Singapore shimmered in pink and green on Nov 13 — but for many Asian fans, the most meaningful moment wasn’t just seeing the stars of Wicked: For Good. It was witnessing Michelle Yeoh and Jon M. Chu return to a city that helped shape one of the biggest cultural shifts in Asian representation.
Ahead of the Asia-Pacific premiere at Universal Studios Singapore, fans filled Resorts World Sentosa’s three-storey Weave mall, turning the atrium into an improvised Oz.
Before the cast even arrived, the crowd broke into a full-blown karaoke session, belting out favourites from Wicked (2024) with the kind of unfiltered enthusiasm that only fandom can produce.
But when Michelle Yeoh appeared onstage, the energy deepened.
“We are all so delighted by the love in Singapore. We were here for Crazy Rich Asians, and now Wicked,” said the Oscar-winning Malaysian icon, drawing a direct line from the 2018 rom-com phenomenon to this new blockbuster moment.
For many in the crowd, her presence felt like a homecoming — a reminder of how her roles have shaped Asian visibility on the global stage.
Read more: From ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ to ‘Wicked’, Director Jon M Chu Is “Redefining What the American Dream Is”
Standing beside her, director Jon M. Chu couldn’t help filming the crowd on his iPhone, capturing everything in the spirit of “always working.”
“It feels good to be in Singapore today. I love to come to Singapore to eat and to be creative,” he said, reaffirming his long-standing creative connection with the city-state.
The cast — including Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Jeff Goldblum — spent time signing autographs and taking selfies. Grande, glittering in pastel pink, beamed at the crowd:
“We love you so much and we’re so excited for you to see this film. Thank you for making this so special.”
Even Goldblum jumped in with characteristic flair. When asked what he liked most about Singapore, he replied: “The people. I want to move here.”
Fans had queued as early as 9am, some arriving in princess gowns, others in hand-crafted cosplay. Two local 14-year-olds crocheted mini dolls of Glinda and Elphaba, hoping to hand them to Grande and Erivo. “We came to see Ariana because we love her music,” one said.
Read more: BLACKPINK and Michelle Yeoh Spotlighted in Fortune’s First-ever Most Influential Women Asia Ranking
In anticipation of the film’s release, Sentosa Sensoryscape has been transformed into the Land of Oz — complete with Emerald City, Glinda’s Bubble and a Yellow Brick Road — setting the stage for Singapore’s starring role as the only Asian stop on the film’s global promo tour.
