(L to R) Ariana Grande (as Glinda), Director Jon M. Chu, and Cynthia Erivo (as Elphaba), on the set of ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Continuing the epic story of magic and friendship begun in last year’s ‘Wicked,’ follow-up ‘Wicked: For Good’ returns us to the land of Oz, where witches Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) are still trying to save their home from the machinations of the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum).
Moviefone was in attendance at a virtual press conference for the epic film, which featured director/writer Jon M. Chu, and stars Grande and Erivo.
1) Ariana Grande had to keep a handle on where Glinda was in the story
Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Since ‘Wicked’ and ‘Wicked: For Good’ were shot together, the cast had to make sure they knew where each scene fit on their character’s journey, and Ariana Grande also wanted to explore more about Glinda.
Ariana Grande: “We filmed both at the same time, which I know is insane. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday of the week we would be filming part one, and then Thursday, Friday, Saturday, we’d be filming part two, so it was simultaneous. I just wanted to make sure that I knew who she was as well as possible before we even got there. So even things about her that you never got to see on screen, if they weren’t referenced in a scene, talked about or performed, I just wanted to make sure that, even in the first film, beneath the shiny, perfect exterior, her you know, bubble of privilege, as I call it, there’s a person underneath that has a lot of insecurities, a lot of little wounds that, you know, contribute to her need for all of that external validation.”
2) Cynthia Erivo wasn’t prepared for how the first ‘Wicked’ movie and its characters have been embraced
Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba (center) in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Cynthia Erivo: “I don’t think I could have fully prepared for what has happened since, since the first movie, and what is happening now. I knew that it would be a life-changing project from the beginning. But I don’t think I quite know the gravity of – please excuse the pun – of what it would be. I knew it was something that would challenge me. I knew it was something that would change the way I see my art, or increase the love I have for it.”
3) Ariana Grande was nervous performing one of the two original songs for the new movie
(L to R) Bowen Yang is Pfannee, Bronwyn James is Shenshen, and Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Ariana Grande: “It was daunting and also so incredible, the privilege of a lifetime to originate a Stephen Schwartz song. But of course there’s a scary element, it’s a new piece. To be trusted with that was all of the right kinds of nerve-wracking, and also just such an honour. But what I love most about it is that it’s such a narrative piece for her. I’m so glad that we get to see her experience that moment of change, that to make that choice to begin the chapter of being truly good.”
4) Cynthia Erivo is proud of one song in particular in ‘For Good’
Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Cynthia Erivo: “I’m really proud of ‘No Good Deed,’ because we shot it in the space, but it was me on my own, there was no-one there. I’m shooting against really a blue screen and a plinth and fire and rocks. And so the dynamism with which we had to shoot it, looking back at the memories, looking back at things that had gone past, none of that was there to look at, it’s all in the mind. So I was really proud of being able to do something that was that big, that grand, and still be able to hone into the feeling, the moment.”
5) Director Jon M. Chu worried about the smallest detail – even down to the shade of the Yellow Brick Road.
(L to R) Cynthia Erivo (as Elphaba), Ariana Grande (as Glinda), and Director Jon M. Chu on the set of ‘Wicked For Good’.
Jon M. Chu: “I want to walk away from this beautiful experience, look back and say, “wow, the whole thing was great, and the world saw us and saw our work as well.” Every day I thought about that in the edit room. Even colour. Yellow, we talked about yellow so long, and then you go from [color tones] P3 to Rec709, and the yellow’s all over the place again. I had to make sure that it’s the yellow we talked about three years ago. So those are the things that keep me up at night, and whether people saw it or not, I don’t know, but I really wanted it to be something we could be proud of.”
‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu, opens in theaters on November 21st.
What’s the story of ‘Wicked: For Good’?
As an angry mob rises against the Wicked Witch, Glinda and Elphaba will need to come together one final time. With their singular friendship now the fulcrum of their futures, they will need to truly see each other, with honesty and empathy, if they are to change themselves, and all of Oz, for good.
Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Following a pop cultural behemoth such as ‘Wicked’ was never going to be an easy feat, and the challenges were more than the simple fact that the second film was shot at the same time as the first with no room for course correction if anything didn’t click with audiences.
As with the second half of the show, which doesn’t feature quite the same level of memorable music as the first (save perhaps the emotional finale which gives this new movie its name), ‘Wicked: For Good’ suffers some in comparison with the 2024 movie, but it still manages to be a fitting, heartfelt adaptation.
Script and Direction
(L to R) Ariana Grande (as Glinda), Director Jon M. Chu, and Cynthia Erivo (as Elphaba), on the set of ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Screenwriters Winnie Holzman (who wrote the book for the musical) and Dana Fox have once again expanded on the stage show’s basic plotline, taking advantage of the different medium to flesh out certain elements. Some work wonderfully –– the characters of Nessarose and Boq in particular get meatier material, while others feel less necessary, such as flashbacks that feel like filler and, in one moment, what is meant to be a callback to Elphaba’s glimpse of her younger self during “Defying Gravity” that here comes off as a repetitive rip-off.
The two new songs by composer Stephen Schwartz are good but don’t really hold a candle to the original showstoppers.
Cast and Performances
(L to R) Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba and Jonathan Bailey is Fiyero in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Once again, and unsurprisingly, this is really all about Ariana Grande’s Glinda and Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba, with the former given more of a character arc this time. Both actors are excellent, offering powerhouse musical performances but also finding the nuance when needed.
Of the supporting cast, Jeff Goldblum’s Wizard is still a quirky delight, while Marissa Bode and Ethan Slater take full advantage of more to do with Nessarose and Boq. Dorothy, meanwhile, is treated much like the stage version: very much a shadow presence.
Final Thoughts
Jeff Goldblum is The Wizard of Oz in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
To say ‘For Good’ isn’t as good as ‘Wicked’ is not to try and tear it down. Make no mistake, this is another soaring, spectacular trip to the land of Oz, and nails the landing.
‘Wicked: For Good’ receives 85 out of 100.
Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
What’s the story of ‘Wicked: For Good’?
As an angry mob rises against the Wicked Witch, Glinda and Elphaba will need to come together one final time. With their singular friendship now the fulcrum of their futures, they will need to truly see each other, with honesty and empathy, if they are to change themselves, and all of Oz, for good.
Who is in the cast of ‘Wicked: For Good’?
Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba
Ariana Grande as Glinda
Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero
Ethan Slater as Boq
Marissa Bode as Nessarose
Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible
Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard
Colman Domingo as the Cowardly Lion
(L to R) Jeff Goldblum is The Wizard of Oz and Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
List of Movies and TV Shows Based on the ‘Wizard of Oz’:
Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Preview:
‘Wicked’ added in more elements from the book; however, it still more closely adapted the musical.
‘Wicked: For Good’ will likely do the same, and stick with the happy Hollywood ending.
It would be riskier, but if done right, a book ending adaptation in ‘Wicked: For Good’ would be best.
SPOILER ALERT: Some potential spoilers for ‘Wicked: For Good’ below.
‘Wicked‘ is based on the book by Gregory Maguire and musical by the same name, and while it does take elements from both, it leans more heavily into adapting the musical. Book fans tend to not love the musical as much and vice versa. This is because a lot of things were changed to make it work better for the stage, including removing some of the political plot points, especially when it comes to the animal rights, and completely changing the ending to give it the classic Hollywood ending that audiences like to see.
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The book came first, and because of that, it is the true story in the mind of most readers. It goes more in depth and is unafraid to push boundaries when needed. Surely ‘Wicked: For Good‘, the upcoming film sequel starring Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, will deliver the musical ending, but if director Jon M. Chu was willing to take a risk with the book ending, it would be the better option. Here’s why.
Jonathan Bailey is Fiyero Tigelaar in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Even for those who have not read book or seen the musical, ‘Wicked’ made it quite clear that Elphaba and Fiyero (played by Jonathan Bailey), fall in love. By the time he arrives to Shiz, however, he is already married with children. The two end up having an affair, but he is spoken for.
During the resistance, he is murdered by the Wizard’s secret police, the Gale Force. Elphaba casts a spell to try to save him, and she believes it succeeds, turning him into the Scarecrow. After waking up from a coma (and birthing their baby, who goes to live with their family, which is detailed further in the second book, ‘Son of a Witch’), she sends the flying monkeys after the Scarecrow. When they tear him apart and realize that is not the case, Elphaba snaps, completely becoming the Wicked Witch of the West. This was the straw the broke the camel’s back so to speak, no pun intended.
She descends into evil here, feeling like the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum), and the government, has taken everything from her. When Dorothy shows up, she panics and throws water at Elphaba, melting her and killing her. A tragic end to a tragic tale. Throughout the book, whenever she cries, even from when she was a baby, water burns her and hurts her. This is something the movie, and musical, completely ignores. The reason why is so that they can change the ending of her story.
How The ‘Wicked’ Musical Changes The Ending
Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
In the musical, Elphaba’s spell was successful and Fiyero becomes the Scarecrow. The rest of Dorothy’s friends have a connection to the witch as well. The Cowardly Lion is the lion cub that her and Fiyero saved at Shiz, something that remains the same from the book, and the Tin Man is Boq (Ethan Slater). Nessarose gives him a love potion, hoping he will fall in love with her, but it shrinks his heart and transforms him instead. In the book, he is a former woodchopper named Nick Chopper, who has his limbs replaced with tin after being cursed.
Elphaba is still distraught over the events of the Wizard and the government and what they are doing to the animals of Oz, taking away their rights and their voices, but she has also simply had enough. When she learns that a young girl named Dorothy is coming to attempt to kill her, she goes along with it, planning out a way to escape Oz once and for all.
When the bucket of water is thrown on her, she hides under a trap door, making it look like she has melted away and died. Fiyero, who is now the Scarecrow, helps her escape and the two live together, happily ever after. While she surely misses Glinda, and Glinda thinks she is dead, she still gets to live with the love of her life away from all the things she despises about Oz.
Why The Book Ending Would Best Serve ‘Wicked: For Good’
(L to R) Ariana Grande is Glinda and Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
For the most part, those that read the book first prefer the book and those that watch the musical first prefer the musical. There are many reasons, however, that ‘Wicked: For Good’ should lean into the darker ending and embrace what the book has to offer.
First of all, because of these changes, it would be nearly impossible to adapt the other books in the series. ‘A Lion Among Men’ could possibly become a sequel, telling the story of the Cowardly Lion, and ‘Elphie: A Wicked Childhood’ a prequel, but ‘Son Of A Witch’ and ‘Out Of Oz’ are completely off the table, now that Elphaba lives. These books expand on the world of Oz and tell intriguing stories that would make for great movies, but they need the right set-up to truly work.
It is difficult to pull off a dark ending in a way that will not make the readers want to throw their books out the window. Most interpretations of ‘Wicked’ are that Elphaba has finally found peace now. She has gone through so much in her life, losing everyone around her and watching her government rip the rights away from the animals that she loves. In the end she snaps, and then is finally laid to rest. While this is not exactly a happy ending, it fits her story and changing it simply does not feel right.
The saying the book is always better than the movie is a saying for a reason. If ‘Wicked: For Good’ chooses to let Elphaba die, it will be dark and tragic, yes, but it is also the story that was meant to be told and opens the door for more to come.
Ariana Granda is Glinda in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
List of Movies and TV Shows Based on the ‘Wizard of Oz’:
But perhaps that should be orchestra, as Yeoh is joining the cast of Chu’s two movies based on the Broadway musical ‘Wicked’.
The story, which views the characters and story of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ through a new perspective, originated with Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel.
Maguire’s book, and the stage show created by writer Winnie Holzman and composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz that adapts it, takes place before and during the time Dorothy lands in Oz. The main focus is on young witches Galinda (who will go on to be known as Glinda the Good) and Elphaba, fated to be called the Wicked Witch of the West.
Elphaba comes from a troubled home and, with her deep green complexion is treated as something of an outsider at Shiz University. Yet she forms an unlikely – and, initially, unwilling – friendship with Galinda, the most popular girl at the college.
Together, they chart very different journeys through the land of Oz, which is changing all around them. Animals, once sentient and important members of society, are reduced to basic creatures. The small-statured Munchkins are steadily being more oppressed.
‘Wicked’ Broadway Musical Poster.
Galinda rises in popularity and political influence, but Elphaba, who speaks out against what is happening, is shunned and, when she shows her true magical powers, hated.
Ariana Grande is playing Glinda, while Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba. ‘Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey, meanwhile, will be Fieryo. The Big Man on campus at Shiz, he’s a party animal who prefers having a good time to thinking and gets engaged to Glinda. But his true feelings for Elphaba surface and he helps her to escape, ending up captured by the Wizard’s guards, and tortured. A spell Elphaba casts to try to save him instead—spoiler alert!—transforms him into the scarecrow we know from the movie.
More recently, Jeff Goldblum entered talks to play the Wizard who (spoiler alert again if you haven’t seen the stage show, read the book or seen the movie is revealed to be Oscar Zoroaster Diggs, a very human conman who uses trickery and machinery to rule the city of Oz and control people. While it felt like a perfect match, he has yet to lock in a deal. And more recently, Broadway veteran Ethan Slater won the role of Boq, who falls for Elphaba’s sister, Nessarose.
Variety reports that Yeoh will play Madame Morrible, the headmistress of Crage Hall at Shiz University, who hitches her wagon to Glinda when the young witch becomes more politically powerful.
It’s been a good year for Yeoh, especially thanks to the awards attention she’s getting for her performance in ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’.
The two ‘Wicked’ movies are currently scheduled to land in theaters around Christmas in 2024 and 2025.
Michelle Yeoh as Scian in Netflix’s ‘‘The Witcher: Blood Origin.’
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