'Glee's' Ryan Murphy confirms Britney Spears tribute and that he's in the running to direct 'Wicked'

"Glee" isn't necessarily the first show you would think of having a massive presence at Comic-Con, but the Fox ratings wonder returned to San Diego for the second year in a row packing the 3,000 seat plus Ballroom 20 while many fans were unable to get in.  As part of Comic-Con's increasingly broad directive to "celebrate the popular arts," "Glee" is one of those fanbases that crosses over quite well with the family friendly regulars.  Members of the cast and series creators Ryan Murphy and Dante Di Lorento met with the press before venturing into a raucous panel this past Sunday and the former duo were as candid as ever.

Murphy had mentioned the possibility of REM's classic "Losing My Religion" appearing in an upcoming religious-themed episode to another interviewer on the TV line, but then backtracked a bit when HitFix asked him to clarify. What Murphy did discuss, however, was the show's seemingly always positive relationship with the music industry and how Britney Spears will likely be the center of one of this year's two "themed" episodes.  The second special episode will occur after the Super Bowl, but the writer/director can't discuss it yet because all the music rights haven't cleared yet.  So, let the speculation continue...

 
In other news, word leaked recently that Murphy is one of four directors being considered to shepherd the massive theatrical hit "Wicked" to the big screen.  Murphy confirmed he's up for the gig, but he hasn't sat down to give his pitch to producer Marc Platt yet.

"I have not. I'm just a fan of it and thrilled of it to e considered," Murphy says. "I think it's one of those things where they have invited some people to come in and give them their take, but they are in absolutely no hurry to get that movie made because the show is such a huge success."

"Glee" returns to FOX on Sept. 21.