Michelle Yeoh on Oscars Snubbing Wicked: For Good

Michelle Yeoh was more than 'just surprised' when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gave zero nominations to her sequel Wicked: For Good after the first film scored 10 nods.

'I am in shock!' the 63-year-old Oscar winner - who portrayed Madame Morrible - told Variety on Thursday. 'I really am.'

Last year, Wicked only took home two technical Academy Awards - best costume design (Paul Tazewell) and best production design (Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales).

'I think sometimes the problem is that people think, "Oh, you already got so much with the first one, let other people have a chance." But then it feels like, "No, come on!"' Yeoh (born Choo-Kheng) scoffed.

'It's such a beautiful, well-made movie. Paul for costume design, hair and makeup. If you compare it [with contenders this year] it should be there. For [director] Jon Chu, for [DP] Alice Brooks, for the set design.'

The Star Trek: Section 31 producer-star added, 'It's not the replica of the first one. It's more elaborate and there are many more new destinations in Wicked: For Good. So I was truly, truly very disappointed.'

Michelle Yeoh (R) was more than 'just surprised' when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gave zero nominations to her sequel Wicked: For Good after the first film scored 10 nods

Wicked: For Good only earned a 66 percent critic approval rating (out of 350 reviews) on Rotten Tomatoes while the original 2024 film scored a 'certified fresh' 88 percent rating.

The Universal Pictures flick failed to win any of their seven nominations at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards on January 4 nor their four nominations at the Golden Globe Awards on January 11.

And while there's no hope for Oscar glory - select cast and crew are nominated for trophies at the upcoming 79th British Academy Film Awards, 32nd Actor Awards, iHeartRadio Music Awards and 57th NAACP Image Awards.

Read More

Michelle Yeoh tearfully accepts Golden Bear at Berlin Film Festival

The final chapter of Jon M. Chu's $150 million-budget adaptation of Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman's 2003 Broadway musical earned $527.8 million at the global box office - $231 million less than Wicked.

Yeoh was criticized for her lack of singing range performing Every Day More Wicked as well as Thank Goodness/I Couldn't Be Happier as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz's (Jeff Goldblum) press secretary - despite warning the 46-year-old filmmaker.

'You're talking about a film with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande and there's singing involved. I was like, "Jon, this Madame Morrible sings, right? And I don't sing." That's the thing about taking risks, you know? And Jon, who's so charming, was like, "Ah, it's a piece of cake!"' Miss Malaysia 1983 recalled.

'And I think at the end of the day, you have to be willing to learn a new skill, basically. So they found me an amazing voice coach. And I learned so many things. Generally, I'm terrified of singing because I think I have a very husky low voice. 

'I mean, in the mornings, when I call down for room service, there'll be "Yes, Mr. Yeoh," and I'm like, "Dude, my dad is not here, OK?" They always mistake me for a guy.'

'I am in shock!' the 63-year-old Oscar winner - who portrayed Madame Morrible - told Variety on Thursday (pictured). 'I really am'

Last year, Wicked only took home two technical Academy Awards - best costume design (Paul Tazewell, pictured on March 2) and best production design (Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales)

Yeoh scoffed: 'I think sometimes the problem is that people think, "Oh, you already got so much with the first one, let other people have a chance." But then it feels like, "No, come on!"'

She continued: 'It's such a beautiful, well-made movie. Paul for costume design, hair and makeup. If you compare it [with contenders this year] it should be there. For [director] Jon Chu, for [DP] Alice Brooks, for the set design'

The Star Trek: Section 31 producer-star added, 'It's not the replica of the first one. It's more elaborate and there are many more new destinations in Wicked: For Good. So I was truly, truly very disappointed' 

Wicked: For Good only earned a 66 percent critic approval rating (out of 350 reviews) on Rotten Tomatoes while the original 2024 film scored a 'certified fresh' 88 percent rating

And while there's no hope for Oscar glory - select cast and crew are nominated for trophies at the upcoming 79th British Academy Film Awards, 32nd Actor Awards, iHeartRadio Music Awards and 57th NAACP Image Awards

The final chapter of Jon M. Chu's $150 million-budget adaptation of Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman's 2003 Broadway musical earned $527.8 million at the global box office - $231 million less than Wicked 

Yeoh was criticized for her lack of singing range performing Every Day More Wicked as well as Thank Goodness/I Couldn't Be Happier as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz's (Jeff Goldblum) press secretary - despite warning the 46-year-old filmmaker

Miss Malaysia 1983 recalled: 'You're talking about a film with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande and there's singing involved. I was like, "Jon, this Madame Morrible sings, right? And I don't sing." That's the thing about taking risks, you know? And Jon, who's so charming, was like, "Ah, it's a piece of cake!"'

Next Wednesday at 11:30am PT, Chu (R, pictured November 17) and Crouching Tiger director Ang Lee will team up to emcee Yeoh's induction into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which she called 'a dream come true'

Next Wednesday at 11:30am PT, Chu and Crouching Tiger director Ang Lee will team up to emcee Yeoh's induction into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which she called 'a dream come true.'

'They are not just directors in my life. They are family, especially Ang, because we've known each other now for … maybe 30 years?!' the Ne Zha 2 actress gushed.

'I'm very, very touched he'll be coming all the way from New York, where he lives, to do this. But then, to be fair, every time I ask him to do something, he's never said no!

And Jon Chu, I always remember when I made Crazy Rich Asians with him and I said, "You remind me of someone. You remind me of Ang." He's like my adopted son.'

Audiences can next catch Yeoh portraying dying replicant Olwen in Silka Luisa's six-episode sci-fi series Blade Runner 2099, which premieres later this year on Amazon Prime Video.

'Let's not let [the industry] define us as women or put us in a box and say, "Oh, well, because now you're this age, you should only play a grandmother,"' the Golden Globe winner said.

'I'm like, "Hell no! I will kick a** because I want to, and I still can."'