Wicked Director Was Inspired By One Of Steven Spielberg’s Most Divisive Films

“Hook” is a controversial choice as the film’s quality is hotly debated. Overall, “Hook” is silly and overstuffed. Some might say it’s obnoxious. It adds a rambunctious, “messy room” energy to the “Peter Pan” story, which stands in for any sense of wonderment or grit. “Hook” somehow feels sloppy and too clean at the same time. Regardless, those who were about 10 years old when they first saw “Hook” have come to love its colorful excitement, often pointing to the Lost Boys and fun, hip characters. Many will also pause to document Rufio (Dante Basco) as a universal crush object.

Chu was born in November of 1979, which means he had just turned 12 when “Hook” came out. He was in the correct age bracket to fall in love with “Hook,” and carry its strange whimsy into his adulthood. More notably, Chu wanted to use similar practical filmmaking techniques to realize a fantasy kingdom. “Hook” was made before widespread CGI, and Steven Spielberg built real ships and a Lost Boys clubhouse for his actors to occupy. Chu wanted to capture the texture of real-life sets and vehicles. In his own words:

“I want to do it the way I dreamed about it as a kid when I watched ‘Hook.’ […] Behind the scenes, Steven Spielberg was on a dock with a giant pirate ship. I’m like, ‘If this is my one opportunity to do this, I want to do that.'”

This is no small feat, given that “Wicked” takes place in the magical land of Oz and incorporates fantastical, colorful landscapes. Fleming’s film version of “The Wizard of Oz” may have been the primary inspiration for “Wicked,” but “Hook” is going to be the vibe. Thankfully, Chu didn’t film his entire movie in front of a green screen.