(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’:
Colman Domingo is the latest addition to ‘Wicked: For Good’.
He’s voicing the Cowardly Lion.
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo return to star in the second half of the story.
Though director Jon M. Chu and his team have long since finished shooting both parts of ‘Wicked’, there is still room for news about some characters, especially those who are CGI in the second movie, ‘Wicked: For Good.’ And now we know that Colman Domingo (‘Sing Sing’) will be off the see the wizard as the voice of the Cowardly Lion.
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The movie’s official Instagram account partnered with the actor to make the announcement via the social media platform:
Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Following up last year’s huge box office and pop cultural hit, ‘Wicked: For Good’ continues to adapt both the stage show and the original Gregory Maguire source novel.
The story jumps forward in time to show Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) fully considered an enemy to all of Oz, gaining the nickname “The Wicked Witch.” Glinda (Ariana Grande), meanwhile, is still seen as the Good Witch, but truly begins to question what’s right and wrong.
As for the Cowardly Lion, he’s the cub we met in ‘Wicked’ whom Elphaba and Fiero (Jonathan Bailey) rescue after Dr. Dillamond (Peter Dinklage) has been taken away and a new professor brings a caged lion to class.
As the story moves on, we see the cub fully grown, and blaming Elphaba for his nervous situation. With the sequel overlapping timelines with ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ the lion is seen alongside Dorothy, The Tin Man and Scarecrow heading down the Yellow Brick Road to see the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum). He’s also seen during the musical number “March of the Witchhunters.”
However, as in the Broadway musical, the character doesn’t have a large role.
The actor, who scored awards attention for his role in ‘Sing Sing,’ will be back on our screens in Edgar Wright’s adaptation of ‘The Running Man’, due in theaters on November 14.
He’s also in the cast for the Michael Jackson biopic ‘Michael,’ though that has been facing some legal issues leading to changes.
When will ‘Wicked: For Good’ be on screens?
The new movie will enchant audiences once more on November 21.
Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba (center) in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
List of Movies and TV Shows Based on the ‘Wizard of Oz’:
It’s fair to say that the Marvel movies, specifically the Marvel Cinematic Universe releases, have reached “cultural event” status. And there’s a strong case to be made that the MCU is a currently a pop culture juggernaut, the likes of which we haven’t since the original ‘Star Wars‘ trilogy hit theaters for the first time.
It is a great time to watch the Marvel movies in order now and you can watch them all on Disney Plus in 4K format. You can even plan virtual Marvel movie nights with your friends using Disney+ GroupWatch feature.
(L to R) Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan in ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
During World War II, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is a sickly man from Brooklyn who’s transformed into super-soldier Captain America to aid in the war effort. Rogers must stop the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving) – Adolf Hitler’s ruthless head of weaponry, and the leader of an organization that intends to use a mysterious device of untold powers for world domination.
The story follows Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) as she becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races. Set in the 1990s, Captain Marvel is an all-new adventure from a previously unseen period in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
After being held captive in an Afghan cave, billionaire engineer Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) creates a unique weaponized suit of armor to fight evil.
Scientist Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) scours the planet for an antidote to the unbridled force of rage within him: the Hulk. But when the military masterminds who dream of exploiting his powers force him back to civilization, he finds himself coming face to face with a new, deadly foe.
With the world now aware of his dual life as the armored superhero Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) faces pressure from the government, the press and the public to share his technology with the military. Unwilling to let go of his invention, Stark, with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and James ‘Rhodey’ Rhodes (Don Cheadle) at his side, must forge new alliances – and confront powerful enemies.
Against his father Odin’s (Anthony Hopkins) will, The Mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth) – a powerful but arrogant warrior god – recklessly reignites an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.
When an unexpected enemy emerges and threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins!
When Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.
Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos… but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.
(L to R) Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson in ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
After the cataclysmic events in New York with ‘The Avengers’, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), aka Captain America is living quietly in Washington, D.C. and trying to adjust to the modern world. But when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague comes under attack, Steve becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue that threatens to put the world at risk. Joining forces with the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Captain America struggles to expose the ever-widening conspiracy while fighting off professional assassins sent to silence him at every turn. When the full scope of the villainous plot is revealed, Captain America and the Black Widow enlist the help of a new ally, the Falcon (Anthony Mackie). However, they soon find themselves up against an unexpected and formidable enemy—the Winter Soldier.
Light years from Earth, 26 years after being abducted, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) finds himself the prime target of a manhunt after discovering an orb wanted by Ronan the Accuser.
When Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron (James Spader) emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure.
Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Doctor Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.
Following the events of ‘Age of Ultron’, the collective governments of the world pass an act designed to regulate all superhuman activity. This polarizes opinion amongst the Avengers, causing two factions to side with Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) or Captain America (Chris Evans), which causes an epic battle between former allies.
Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) aka Black Widow confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.
Following the events of ‘Captain America: Civil War’, Peter Parker (Tom Holland), with the help of his mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), tries to balance his life as an ordinary high school student in Queens, New York City, with fighting crime as his superhero alter ego Spider-Man as a new threat, the Vulture (Michael Keaton), emerges.
Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa / Black Panther in 2018’s ‘Black Panther.’
King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) returns home to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country’s new leader. However, T’Challa soon finds that he is challenged for the throne by factions within his own country as well as without. Using powers reserved to Wakandan kings, T’Challa assumes the Black Panther mantle to join with ex-girlfriend Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), the queen-mother, his princess-kid sister, members of the Dora Milaje (the Wakandan ‘special forces’) and an American secret agent, to prevent Wakanda from being dragged into a world war.
After his career is destroyed, a brilliant but arrogant surgeon (Benedict Cumberbatch) gets a new lease on life when a sorcerer takes him under her wing and trains him to defend the world against evil.
Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is imprisoned on the other side of the universe and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok, the destruction of his home-world and the end of Asgardian civilization, at the hands of a powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela (Cate Blanchett).
Just when his time under house arrest is about to end, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) once again puts his freedom at risk to help Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) dive into the quantum realm and try to accomplish, against time and any chance of success, a very dangerous rescue mission.
As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos (Josh Brolin). A despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment – the fate of Earth and existence itself has never been more uncertain.
After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War, the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos (Josh Brolin). With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos’ actions and restore order to the universe once and for all, no matter what consequences may be in store.
Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization and his father, Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung).
Peter Parker (Tom Holland) and his friends go on a summer trip to Europe. However, they will hardly be able to rest – Peter will have to agree to help Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) uncover the mystery of creatures that cause natural disasters and destruction throughout the continent.
Tom Holland in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home.’ Photo: Marvel Studios.
Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life from the high-stakes of being a super-hero. When he asks for help from Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) the stakes become even more dangerous, forcing him to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man. Teaming with other Multiverse Spider-Men (Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield), they must now work together to take out the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina), Electro (Jamie Foxx) and other Spider-Man villains from around the multiverse.
The Eternals are a team of ancient aliens who have been living on Earth in secret for thousands of years. When an unexpected tragedy forces them out of the shadows, they are forced to reunite against mankind’s most ancient enemy, the Deviants.
Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), with the help of mystical allies both old and new, traverses the mind-bending and dangerous alternate realities of the Multiverse to confront a mysterious new adversary.
After his retirement is interrupted by Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), a galactic killer who seeks the extinction of the gods, Thor Odinson (Chris Hemsworth) enlists the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg, and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who now wields Mjolnir as the Mighty Thor. Together they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late.
On a dark and somber night, a secret cabal of monster hunters emerge from the shadows and gather at the foreboding Bloodstone Temple following the death of their leader. In a strange and macabre memorial to the leader’s life, the attendees are thrust into a mysterious and deadly competition for a powerful relic—a hunt that will ultimately bring them face to face with a dangerous monster.
Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s (Chadwick Boseman) death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda.
On a mission to make Christmas unforgettable for Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), the Guardians head to Earth in search of the perfect present. The special follows Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) as they set out to give Quill the best Christmas ever, after discovering that Yondu (Michael Rooker) ruined the holiday for him as a child.
Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), still reeling from the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.
Super-Hero partners Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), along with with Hope’s parents Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) , and Scott’s daughter Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton), find themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought possible and pits them against Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors).
Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), aka Captain Marvel, has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. But unintended consequences see Carol shouldering the burden of a destabilized universe. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, her powers become entangled with that of Jersey City super-fan Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), aka Ms. Marvel, and Carol’s estranged niece, now S.A.B.E.R. astronaut Captain Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris). Together, this unlikely trio must team up and learn to work in concert to save the universe.
After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), Sam (Anthony Mackie) finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.
After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, seven disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.
Against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel’s First Family is forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, while defending Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner).
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’:
In honor of Anderson’s new movie, ‘The Phoenician Scheme‘, which opens in select theaters on May 30th before opening wide on June 6th, Moviefone is counting down every film of Wes Anderson’s impressive career, including his latest.
Four tales unfold in Wes Anderson’s anthology of short films adapted from Roald Dahl‘s beloved stories, “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar”, “The Swan”, “The Rat Catcher”, and “Poison”.
(L to R) Jason Schwartzman, Adrien Brody and Owen Wilson in ‘The Darjeeling Limited’. Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures.
Three American brothers (Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman) who have not spoken to each other in a year set off on a train voyage across India with a plan to find themselves and bond with each other — to become brothers again like they used to be. Their “spiritual quest”, however, veers rapidly off-course (due to events involving over-the-counter pain killers, Indian cough syrup, and pepper spray).
(L to R) Luke Wilson and Owen Wilson in ‘Bottle Rocket’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.
Upon his release from a mental hospital following a nervous breakdown, the directionless Anthony (Luke Wilson) joins his friend Dignan (Owen Wilson), who seems far less sane than the former. Dignan has hatched a hair-brained scheme for an as-yet-unspecified crime spree that somehow involves his former boss, the (supposedly) legendary Mr. Henry (James Caan).
The cast of ‘The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou’. Photo: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.
Renowned oceanographer Steve Zissou (Bill Murray) has sworn vengeance upon the rare shark that devoured a member of his crew. In addition to his regular team, he is joined on his boat by Ned (Owen Wilson), a man who believes Zissou to be his father, and Jane (Cate Blanchett), a journalist pregnant by a married man. They travel the sea, all too often running into pirates and, perhaps more traumatically, various figures from Zissou’s past, including his estranged wife, Eleanor (Anjelica Huston).
(L to R) Jake Ryan, Jason Schwartzman and Tom Hanks in director Wes Anderson’s ‘Asteroid City,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Pop. 87 Productions/Focus Features.
The itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention (organized to bring together students and parents from across the country for fellowship and scholarly competition) is spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events.
A scene from ‘Isle of Dogs’. Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures.
In the future, an outbreak of canine flu leads the mayor of a Japanese city to banish all dogs to an island that’s a garbage dump. The outcasts must soon embark on an epic journey when a 12-year-old boy (Koyu Rankin) arrives on the island to find his beloved pet.
(L to R) Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman in ‘Rushmore’. Photo: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.
When a beautiful first-grade teacher (Olivia Williams) arrives at a prep school, she soon attracts the attention of an ambitious teenager named Max (Jason Schwartzman), who quickly falls in love with her. Max turns to the father (Bill Murray) of two of his schoolmates for advice on how to woo the teacher. However, the situation soon gets complicated when Max’s new friend becomes involved with her, setting the two pals against one another in a war for her attention.
(L to R) Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Bruce Willis and Edward Norton in ‘Moonrise Kingdom’. Photo: Focus Features.
Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of two twelve-year-olds (Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward) who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore – and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in more ways than anyone can handle.
Ralph Fiennes stars in ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’. Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures.
The Grand Budapest Hotel tells of a legendary concierge (Ralph Fiennes) at a famous European hotel between the wars and his friendship with a young employee (Tony Revolori) who becomes his trusted protégé. The story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting, the battle for an enormous family fortune and the slow and then sudden upheavals that transformed Europe during the first half of the 20th century.
George Clooney as Mr. Fox in ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
The Fantastic Mr. Fox (George Clooney) bored with his current life, plans a heist against the three local farmers (Michael Gambon, Robin Hurlstone, and Hugo Guinness). The farmers, tired of sharing their chickens with the sly fox, seek revenge against him and his family.
(L to R) Bencio del Toro and Léa Seydoux in ‘The French Dispatch’. Photo: Searchlight Pictures.
The staff of an American magazine based in France puts out its last issue, with stories featuring an artist sentenced to life imprisonment, student riots, and a kidnapping resolved by a chef.
The cast of ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’. Photo: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.
Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman) and his wife Etheline (Anjelica Huston) had three children (Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Luke Wilson) and then they separated. All three children are extraordinary — all geniuses. Virtually all memory of the brilliance of the young Tenenbaums was subsequently erased by two decades of betrayal, failure, and disaster. Most of this was generally considered to be their father’s fault. “The Royal Tenenbaums” is the story of the family’s sudden, unexpected reunion one recent winter.
Watch ‘Wicked‘ at home this holiday season as the box office hit, which was based on the popular Broadway musical and directed by Jon M. Chu (‘Crazy Rich Asians’), will be available to purchase or rent on Digital beginning December 31st.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Jon M. Chu about his work on ‘Wicked’, the success of the film, casting and working with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-Butera, the importance of Broadway stars Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth appearing in the movie, the decision to turn the musical in to two different films, and the pressure of directing the “Defying Gravity” sequence.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.
(Center L to R) Cynthia Erivo (as Elphaba), Director Jon M. Chu, and Ariana Granda (as Glinda) on the set of ‘Wicked’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Moviefone: To begin with, not only is ‘Wicked’ a box office hit but it’s also become a cultural phenomenon. As a director, what is it like to see your film embraced by audiences?
Jon M. Chu: It’s blowing me away. When you’re directing, you create a shield around yourself. You must encourage everyone around you, but deep down you’re like, it could happen. Who knows? But this is beyond my imagination. There’s a reality that sets in weeks later where you’re like, “Oh wait, people really do like this.” This is just not on my feed that people are singing it, doing the choreography. It’s on ‘Saturday Night Live’. It’s like all these things. It’s a filmmaker’s dream, and I think a storyteller’s dream to witness this. So, I love that they get to own this movie beyond our little baby that now it’s theirs.
(L to R) Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba and Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
MF: Can you talk about casting Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-Butera and what they both bring to these iconic roles?
JMC: Well, we wouldn’t have made the movie if we didn’t find them. I didn’t know who they were going to be. But when Cynthia came in, it was very clear that she had more to give to the world, and the world needed to see more of her than that they had at that moment. Elphaba was the perfect character to do that, that she could really infuse a new light into Elphaba that we had never seen before. It made my job a lot easier to know that every time she sang those words, it just felt like the first time I ever heard it before. For her as a woman of color, I, as a filmmaker of color, to be able to work together and get in there and work from the inside out just gave me so many more roads of where this character could go. You’ll see that more in movie two (‘Wicked: For Good’). For Ariana, it felt like a discovery. It felt like people think they know her, but they have no idea what more she has to offer. It felt like opening a new chapter to her life. She was going through changes in her life, Cynthia was, I was. So, for all of us to join hands and make this movie and in our own little bubble and years later have the audience join us here at summer camp, I guess at Oz, it’s been beautiful to see. I hope that it encourages people also to blossom into their new self as well.
(L to R) Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth attend as Universal Pictures presents the Los Angeles premiere of ‘Wicked’ at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, November 9, 2024. Photo: Nick Agro/ABImages.
MF: Can you talk about the importance of having Broadway stars Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth appear in the film?
JMC: It wasn’t just important; it was like my dream to be able to work with those two ladies. It was imperative. So, they agreed to come in. They were so generous, and so kind. We just had to find the right thing. We didn’t want just a small cameo where they walked them through a door or something. So, Steven Schwartz wrote this part in one short day where they could tell the history of the Grimmerie and of Oz and the Wizard. We have some breadcrumbs of special things that may come later that Elphaba is witnessing for the first time in this show that really helps our story make sense of some of the things that she does later. So, to me, that was the fun part. It felt that it was needed in the story. You get the fun of them, and they get to do their thing. So, it was great. What an honor to have them on set.
(L to R) Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba, Ariana Grande is Glinda and Director Jon M. Chu on the set of ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
MF: Can you talk about making the choice to split the play into two movies?
JMC: There’s a lot in the first act of the show that needed to be unpacked. In fact, it was necessary is what we found once we got into developing the script, that without those pieces, I’m not sure an audience would buy into the dramatic changes that happen emotionally with Elphaba or Galinda. So, the room allowed us to have spaces to fill in for their characters, to develop in a pace that I think movie audiences will accept more. So, it was a hard choice at first, and we constantly kicked the tires on it, but we knew that it would give us the best opportunity to fill out these characters the way that all the fans and non-fans would want when seeing these characters.
Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
MF: Finally, did you feel a lot of pressure directing the ‘Defying Gravity’ sequence?
JMC: It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life to feel that pressure of this song, and that this is the show. You better not mess this up. Then you have Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande singing those words, which change everything. Then you’re like, well, I need to be in a closeup the whole time because I just want to be there watching her. But no, she’s flying, and we can make her fly all around us. And guess what? She’s doing her own stunts. And guess what? She’s singing live. And it’s the end of this movie, so it must feel dramatically, emotionally that it’s closing our movie down. So, all those things together, it just took every crew member, every producer, every actor, to be on the same page of what we were trying to say emotionally with this and everything. We double-checked ourselves, recut, reshot, anything we needed to do to make sure that this was the pinnacle of this movie of ‘Wicked’ itself. To see people react the way they have been, thank God. I can go to sleep now. Just for a little bit, until part two.
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What’s the story of ‘Wicked’?
In the land of Oz, ostracized and misunderstood green-skinned Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is forced to share a room with the popular aristocrat Galinda (Ariana Grande) at Shiz University, and the two’s unlikely friendship is tested as they begin to fulfill their respective destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
Watch ‘Wicked’ at home this holiday season as the movie will be available to purchase or rent on December 31st on Digital.
Exclusive Bonus Features When You Purchase At Participating Retailers:
Sing Along – Alternate Feature-Length Version: Rejoicify, it’s your turn to sing your way through Oz! Sing-along to all of your favorite Wicked songs as you join Elphaba and Glinda on their magical journey.
Deleted And Extended Scenes:
Pfannee & ShenShen Meet Glinda: Reunited at Shiz University, Glinda, Pfannee, and ShenShen recall their past by performing a twirling routine together.
Shiz Gazette Introduces Fiyero: Excitement spreads across Shiz as word gets out that Prince Fiyero is on his way.
Toss Toss: Glinda teaches Elphaba the art of Toss Toss, with mixed results.
Elphaba & Fiyero in the Forest: The relationship between Elphaba and Fiyero takes a turn as they come to care for a lost lion cub.
Elphaba’s Promise: Elphaba makes a pledge to Glinda that they both hope will strengthen their friendship.
Train Platform Farewell: Glinda, Madame Morrible, and Governor Thropp gather to send Elphaba off to Emerald City.
Boq & Elphaba Talk: Elphaba challenges Boq to face the truth about his feelings for Nessa Rose, but she has difficulty doing the same when it comes to Fiyero.
Train Ride to Emerald City: Glinda and Elphaba expand their world by taking a luxurious train ride to Emerald City.
In the Emerald City: The bustling streets of Emerald City take Glinda and Elphaba one step closer to finally meeting the Wizard.
Palace Monkeys Chase: Elphaba and Glinda race through a maddening maze of winged monkeys determined to take them down.
Featurettes:
Making Wicked – Return to Oz for a fantastic behind-the-scenes journey with this expansive look inside the characters, choreography, and creativity that make up the movie’s unforgettable world.
Welcome To Shiz – Unlimited imagination, couture fashion, and spectacular production design come together at Shiz University, providing a place for performers and viewers to be fully immersed in the fantasy. Designed from details in L. Frank Baum’s books, the uniforms, clever contraptions, and circular sets create a sprawling campus where magic feels like an everyday occurrence.
A Wicked Legacy –Take delight in the cast and filmmakers sharing personal memories of their first encounters with the original Broadway production, and how those lasting connections created emotional experiences while making the movie. Also highlighted are the iconic cameos that pay tribute to the cultural phenomenon that became one of the most popular musicals of all time.
The Wonderful Wizard – Follow the yellow brick road to Emerald City for an in-depth look at the infamous Wizard of Oz. Inside the palace’s throne room, the Wizard himself, Jeff Goldblum, pulls back the curtain to peer at his character’s magic and mechanics with senior special effects technician Christopher Clarke, who details how the Wizard’s massive robotic head comes to life.
Commentary:
Feature Commentary with Director Jon M. Chu
Feature Commentary with Stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande
(Left) Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba and Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures. (Right) Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.
Preview:
‘Wicked’ has proved to be a record-breaking opening for a musical.
‘Gladiator II’ was also successful.
The box office total was up compared to last year.
Studios and theater owners had something to be very thankful for this weekend, as both ‘Gladiator II’ and ‘Wicked’ stormed to big wins –– record-breaking success in the musical movie’s case –– at the box office ahead of the holiday.
Universal has, of course blanketed media with ‘Wicked’ promotions and there is enough merchandising out there to fill the courtyard of Shiz university.
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‘Gladiator II,’ meanwhile, saw Paramount rolling out giant ads and, in a move that has clearly paid off, chose to open the historical epic sequel a week earlier in some international markets, getting a jump on the competition.
It might not quite be the same phenomenon as “Barbenheimer” from last year (when ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ opened big together, but whatever portmanteau sticks –– “Glicked,” perhaps, or “Wickiator”? –– it’s still good news.
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How did ‘Wicked’ perform at the box office?
Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Unlike the ‘Gladiator follow-up, ‘Wicked’ launched this week globally as well as domestically, and it has seen solid totals both here and elsewhere.
There were concerns that the fact it’s part one of two might hurt sales but confirming the split between films ahead of time seems to have reassured viewers. It doesn’t hurt that the movie enjoyed positive reviews and was embraced by a large slice of the moviegoing public.
How the story as a whole works remains to be seen –– ‘Part 2′ isn’t due until next November, but based on the reception for the first, the second looks set to be a success too.
The movie musical adapted from the hugely successful stage show earned $114 million in the US, which is the third-biggest movie debut in total this year (behind ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ and ‘Inside Out 2.’) It is also the biggest domestic opening ever for a movie based on a Broadway production, overtaking the likes of ‘The Color Purple.’
Overseas, the response was a little more muted, with $50 million, but that $164.2 million global launch secured the largest opening for a Broadway-based movie, supplanting 2012’s ‘Les Misérables,’ which launched to $103 million.
Ticket sales for ‘Wicked’ rank as the fifth-biggest worldwide debut in history for a musical, ahead of Disney’s 2023 ‘The Little Mermaid’ reimagining ($163.6 million) and behind 2019’s ‘The Lion King’ ($446 million), 2017’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ remake ($358 million), 2019’s ‘Frozen 2’ ($358 million ) and 2019’s ‘Aladdin’ ($213 million).
So while the witches of Oz can’t quite compare to the Mouse House, at least this result might make studios actually put the music of their, er, musicals in trailers going forward (no, we’re not holding our breath either.)
And the movie still has a few key markets left to open, including France, China and Japan.
Universal will need it to stay popular –– the combined two movies come with a $300 million price tag and the company spent untold millions on a worldwide promotional tour with the cast. Still, the blizzard of Oz-related partnership deals will help.
Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.
As with ‘Wicked,’ the new ‘Gladiator’ outing had a solid base from which to build, but also some big sandals to fill.
Ridley Scott’s 2000 original was a big smash, earning nearly half a billion dollars globally (a big figure in 2000 terms) and winning five Oscars, including Best Picture.
A sequel has been in development almost as long as the original has been out, but it has taken years for Scott and a cadre of writers to crack the sequel story.
In the end, they chose to follow Lucius, the young man seen in the first film (played there by Spencer Treat Clark) who is the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen, who returns for the sequel).
(L to R) Connie Nielsen plays Lucilla and Joseph Quinn plays Emperor Geta in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.
The new movie follows a grown Lucius (with rising star Paul Mescal in the role) as he finds himself enslaved by the Roman empire and forced to fight as a gladiator. He’s also drawn into the turbulent politics of Rome via Macrinus, a slave-turned-slave-owning arms dealer, played to scene-stealing effect by Denzel Washington.
‘Gladiator II’ opened to $55.5 million domestically (slightly behind predictions) and added $50.5 million to its overseas total.
As mentioned, it had already launched overseas, and currently stands at $165.5 million from territories outside the US, and $221 million globally.
Which is a fine start for the movie, and Paramount will be hoping it stays strong at the box office. It skews more male and older than ‘Wicked’ or the family-friendlier titles on the way (see below for the heavy hitter headed to screens), but with a $250 million-plus budget (and around $100 million in promotional costs), it’ll be battling its way to profit.
Disney is looking to enter the fray this Thanksgiving week with its latest sequel to a big movie –– ‘Moana 2,’ which the studio birthed from the planned animated series follow-up to the 2016 hit, will be on screens on November 27th, looking to attract the family crowds in search of something for the kids to watch during the hectic holidays.
With Dwayne Johnson and Auli’i Cravalho returning as Maui and Moana, the studio will be hoping for another successful launch, though we’d doubt that it’ll hit the heights of, say, ‘Inside Out 2’ from earlier this year.
Ariana Granda is Glinda in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Other Movies and TV Shows Based on the ‘Wizard of Oz’:
(L to R) Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba and Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Opening in theaters on November 22nd, ‘Wicked’ attempts the ambitious task of bringing the multiple Tony award-winning stage show to screens in two parts (the second will arrive in November next year).
Directed by Jon M. Chu, this musical (yes, it’s definitely a musical despite the trailers and TV spots typically downplaying that concept driven by the fear that audiences don’t always turn out to musical movies given advance notice), hopes to replicate the huge success of the original stage production. But can it?
Ariana Granda is Glinda in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
On the evidence of at least the first part, ‘Wicked’ is shaping up to stand among the better stage-to-screen musical adaptations.
A servant of two masters, ‘Wicked’ has the unenviable challenge of pleasing die-hard fans of the stage version, and to an extent, Gregory Maguire’s book “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” from which both the show and movie(s) derive their story. The movie must also introduce this concept to those who don’t know their Oz from their Elphaba. It manages both tasks adroitly.
Under the guidance of director Jon M. Chu (a man with some serious music bona fides and one other stage-to-film project via ‘In the Heights,’) this is a soaring triumph of a movie, dynamic and clever, and manages to expand on the musical in interesting ways. And though it’s certainly a long one (the first part alone runs to 160 minutes, whereas the stage version as a whole is just 150 minutes), it never feels flabby or a waste of your time.
Script and Direction
(L to R) Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba, Ariana Grande is Glinda and Director Jon M. Chu on the set of ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Winnie Holzman deserves a lot of the credit here, having distilled Maguire’s book down for the stage show and now, alongside fellow screenwriter Dana Fox, added back in more of the novel’s darker tones for the movie.
The stage show can only go so far, aiming as it does to entertain the wide swathe of people who come to see it in theatres (to the tune of $1.7 billion so far), but for the movie Holzman and Fox dig a little deeper into some very topical themes, ones that sadly keep needing to be highlighted across much of human history.
After all, the story of those in charge marginalizing people (or in the movie’s case, animals) to manipulate the general populace through fear is one we’ve heard time and again. And apparently we all do need to learn the lesson of not listening those who tell us not to think, or technologically adept shysters who exploit fear and hatred for personal gain over and over again. ‘Wicked’ says as much today about the current political and moral climate as any movie.
(Center L to R) Cynthia Erivo (as Elphaba), Director Jon M. Chu, and Ariana Granda (as Glinda) on the set of ‘Wicked’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Which is not to say it’s some gloomy polemic. In the hands of the writers and Chu’s direction, the film sparkles with entertainment and invention, driving the great central performances and adding to them with smart set choices and a welcome blend of practicality with digital magic.
This all feels of a piece with both the visual style established by ‘Wicked’ on stage and the original 1939 ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ while expanding and enriching the experience. Creative choreography and canny casting also help matters.
A few quibbles arise later in the film –– while earlier shots are gloriously technicolor, a certain muddiness enters the frame at certain points, and there are some moments that feel like they could better from more polished editing. Yet they don’t hurt the overall impact of the movie.
Performances
The stage show effectively launched (or at least healthily boosted) the careers of Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, and the movie needed two performers who could match their energy. It found them.
Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Erivo, who has stage bona fides herself, here brings nuance and heart to the story of the misunderstood young woman whose green visage is the spur for hatred among her family and mockery from her peers. She plays the role with stillness and simmering emotion when needed, exploding out at the requisite moments.
The first part of the movie is more her coming of age story –– coming of rage, more like, as she peeks behind the false curtain of misinformation being drawn over the land of Oz –– and Erivo is more than up to the task, raising goosebumps with her performance of acclaimed act one showstopper “Defying Gravity.”
Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Grande, whose onscreen career outside of her pop star duties has been limited, truly gets a moment to shine here. She channels Chenowith’s ditzy energy (with sly undertones) but also makes the role her own, a twitchy, cheery bundle of energy and privilege who works so well against Erivo’s more grounded character.
Jeff Goldblum in ‘Wicked’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Goldblum’s own offbeat energy is a great choice for the Wizard, who has his own plans for Oz. He’s charismatic and weird, but also digs deep to find some inner darkness.
Michelle Yeoh is Madame Morrible in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
As Shiz University’s sorcery teacher, Yeoh brings big Hogwarts energy to the role, but also her own imperious style to the role. She may not be up there with the leads in terms of singing, but she really makes Morrible her own.
Supporting Cast
Jonathan Bailey is Fiyero Tigelaar in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
‘Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey makes for a great, charming Fiyero, the prince who catches Glinda’s eye (and Elphaba’s), and he’s got the right tone for the part. Ditto Marissa Bode as Elphaba’s sister, who loves her sibling but also harbors resentment.
Final Thoughts
Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Given the two-part structure, ‘Wicked’ will ultimately be judged on how it sticks the landing after Elphaba takes to the skies at the end of this first offering.
But as a film itself, the first part is an impressive spectacle infusion with emotion and satire and stands out in the pantheon of movies take from stage shows.
‘Wicked’ receives 9 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the story of ‘Wicked’?
Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart.
The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum), their friendship reaches a crossroads, and their lives take very different paths.
Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West…
Jeff Goldblum in 1986’s ‘The Fly’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
Preview:
Nikyatu Jusu is looking to make a new ‘The Fly’ movie.
It’ll be set in the same world as David Cronenberg’s 1986 body horror.
No word yet on casting.
We’re used to legacy sequels and remakes, but the idea of films set within the same storytelling universe is a less common cinematic phenomenon, outside of the sprawling worlds of, say ‘Star Wars’ or comic book movies.
Writer/director Nikyatu Jusu, however, is going to attempt it, at least according to Deadline, as she’s now got a deal with 20th Century Studios and production company Chernin Entertainment to attempt a new movie set in the world of David Cronenberg’s 1986 body horror ‘The Fly.’
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What’s the story of ‘The Fly’?
Jeff Goldblum in 1986’s ‘The Fly’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
Cronenberg’s ‘The Fly’ follows scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum), whose experiments with teleportation take a terrifying turn when his DNA is accidentally fused with a fly’s. His transformation in to the “Brundlefly” is both physical and psychological, and he becomes a monstrous hybrid creature, brought to life by Chris Walas’ practical effects, which scored an Academy Award for Best Makeup.
Walas would go on to direct 1989 sequel ‘The Fly II,’ which didn’t get such a positive response.
And the 1986 take on ‘The Fly’ wasn’t even the first –– it was based on George Langelaan’s 1957 short story, previously adapted as a 1958 film starring Vincent Price.
Yet Cronenberg’s version, co-starring Geena Davis, was released by 20th Century Fox in 1986, grossing over $60 million globally on a relatively modest budget.
What will the story of a new ‘Fly’ film entail?
1986’s ‘The Fly’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
There are no details yet on what Jusu is planning for her movie –– just that it’s not a straightforward remake or sequel.
We have to assume that Jusu will, as with her previous work (see below) put her own stamp on the idea of science gone wrong and terrifying transformations.
Anna Diop in 2022’s ‘Nanny’. Photo: Amazon Studios.
Jusu first broke out with a short film called ‘Suicide by Sunlight,’ which follows Black vampires who can survive in the daytime thanks to the melanin in their skin.
That short premiered in the Midnight section of the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, and caught the attention of Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw company, which has her developing a feature length version for Universal.
She went on to direct psychological horror ‘Nanny,’ about Aisha (Anna Diop), an undocumented Senegalese immigrant working as a nanny for an affluent white couple in New York City, while struggling to save enough money to bring her son from Senegal to America. Michelle Monaghan co-starred in that film, which debuted at Sundance in 2022 and won the Grand Jury Prize in U.S. Dramatic Competition.
MGM is also interested in working with Jusu, acquiring the rights for a ‘Night of the Living Dead’ sequel that she’s attached to direct.
Jeff Goldblum in 1986’s ‘The Fly’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
