‘Wicked’ Review: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande Make a Strong Case for Hiring Legit Musical Theater Talents in Captivating Screen Adaptation
Among the iconic tunes from the musical “Wicked” is the song titled “Popular”. However, this title might be considered a modest description for the 2003 stage production that has been watched by over 65 million people. The show’s themes of female camaraderie, self-empowerment, and discrimination evidently resonated strongly with audiences, resulting in approximately $1.7 billion in Broadway earnings and around $6 billion globally. Producers have been cautious about adapting this lucrative property for the big screen, but their patience has proven to be rewarding, as evidenced by Jon M. Chu’s visually stunning movie adaptation. This film not only expands upon the original material but also pays tribute to the era of Technicolor MGM musicals, with “The Wizard of Oz” being a notable example among them.