“As a longtime fan of the Broadway musical ‘Wicked,’ I was hesitant about whether the movie adaptation would do the musical justice. However, the film completely exceeded my expectations. It was everything I imagined and more,” said junior Nora Davis.
“Wicked,” the original Broadway production, opened in 2003 and was developed from Gregory Maguire’s book “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.” The film “Wicked,” inspired by the Broadway prequel to the novel “The Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum, premiered in theatres on Nov. 22.
AP News, Giles Keyte
Ariana Grande as Galinda, and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba pictured in a scene from Wicked.
According to USA Today, the film grossed $114 million in the U.S. and Canada and another $50.2 million internationally, bringing the global total to $164.2 million as of Nov. 22.
The film achieved another milestone with a record-breaking $46 million in box office earnings on its opening day.
Deseret News spoke with the film’s director, Jon M. Chu, about what the film adaptation of “Wicked” offers audiences that the Broadway production does not. Chu described how audiences are the closest they have ever been, allowing for the stories’ nuances on relationships and good versus evil to be on full display.
Pop star Ariana Grande and British actress-singer Cynthia Erivo star in the lead roles. Erivo as Elphaba, the misunderstood, green-skinned student of magic who later becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, and Grande as Galinda, the Good Witch of the South.
The film depicts the relationship between Elphaba and Galinda before they gained their reputations as “Wicked” and “Good.” They are roommates at Shiz University in the land of Oz.
“I must admit I was hesitant when I heard Ariana Grande was cast as Galinda. My initial thought was that she landed the role because of her fame. I could not be more wrong. Her live vocals were truly incredible. She was quite literally the perfect fit,” said junior Lily Carlino.
Chu, in an interview with Vanity Fair back in March, shared that during the shooting of the film, Grande and Erivo decided to ditch the pre-recorded sing- along tracks and sing live.
“We chose to sing live because it meant that we would be further connected to the words we were saying, and to each other,” said Erivo, in a behind-the-scenes video posted on the film’s official YouTube page. “There’s something special about what happens when music is live in a room. It feels really powerful.”
Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, the original Elphaba and Galinda in the Broadway production, made a cameo appearance toward the film’s end. They joined Grande and Erivo to sing “One Short Day,” an upbeat song about all that can be explored in Emerald City in one short day.
“I had no idea two of my favorite Broadway stars were going to make an appearance in the film. The way all four of their voices melted into one literally gave me the chills. It was such a fun surprise,” said junior Maggie Powers.
The film concludes with “Defying Gravity,” one of the musical’s most iconic ballads, marking the conclusion of Act 1.
In April 2022, Chu announced in a social media statement that the story of “Wicked” would be told by not one, but two films split at the point of the intermission of the musical. The second part of “Wicked” is scheduled for release in November 2025 and will cover the second act of the musical.
“The one downside to how much I enjoyed the film is the fact that I now have to wait another year for the rest of it,” said Carlino. “But I am certain it is going to be well worth the wait!”
