the hit musical Wicked are desperately petitioning filmmakers to ban James Corden from being cast in the big-screen version.
The petition on Change.org, addressed directly to bosses at Universal Studios, was started earlier this month by disgruntled fan Mikel Miller, and has racked up more than 60,000 signatures.
It simply states: “James Corden in no way shape or form should be in or near the production of Wicked the movie… that’s pretty much it.”
Oscar-nominated actress Cynthia Erivo will be playing Elphaba in the movie, while pop star Ariana Grande is portraying her friend turned enemy, Glinda.
The movie version of the hugely successful musical has been in the works since 2004, and Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M. Chu will be helming the eagerly-awaited project.
Production will begin in the UK in June next year, and fans of the beloved musical are hoping producers will avoid casting Corden in any role.
The 43-year-old comedian and actor has gained notoriety in recent years after starring in critically panned stage-to-screen musicals.
He played Bustopher Jones in Tom Hooper’s box office flop Cats, as well as roles in Rob Marshall's underwhelming Into the Woods and Ryan Murphy’s Netflix musical The Prom, with Corden facing a fierce backlash for playing a gay character.
The Late Late Show host also voiced a character in the Amazon Studios musical Cinderella, starring Camila Cabello, which Corden also produced.
He was heavily criticised for his promotion of the film after he dressed in a mouse costume and harassed commuters in Los Angeles while they were stuck in traffic.
Corden and his Cinderella co-stars, including Billy Porter and Idina Menzel, performed Jennifer Lopez’s track Let’s Get Loud while dressed in costumes as part of a flash mob to promote the musical.
“I swear to god, if James Corden is not cast as the Wizard in the Wicked movie, I might go see it,” one wrote on Twitter. .
“Please keep James Corden at least 300 yards away from our Wicked movie at all times,” another joked.
“In light of the recent Wicked news, all I’m asking is that James Corden is not involved as he is quite literally the kiss of death in the movie musical genre,” one wrote.
“I’m not gonna get excited for Wicked until we have a trailer and I can confirm James Corden is nowhere to be found on the film,” one irate fan tweeted.
However, some defended James, with one fan writing: “The amount of vitriol targeted at James Corden with regards to potentially being cast in the Wicked movie is pretty frightening. Imagine putting that passion towards building someone up, maybe a someone you know? Maybe even yourself?!
Fans have speculated Corden would be up for the part of Doctor Dillamond, who is a goat with the ability to speak to humans, and is a university professor.
