The Tony Award-winning musical Wicked is finally a motion picture and fans are flying into theaters to see it in early screenings. The good news is that longtime enthusiasts won’t be disappointed with what the cinematic version does with its source material, and newcomers will discover something magical onscreen.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was written by L. Frank Baum in 1900 and was famously adapted for the screen by MGM in 1939. That film version inspired author Gregory Maguire to write a book in 1995 titled Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. It was the first in The Wicked Years series and explored Baum’s characters in refreshing new ways through a very dark, modern lens. You can bet your bottom dollar that there will be more spinoffs if Wicked proves to be a blockbuster.
The first installment of Wicked is labeled “Part One” and adapts the stage show’s first act for its two-and-a-half-hour running time. Part Two is slated for release in November, 2025.
The overture begins and we are not in Kansas anymore, with the story immediately dropping us in Oz. Flashbacks bring this tale to life, as Galinda Upland (Ariana Grande) reminisces about her time with Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo).
It’s not easy being green for Thropp, who is bullied from birth for her olive green complexion, and she eventually leaves home to attend Shiz University. Her hostile environment continues in this new setting, even as she learns to harness her growing powers of sorcery. This leads Thropp to a new adventure with Upland to visit a figurehead of Oz in Emerald City. Things quickly go off the rails during the meeting.
Erivo portrays the Wicked Witch of the West as a multifaceted green-skinned human being who loves animals and simply wants to be loved.
Along comes Grande as the eventual Glinda the Good Witch to throw a monkey wrench into Elphaba’s school life. Grande knows the pitfalls of copying Kristin Chenoweth’s interpretation of Galinda and makes it her own, with sprinkles of Chenoweth on top to pay homage. Her operatic high voice and Erivo’s smooth lower range hit all the right notes in both new and old tunes.
There are several queer characters within Wicked’s movie version and scene-stealing Bowen Yang eats up every moment of Pfannee of Phan Hall. Out costume designer Paul Tazewell reinterprets the original frocks to new levels, and just the shoes may leave some gays gasping for air.
There is very little rain in this masterful creation that’s full of rainbows. Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard both struggle with their individual songs, but the film version reflects the stunt casting often used in the theatrical touring versions.
Director Jon M. Chu and crew have assembled one of the best feature films of 2024, and this is a strong contender for best musical ever transferred to the silver screen. It’s gonna be “Popular” especially in places like Chicago, where Wicked had a long run on the stage.
Wicked will not only defy expectations but surpass them thanks to the people involved with this massive movie project. Audiences have a long way to go while waiting for the second act to arrive next year, but until then, follow the Yellow Brick Road to Wicked’s first part, releasing in theaters on Nov. 22.