There’s no denying the chokehold John M. Chu’s film adaption of Wicked has on pop culture at the moment. From its impact on Ariana Grande’s (love) life to Cynthia Erivo popping off on Twitter about fanmade poster art, press tour shenanigans and the intense hype from OG Wicked: The Musical fans, there’s no avoiding the Wicked wave.
But, let’s be real. Wicked’s cultural impact beyond the U.S. isn’t as strong as social media would lead you to believe. Not all of us Singaporeans are dialled in on Wicked lore, do we nor have a clear idea of what to really expect going into the cinema.
If you’re going to catch the Wicked film out of FOMO, here’s a quick cheat sheet on all the intel to get you locked in.
Just like how the iconic The Wizard Of Oz film is adapted from the Frank L. Baum book series, Wicked is similarly an adaption of a novel. This time, it’s Gregory Maguire’s 1995 tome, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.
Gregory’s novel is the spiritual prequel to The Wizard Of Oz. It follows the relationship between Elphaba, who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda before she is dubbed the Good Witch.
From the original Broadway run of Wicked, starring Idinia Menzel and Kristin Chenowith.
In 2003, the musical made its Broadway debut and quickly became one of the most popular and celebrated musicals ever. The 2024 film extends this legacy to a wider audience. As with all adaptations, the movie deviates from both the book and the musical in select ways. No spoilers though.
The first part of Wicked is, to some degree, a coming-of-age drama. A large part of the first act of the musical takes place at Shiz University, where Elphaba and Glinda meet. Elphaba, in all her green-skinned glory, is a social outcast, while blonde and beautiful Glinda is the school’s queen bee. In spite of these social differences, the two forge an unlikely friendship.
During her time at the university, Elphaba’s magical talents catch the attention of the Wizard of Oz. He invites her to the Emerald City, where he reveals a grand plan for the future of Oz, and wants Elphaba to play a part in bettering the whole land.
Like our modern-day political climate, these grand plans are thin veils for the fact that the Wizard is actually a corrupt and oppresive leader. When Elphaba finds out the truth, the Wizard runs a smear campaign against her name, branding her as evil.
The second part of Wicked parallels the events of The Wizard of Oz. Instead of Elphaba being portrayed as The Big Bad, Wicked reimagines her as a much-reviled outcast. As she tries to right the wrongs in Oz, Elphaba subsequently loses her friendship with Glinda because the latter believes in the Wizard as a force for good.
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While the label “part 1” has been missing from the Wicked film’s promos, it has been confirmed that there will be 2 movies. The now-released Wicked movie focuses on the first act of the musical, culminating in Elphaba’s visit to Oz. The second part, which is slated for a fall 2025 release date, will zone in on the musical’s second act.
Wondering who the main characters and actors are in the Wicked film are? Here’s the TL;DR on the star-studded cast.
The lead, Elphaba, is played by Cynthia Erivo, a British Tony award-winning actress. She goes toe-to-toe with Grammy award-winning pop star and Broadway veteran Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda. Glinda has long been Ariana’s dream role to play, and the announcement that she bagged the role went viral because it was extremely emotional.
Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, and Marissa Bode
Bridgerton heartthrob Jonathan Bailey plates Fiyero, a prince and Elphaba’s romantic interest. To parallel that, there’s Boq, a Shiz University student who desperately wants Glinda’s affections. Boq is played by Ethan Slater, who is known for playing the musical version of Spongebob Squarepants. IYKYK.
Jeff Goldblum plays The Wizard, while Michelle Yeoh plays Madam Morrible, a dean at the University. FYI: Michelle did her own singing and dancing.
Rounding off the who’s who is Peter Dinklage, of Game of Thrones fame, who plays Doctor Dillamond, a goat professor, and Marissa Bode, who plays Elphaba’s sister, Nessarose. Marissa is the first wheelchair user to play Nessarose—a big inclusive W for the film overall.
Wicked’s director is also the man behind some notable cinematic and pop culture hits over the past few decades. John seems familiar with reworking intellectual property (IP) into films—after all, he’s the man behind Crazy Rich Asians, Step Up 2, and Step Up 3D.
Fun fact: he also directed two Justin Bieber documentaries.
If you’re planning to catch Wicked in theatres, we hope this little primer helps you immerse yourself in the film’s reimagined Oz.
FYI: the musical is slated to return to Singapore in March 2025, following former theatrical runs in 2011 and 2016. Mark those dates if you want to catch the original live.
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