The long-awaited film adaptation of the musical “Wicked” was released in theaters on Nov. 22, and audiences worldwide cannot get enough of the new pink and green duo.
Starring the near EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) winner Cynthia Erivo and pop star Ariana Grande, “Wicked” tells the story of two unlikely best friends in the land of Oz. From the beautiful set and costumes to the incredible and live-recorded music by Stephan Schwartz, this is a must-see movie for 2024.
“Wicked” was originally introduced as a book in 1995 entitled “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” by Gregory McGuire. The book was an instant success, with several television and Broadway writers competing for the rights to the story for years. The musical adaptation eventually hit the stage in 2003 and has been running ever since. Today, “Wicked” is one of the most famous musicals of all time, having made $1.2 billion and counting.
The story follows the life of Elphaba, a girl born with green skin who is seen as an outcast by her community and family. She grows up isolated and unappreciated, until she accompanies her sister, Nessa Rose, to her first day at Shiz University. There, the headmistress, Madame Morrible, sees Elphaba’s potential as a sorceress; Much to the horror of the beloved Glinda, Elphaba’s future roommate.
Through songs like “The Wizard and I” and “Popular,” we see these characters brought to life, and it is nearly impossible not to fall in with their energy, wit, and sense of self.
Since the cast of the movie was announced in 2021, critics and fans alike have been anxiously waiting to view the star’s performances, and they did not disappoint. Erivo portrayed Elphaba, a role originated by Idina Menzel.
She was previously best known for her roles in “Harriet” and “The Color Purple,” and now, “Wicked”—quickly joining the ranks as one of her most memorable performances. Her interpretation of Elphaba gives the character a new layer of vulnerability, making the development of her relationships and the strength she finds towards the end of Act 1 all the more powerful. Erivo’s vocals and additional riffs incorporated throughout the film are incredible, especially when accompanied by her flawless blend with Grande portraying Glinda, a role originated by Kristin Chenoweth.
Although Grande is best known for her pop music career and role as Cat Valentine in “Victorious,” fans are recently discovering her long-time love of theater. Grande started on Broadway in the cast of “13: The Musical,” and has performed several songs from “Wicked” throughout her career. She even posted a tweet over a decade ago stating that Glinda was her “#DreamRole.”
Her performance in the new film is incredible; From her comedic improvisations to her chemistry with co-star Jonathan Bailey, who portrays Fiyero and is best known for his roles in “Bridgerton” and “Fellow Travelers,” but Grande steals the show. She embraces Glinda’s bubbly energy, finding the perfect balance of narcissism and endearing nature that makes the character so iconic. Audiences also get to see a new, more theatrical tone in Grande’s vocals that is refreshing and shows audiences the true range of her talent.
Beyond the talented cast, the film adaptation of “Wicked” has introduced several new and expanded scenes that were not previously explored in the musical. Quick moments in the show that may have originally occurred in the background of an iconic dance break, have now been developed by director Jon M. Chu into complete individual scenes, which explains how only Act 1 of the musical became a three-hour movie. Famous scenes like Elphaba and Fiyero’s interaction in the woods, or Elphaba and Glinda’s dance in the Ozdust Ballroom, were loved by audiences for their new approach while still staying true to the story.
“Wicked: Part 1” also incorporated additional backstory on the history of Oz. With a special cameo appearance during “One Short Day” from the original stars, Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, lifelong fans and new viewers alike discovered the origin of the Land of Oz and the dangers of the Grimmerie spellbook.
This raised the stakes even higher for the end of Act 1 and took advantage of an amazing opportunity to feature Menzel and Chenoweth. Chu’s creative choices and innovations of Elphaba and Glinda’s story allowed the audience to see more of the beloved characters and opened up the film to a larger audience besides only those who were already familiar with the musical.
Part two of the film will be released on Nov. 21, 2025, including fan-favorite songs such as “As Long As You’re Mine” and “For Good,” along with new songs written by Schwartz, the original writer. Audiences cannot wait to see the overlap between the “Wicked” and “The Wizard of Oz” storylines in Act 2, as well as the development of Elphaba’s new title, the love triangle, and more. This was an incredible film that truly brought the magic of “Wicked” to life.