Over 80,000 people sign petition to keep James Corden out of 'Wicked' movie

Thousands of Wicked fans have created a petition to stop James Corden from being cast in the movie version of the hit musical.

The petition - which is titled "Keep James Corden out of Wicked the movie" - has amassed over 81,800 signatures since it was created last week.

Two cast members have already been announced for the big screen adaption of the Broadway hit, which fills in the backstory of the Wizard of Oz.

Ariana Grande will play Glinda the Good Witch, and Cynthia Erivo is set to play Elphaba the Wicked Witch of the West.

Credit: Change.org

Actor and TV host Corden, 43, has recently appeared in a number of on-screen musicals, including the box-office flop Cats, The Prom, and the Disney musical Into The Woods.

The petition is addressed to Universal Studios and was created by Mikel Miller. In the description, Miller describes why he believes Corden should be kept away from the adaption.

"James Corden in no way shape or form should be in or near the production of Wicked the movie. That's pretty much it," he wrote.

Over 81,000 people have already signed the petition, which has gone viral on Twitter.

"We've suffered enough," wrote one Twitter user, before another chimed in: "I've never signed a petition so quickly in my life."

Corden, who hosts The Late Late Show on CBS, is an accomplished star onstage and onscreen. In 2012 he won the Tony Award for best actor in a play for his performance in One Man, Two Guvnors.

But the British actor isn't everyone's cup of tea. Many criticized his portrayal of a gay character in The Prom as distasteful.  Meanwhile, others thought that he was simply not a good fit for any of the characters in Wicked.

"I have no problem with James Corden but please...that man doesn't have to be in EVERY musical," commented one Twitter user.

"Cast those best suited to roles, not just famous people!" added another, while a third wrote: "A-listers don't equal good musicals - and I'm still haunted by Cats."

Wicked the movie will be directed by Crazy Rich Asians' filmmaker Jon M Chu. The original Broadway production won three Tony awards and a Grammy, and is the second-highest-grossing Broadway show of all time according to The Wrap.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy/Sipa US