‘Wicked’ Director Jon M. Chu Misses Film’s L.A. Premiere Due to Birth of Fifth Child

Wicked director Jon M. Chu missed the Los Angeles premiere of his new movie — for a very good reason.

While Part 1 of his musical adaptation, a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, was having its L.A. premiere, his newborn baby girl was making her own debut in the world.

Chu and his wife, Kristin Hodge, welcomed their daughter on Saturday. He posted a video of the infant on his Instagram Stories, set to Wizard of Oz tune “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” along with the caption: “I can’t believe this happened while the movie is premiering. Magic is in the air. Happy Premiere Day!! Welcome to our world, you’re gonna do great. You have a lot of witches on your side.”

This marks the fifth child for the couple, who are also parents to Willow, 7; Jonathan Heights, 5; Ruby, 3; and Iggy, 20 months.

Chu sent a video message that was shared at the screening, noting that he was in the hospital with his wife as they awaited the birth of their daughter.

“I was at the hotel across the street ready to come; my whole family is there, my friends, all our loved ones are there,” he said in the video. “I’ve waited for three years to have this moment and share our movie with you, but I’ve waited my whole life to have this moment, to have our fifth child, right now. Of course, this little girl knows when to show up on premiere day.” 

Chu had previously revealed the news on his IG Stories in a “special magical announcement” with a photo taken in the hospital showing two bracelets reading “defy gravity,” a nod to one of Wicked’s songs.

“This movie has always moved in mysterious ways,” he wrote. “Today is a day I’ve been dreaming about for a long time. Two babies (a movie and a little girl) all at one time and I truly couldn’t be happier. I won’t be at the Wicked Premiere tonight with all of you… there was a change of plans at about 4am this morning… Instead my wife and I will be welcoming our 5th child into our family and no we will not be naming her Galphaba.”

Wicked, which opens in theaters Nov. 22 via Universal Pictures, stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Ariana Grande as Glinda, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard of Oz, Marissa Bode as Nessarose, Keala Settle as Miss Coddle and Bowen Yang as Pfannee, among others.

In his IG Stories, Chu gave a shoutout to his cast and crew: “Send all the love to our insanely talented cast and crew tonight. They deserve it and send a little extra welcome to my little girl bursting her bubble and coming into our world any moment now. If she can even have a fraction of the bravery that my wife, @cynthiaerivo, @arianagrande, @michelleyeoh_official or @marissa_edob has then she too will defy gravity one day.”

Chu also shared a video featuring Grande’s brother, Frankie Grande, who shared a message for Hodge: “Push!”

He also posted a photo of his suit, still in its garment bag, joking: “Should I just wear the suit for the birth?”

In fact, after the screening, Chu was actually able to make a quick appearance at the afterparty to share a moment with his cast before, presumably, returning to his daddy duties.