As a lifelong fan of musical theater and the Wizard of Oz universe, I am absolutely thrilled about the upcoming release of “Wicked (Part Two)” in 2025! With my years of experience as a musical enthusiast and having seen countless stage productions, I can confidently say that this film is going to be a masterpiece.
Wicked fans won’t have to wait too long to return to the wonderful land of Oz.
Mark my words, next year on November 21, 2025, I’ll be lining up to witness the second installment of Jon M. Chu’s magical screen adaptation of the iconic Broadway musical. It’s been a whole year since we were spellbound by “Wicked”, and now it’s time for more adventures. In “Wicked: Part Two”, Ariana Grande, our beloved Galinda, and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, pick up where they left off in the tale that began with the first movie. Can’t wait to see what happens next!
Opening on November 22 in cinemas, the musical adaptation titled “Wicked” garnered a staggering $114 million at the domestic box office during its debut, marking the highest opening for any musical adaptation to date. Contrary to an unsubstantiated online speculation, both Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, who delivered captivating performances in their leading roles, received equal compensation for their efforts. The movies are inspired by the 2003 stage production of the same name, itself derived from Gregory Maguire’s immensely popular novel.
As a devoted fan, I’d like to share that the captivating movie “Wicked” delves into the unexplored lives of the witches residing in Oz. The script for this cinematic adaptation was penned by Winnie Holzman, who had previously written the stage production’s book, and collaborated with Dana Fox. Stephen Schwartz, a multiple Academy Award-winning composer and lyricist, reworked the musical for the screen. Remarkably, Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who originated the roles of Elphaba and Glinda on Broadway, made surprise appearances during the “One Short Day” sequence.
The musical “Wicked” concluded with a stunning rendition of its most renowned song, “Defying Gravity,” by Erivo. This performance, being the finale of Act 1 in the Broadway show, contributed to director Chu’s plan to split the film into two distinct parts, thereby breaking apart Act 1 and Act 2.
In the movie adaptation by Chu titled “Wicked,” the storyline largely mirrors that of the stage musical, with minimal alterations to the main plot. As for the sequel film, there’s no definitive word yet on how closely it will follow the show’s second act. However, before the first film’s release, Chu gave an exclusive interview to The Hollywood Reporter, offering some insight into his vision for the project.
He explained during the movie-making process, we didn’t want to stray too far from the original show that I adore. So, we began discussing which scenes could be removed to fit the film. Unfortunately, the number of scenes needing removal to tell this story effectively was unrealistic. To keep all the songs, we had to eliminate dancing, but deciding which dances was challenging. It became clear that we needed to make a decision – should we create a three-and-a-half-hour movie with all these cuts, or release it in parts? If we chose the latter, we needed to ensure each part was emotionally satisfying and didn’t feel like an incomplete story. In the end, we decided to split it.
He went on to explain, “We realized that the room was essential because if the story is intended to climax with ‘Defying Gravity,’ then Elphaba’s pivotal moment must be significant. To achieve this, we needed to delve deeper into Elphaba’s past than the show might suggest. This means showing her childhood and building her friendship in a way that feels authentic. In a movie, skepticism can arise quickly due to time constraints, so it’s crucial to have enough time and space to develop belief in their relationship. The narrator character of Galinda serves to tie everything together and set up events for the second movie. With all these elements at play, I believe we struck a harmonious balance.
Chu and his team filmed both movies simultaneously, spanning a period of approximately 160 days. Unfortunately, they had to halt filming 10 days before completion due to the strike, during their ‘Defying Gravity’ and flying sequences, as he shared with THR.
At the start of this year, the team concluded their ten-day filming period for two movies. Since they were filmed simultaneously, the actors in both films are consistent throughout.
In the second half of the musical “Wicked,” the tone shifts from the lively, colorful scenes in Act 1 to a more ominous atmosphere. The song “Defying Gravity” is a pivotal moment where Elphaba’s character undergoes a significant transformation into the Wicked Witch of the West as seen in “The Wizard of Oz.” In this musical adaptation and film, it is revealed that the Wizard and Madame Morrible, portrayed by Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh, label Elphaba as “wicked” because she refused to aid their scheme to strip away the rights of animals in Oz. As the story progresses, Elphaba and Glinda, who had formed an unlikely friendship earlier, part ways. Elphaba decides to defy the Wizard, while Glinda chooses to remain behind.
Here’s how the story then continues in the stage musical — spoiler alert for new moviegoers!
In the second act, events unfold concurrently with those in the original “Wizard of Oz.” Here, Glinda, now formally titled Glinda the Good, along with Jonathan Bailey’s character Fiyero, serving as captain of the wizard’s guard, address the people of Oz as representatives for the Wizard. Madame Morrible, who fabricates the truth about the show’s climax in the first act, declares that Fiyero and Glinda are betrothed to quell a crowd concerned about the Wicked Witch. However, despite his feelings for Elphaba, Fiyero departs due to the cruel remarks of the gathering.
In the movie, Elphaba pays a visit to her sister, Nessarose, who is now the governor of Munchkinland. Actress Marissa Bode plays Nessarose in this production. Desiring Boq, played by Ethan Slater, to remain with her, Nessa has stripped the Munchkins of their right to associate with him. Elphaba employs magic to make a pair of her mother’s jeweled shoes, which then enable Nessarose to walk. However, Boq continues to spurn her advances. A mishap with the spell, which Nessa accuses Elphaba of causing, results in Boq being transformed into the Tin Man.
Again, the Sorcerer proposes a partnership to Elphaba, but she refuses and Fiyero assists her in eluding the Sorcerer, abandoning Glinda in the process. Over time, they acknowledge their affection for each other. Malevolent and the Sorcerer concoct a scheme to endanger Nessarose to catch Elphaba’s attention. This sets into motion Malevolent causing the tornado in Oz that brings Dorothy to Oz and ultimately claims the life of Nessarose, also known as the Wicked Witch of the East.
Glinda and Elphaba reconcile but argue when Glinda gives Nessa’s shoes to Dorothy, a new arrival in Oz. Eventually, they reconcile again as Glinda alerts Elphaba about a plan to harm her through a powerful song called “For Good.” Elphaba appears to be destroyed by a pail of water, her fate unfolding in The Wizard of Oz. Upon learning that Elphaba is his daughter, Glinda expels the Wizard from Oz and has Morrible arrested for attempting to kill Nessarose. Fiyero, who had earlier tried to aid Elphaba and was transformed into a scarecrow, reappears at the scene of her melting, helping her escape through a hidden door. Together, they flee the area.
In the initial portion of the film “Wicked”, Dorothy and her group make a brief appearance, primarily observed from afar, and they even engage in conversation with the Wizard. Unlike in the stage production, the character of the Wizard of Oz is portrayed mostly from behind or as a silhouette.
As we count down to the release of Wicked (Part Two) in theaters on November 21, 2025, THR will share new information and updates about the upcoming film.
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2024-11-28 18:55