Written by: Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor
Content warning: This article contains spoilers
“Wicked” has officially hit theaters. Fan excitement for the movie skyrocketed in the spring of 2023 when first-look pictures were released. Filming had started the year prior, but was halted from July to November due to the Screen Actors Guild strike.
Being split into two movies, “Wicked” is a screen adaptation of the Broadway musical that originally premiered in 2003. The musical is based on the 1995 novel, “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” by Gregory Maguire, which is, of course, based on the 1900 L. Frank Baum novel, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” and its 1939 film adaptation, “The Wizard of Oz.”
Told from the perspective of witches Galinda and Elphaba, the musical follows events from before and after the arrival of Dorothy. As it progresses, the audience learns about how Elphaba and Galinda become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. Titled “Wicked: Part One,” the movie follows Act One of the musical, with “Wicked: Part Two” set to release sometime in 2025.
With the musical talents of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as the leading ladies, the film excels in its production design and emotional storytelling. Bathed in shades of pink and green, “Wicked” shows the importance of challenging what might be a societal norm and understanding the nuances of good and evil. Elphaba’s journey, for example, from outcast to Wicked Witch shows how society’s perceptions and labels of someone can change their identity.
“Wicked” has also smashed box office records. With a United States opening of $114 million and a worldwide opening of $50.2 million, it is currently the biggest opening ever for a film based on a Broadway show, as well as the third-highest earning premier weekend of 2024. The original cast recording has broken records, as well, with “Defying Gravity” and “Popular” racking up a combined 7.8 million streams within the first three days of its release.
Rounding out the cast is Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard of Oz, Johnathan Bailey as Fiyero and Ethan Slater as Boq. All actors will reprise their roles when “Wicked: Part Two” is released, though some will be in different forms. Bailey and Slater’s characters Fiyero and Boq are set to become the Scarecrow and the Tinman, two of Dorothy’s companions in the iconic “The Wizard of Oz.”
In my opinion, “Wicked” is an adaptation worthy of being seen. Between its well-rounded cast, a live soundtrack and allegorical messages, it is a film that can be enjoyed by all, whether one is typically a fan of musicals or not.
10/10.
Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu
