Director Jon M. Chu Expecting Baby No. 5 with Wife Kristin Hodge, His Third During Creation of Wicked: 'Any Day Now'

Chu and his wife are already parents to daughters Willow and Ruby, son Jonathan, and a child named Iggy

Jon M. Chu at Gold House's 3rd Annual Gold Gala held at The Music Center on May 11, 2024 in Los Angeles, California
Jon M. Chu . Photo:

Gregg DeGuire/Variety via Getty 

Jon M. Chu is going to be a dad again!

The Wicked director shared with Extra that he's expecting his fifth baby with wife Kristin Hodge as he was honored at the WSJ. Magazine Innovator Awards on Tuesday, Oct. 29. Chu and his wife are already parents to four kids together — daughters Willow, 7, and Ruby, 3, son Jonathan Heights, 5, and a child named Iggy, 20 months.

"I've just finished the movie, so I'm sort of just letting everything go and just starting to enjoy it. I have a new baby coming, so in my head, that's what I'm focused on," Chu told the outlet. "She could come any day now. It's going to be a little daughter."

"I could leave tonight — you never know — so we got to get this thing started," he said, adding that this is his "third kid during Wicked."

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Jon M. Chu
Jon M. Chu. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

In 2021, Chu shared on Twitter that he was stepping down from directing the Disney+ Willow series after the production schedule moved amid the COVID-19 health crisis. Chu revealed his wife Kristin Hodge was expecting their third child that summer.

"I'm heartbroken to let you all know that I unfortunately have to step away from directing Willow," he wrote in a statement on Twitter. "With the production schedule moving due to continued lockdowns in the UK, and with a new baby coming this summer (surprise!), the timing is just not going to work for me and my family."

"As you may know, Willow has been one of my favorite movies since I was a child, so I'm devastated that I won't be able to work with some of my heroes old and new," he added, naming producers and writers involved with the series. "Like a kid seeing Willow for the first time in the '80s, I will look forward to watching this magical new world unfold as a very enthusiastic fan. And boy do they have an adventure in store for you! I can't wait for you all to experience it soon."

In 2019, Chu shared that he'd welcomed a baby boy and revealed that he'd named his son after the movie musical In the Heights, which he was directing at the time.

“I took the day off yesterday from shooting @Lin_Manuel’s #InTheHeightsMovie so I could witness my beautiful wife give birth to our first son… Introducing Jonathan Heights Chu (aka Heights),” Chu wrote in a statement on Twitter.

“May your hands always be connected to others but your view be towards the skies,” Chu added.

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