Jon M. Chu, director of the highly anticipated musical Wicked, missed the film’s Los Angeles premiere on Saturday, but for a very special reason: he and his wife, Kristin Hodge, welcomed their fifth child — a baby girl — into the world that same day.
In a video message shared at the premiere, Chu explained, “I’ve waited three years for this moment to 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 exactly when to show up, on premiere day.”
While Wicked was premiering in L.A., Chu was at the hospital with Hodge. The couple, already parents to Willow, 7; Jonathan Heights, 5; Ruby, 3; and Iggy, 20 months, were excited to welcome their new daughter. Chu later shared a video on Instagram Stories, featuring a clip of his newborn set to Somewhere Over the Rainbow, a classic song from The Wizard of Oz. He wrote in 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.”
Chu had previously teased the announcement on Instagram, posting a photo of two hospital bracelets reading “defy gravity,” a nod to one of the musical’s most famous songs. In a heartfelt post, he wrote, “This movie has always moved in mysterious ways. Today is a day I’ve been dreaming about for a long time. Two babies (a movie and a little girl) all at once, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Despite his absence at the premiere, Chu sent his love and support to the Wicked cast and crew. He posted, “Send all the love to our insanely talented cast and crew tonight. They deserve it. And send a little extra love to my little girl, who’s bursting her bubble and coming into our world any moment now.”
Wicked, a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Ariana Grande as Glinda, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard, among others. The film opens in theaters on November 22 via Universal Pictures.
Despite his busy personal day, Chu made a brief appearance at the afterparty to celebrate with his cast and crew before returning to his family. In a lighthearted moment, he jokingly shared a photo of his suit still in its garment bag, asking, “Should I just wear the suit for the birth?”
Throughout the evening, Chu also received messages of support, including one from Frankie Grande, Ariana’s brother, who shared a playful “Push!” with Chu’s wife.
With both his new movie and daughter making their debuts, it was truly a magical day for the director and his family.
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