Why ‘Wicked’ Was Disney’s Inspiration for Years

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  • 2013: ‘Oz the Great and Powerful’ and ‘Frozen’
  • 2014: ‘Once Upon a Time,’ ‘Maleficent,’ and ‘Into the Woods’
  • Disney’s Long History with ‘The Wizard of Oz’
  • Disney Moved on from ‘Wicked,’ While Universal’s Adaptation Finally Took Flight

In conclusion, Disney’s attempts to replicate the success of Wicked with Maleficent and Into the Woods, as well as other films like Oz the Great and Powerful, were met with varying levels of success. However, these endeavors seeing the release of Star Wars: Civil War, Finding Dory, Jungle Book, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The studio’s investments in Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Animation, which paid off over time, becoming the most successful film franchise of all time.

After 21 years since the Broadway debut and nearly 30 years following Gregory Maguire’s novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West”, the musical is finally making its way to the big screen. It has been a bumpy ride with multiple hold-ups and different creative teams attempting to bring the story to life on-screen. Directed by Jon M. Chu, the upcoming film features Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, with Universal Pictures set to release it. For years, Universal Pictures has held the rights for this property, but their efforts to adapt the book into a movie eventually led to the Broadway musical’s success. However, another studio seems to have capitalized on Universal’s unsuccessful attempts at making “Wicked” into a film: Disney.

For quite some time, Disney has been entwined intricately with the world of “The Wizard of Oz” franchise, albeit in a roundabout way. Initially, acquiring the rights to “Wicked” seemed like a pipe dream, as Universal Pictures appeared unwilling to part ways with them. However, Disney showed remarkable ingenuity by creating their unique take on the “Wicked” concept. Between 2013 and 2014, Disney unveiled five captivating projects that aimed to encapsulate the enchantment of “Wicked”: “Oz the Great and Powerful”, “Frozen”, “Once Upon a Time” Season 3, “Maleficent”, and “Into the Woods”. Notably, these projects were conceived and released around the same time as Universal Pictures was gearing up for their own film adaptation of “Wicked”, initially planned for a 2016 release. This two-year spell at Disney, inspired by “Wicked”, left an indelible mark on many paths within the company that continue to unfold in 2024.

2013: ‘Oz the Great and Powerful’ and ‘Frozen’

In a twist to retell the tale of “The Wizard of Oz,” Disney’s film Oz the Great and Powerful aimed to offer its own interpretation influenced by the story of “Wicked.” Unlike focusing on the Wicked Witch, this movie is a prequel that shows how the Wizard (James Franco) came to be in Oz, later assuming his powerful persona. The story also delves into the transformation of Theodora (Mila Kunis), a kind woman, into the infamous villain, the Wicked Witch of the West. Directed by Sam Raimi and boasting an impressive cast that included Rachel Weisz as the Wicked Witch of the East and Michelle Williams as Glinda the Good Witch, Oz the Great and Powerful premiered in theaters on March 8, 2013.

The film garnered both positive and negative feedback from reviewers, earning $234 million in the U.S. and $493 million globally, with a production cost of $215 million. A sequel was initially proposed, but ultimately shelved. Fortunately, Disney had another surprise hit waiting in the wings later that year – none other than Frozen.

In a twist reminiscent of the Hans Christian Andersen tale “The Snow Queen,” the movie Frozen underwent numerous transformations during its production, finally finding success when Elsa, the Snow Queen, was changed from a conventional antagonist into a sensitive and relatable character, much like the Wicked Witch of the West in Wicked. This pivotal shift coincided with the creation of Frozen‘s memorable song “Let it Go.” When Idina Menzel, a star from Wicked, was cast as Elsa, the similarities between “Let it Go” and “Defying Gravity,” both potent anthems about characters embracing powers viewed by others as a curse but redefining them as a source of strength, became evident.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but marvel at the phenomenal success of “Frozen.” This enchanting film raked in an astounding $400 million within the U.S. and a staggering $1.2 billion globally. Before its sequel outshone it in 2019, “Frozen” held the title as the highest-grossing animated film in Walt Disney Animation history.

The song “Let It Go” from Frozen, performed by Idina Menzel, was more popular than “Defying Gravity,” and the relationship between Elsa and Anna mirrored that of Elphaba and Glinda in Wicked. This led some to believe that Disney successfully recreated the magic of Wicked with their original property, Disney seemed to capture the essence of Wicked. Interestingly, the composers for Frozen’s songs were also responsible for Avenue Q’s music, which famously beat Wicked at the 2004 Tony Awards. With Frozen, Disney combined the talents from both shows, creating a massive success. However, Disney continued to challenge Universal’s upcoming Wicked film in 2014 with three attempts at capitalizing on the popularity of musicals.

2014: ‘Once Upon a Time,’ ‘Maleficent,’ and ‘Into the Woods’

2014 saw Disney showing a strong interest in the idea behind “Wicked,” as evidenced by three unique projects that appeared to draw inspiration from the well-known narrative. The second half of Season 3 in “Once Upon a Time” focused on “The Wizard of Oz,” with the Wicked Witch of the West serving as the season’s main adversary. Similarly, “Maleficent” delved into the backstory of the villain from “Sleeping Beauty,” much like how “Wicked” did for the Wicked Witch of the West. Lastly, “Into the Woods” marked Disney’s effort to bring a popular musical inspired by fairy tales to the big screen.

In 2011, the series “Once Upon a Time” made its debut. This show’s unique premise was to explore how classic fairy tale characters, such as those from Disney lore, were portrayed in an interconnected universe. The series delved into their original fairy tale settings while also depicting them in the real world. In the first two seasons, characters like Snow White, Pinocchio, and Sleeping Beauty were featured. Additionally, it explored travel between different realms, such as Wonderland and Neverland. As the show progressed, it focused on one of the most well-known stories: Oz. The second half of “Once Upon a Time” Season 3, which premiered in March 2014, was heavily influenced by “The Wizard of Oz,” with the primary villain being the Wicked Witch of the West, portrayed by Rebecca Madler.

Similar to the musical “Wicked”, the series “Once Upon a Time” delved into the backstory of the Wicked Witch, revealing her name as Zelena and her unique family ties. She is portrayed as Cora/The Queen of Hearts’ firstborn daughter from “Alice in Wonderland” and the half-sister of Regina/The Evil Queen from “Snow White”. Zelena continued to be a significant character throughout the show, and the timing for an “Oz: The Wizard of Oz” themed season was strategic. This season aired one year after the release of “Oz: The Great Powerful”, four months after “Frozen”, and ended merely 19 days before the premiere of another Disney project inspired by “Wicked”, namely, “Maleficent”.

As a proponent, I’d express it this way: It’s quite fascinating to consider Disney Animation’s decision to explore Maleficent, their most memorable villain from Sleeping Beauty, from her perspective. This approach mirrors the essence of the ‘Wicked’ formula, as it delves into the untold story of a character often perceived as evil, humanizing them instead. The genesis of this innovative idea can be traced back to 2003, coincidentally the year ‘Wicked’ first graced Broadway stages. Even Don Hahn, the film producer, acknowledged this similarity when he stated, “We envisioned a ‘Wicked-like’ take on Maleficent, revealing her past. That was just the initial spark of an idea, and it lingered in animation for a while. We worked on some development and sketches, but then it swiftly transitioned to live-action, where it remained.

Robert Stromberg, who directed Maleficent, was previously a production designer for Oz the Great and Powerful. The similarities between Maleficent and Wicked were recognized by both fans and critics, yet this didn’t prevent the film from achieving great success. With $241 million in domestic earnings and $758 million worldwide, Maleficent surpassed Oz: The Great and Powerful in terms of box office performance, suggesting that Disney didn’t necessarily require the Wizard of Oz intellectual property but instead used Wicked as a blueprint for their productions, as evidenced by its success along with Frozen.

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I was disappointed when Disney didn’t secure the rights for the captivating tale of Wicked. However, in December 2014, Disney took a different approach and breathed new life into a timeless musical, reimagining beloved literary characters through their adaptation of Into the Woods. Originally premiered in San Diego in 1986, this masterpiece was brought to us by the legendary Stephen Sondheim, who penned the music and lyrics, and James Lapine, who wrote the book. The enchanting story weaves together various Grimm fairy tales such as “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” and two that Disney had previously transformed into films – “Cinderella” and “Rapunzel.

Following a couple of years where Disney capitalized on the success of the musical “Into the Woods,” starting development in 2012, it appeared as though they had moved away from the project as they focused their attention elsewhere. However, these past two years were just another chapter in Disney’s ongoing, intricate relationship with “The Wizard of Oz,” a saga that extends beyond “Wicked.

Disney’s Long History with ‘The Wizard of Oz’

It’s intriguing to observe how Disney’s efforts to replicate the success of Wicked are intertwined with their past connections to The Wizard of Oz and their endeavors to prolong copyright laws. Initially, Walt Disney sought the rights for The Wizard of Oz following the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, but MGM had already claimed them. Interestingly, the success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves encouraged MGM to greenlight and expedite The Wizard of Oz. In 1954, Disney obtained the rights to eleven Wizard of Oz novels with intentions to adapt them for television. However, this project never came to fruition, and after Walt Disney’s demise, the studio held onto the rights for another two decades before producing Return to Oz, launching its production merely three years prior to their option on the Oz book rights expiring.

In retrospect, my encounter with “Return to Oz” didn’t exactly light up the box office. Critics at the time found it too grim compared to the original, a stark contrast that left many feeling underwhelmed. However, as years passed, this film developed a devoted following, much like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Unfortunately, after its release, Disney decided to relinquish their claim on the film rights, paving the way for “The Wizard of Oz” books to enter the public domain. Apart from the 2005 television film “The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz,” Disney had not ventured into the realm of “The Wizard of Oz” brand until “Oz the Great and Powerful.

Even though Disney held the rights to The Wizard of Oz books during the production of Return to Oz, elements that are typically associated with the franchise came from the 1939 movie, which was owned by MGM. Specifically, the famous ruby slippers and the unique green shade of the Wicked Witch belong to MGM. Disney paid a large sum to use the ruby slippers in Return to Oz, boosting its budget. Although it appeared to be a prequel to the 1939 film, Oz the Great and Powerful was not permitted to claim that title or utilize any characters’ likenesses from the original. To avoid copyright infringement, they hired a lawyer to help develop their own shade of green for the Wicked Witch of the West.

It’s possible that the books based on The Wizard of Oz have entered the public domain due to certain copyright laws. Warner Bros., who obtained the rights to the Wizard of Oz movie as part of their purchase of MGM Library in 1985, has managed to keep recognizable symbols from the film under trademark. This is partially due to extensions in copyright law, which, to a significant extent, were pushed for by Disney as a corporation, enabling them to preserve control over characters like Mickey Mouse.

Disney Moved on from ‘Wicked,’ While Universal’s Adaptation Finally Took Flight

After a two-year stretch where Disney was actively pursuing its own version of Wicked, the trend seems to have waned. One explanation for this is that Disney started prioritizing other properties they had recently acquired. In 2009, Disney bought Marvel Comics and, consequently, Marvel Studios. By 2012, Marvel Studios had released The Avengers, which earned $1 billion at the global box office, making it one of the most successful films ever. Since then, Disney has heavily invested in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a decision that has proven profitable as it has become the highest-grossing film franchise in history.

2012 saw Disney taking over Lucasfilm, promptly focusing on producing new Star Wars and Marvel films. These two franchises became major focal points for Disney, dominating their production schedule. In 2015, a year after Maleficent and Into the Woods, Disney released Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man, and The Force Awakens, followed by Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange, and Rogue One in the subsequent year. Disney’s IP proved immensely profitable, as they managed to set new records with these franchises. The desire to emulate Wicked was no longer a priority, as everyone seemed eager to imitate the success of Disney instead.

Speaking as a dedicated fan, I must admit that while “Maleficent” was indeed inspired by the beloved “Wicked” formula, it was also part of Disney’s innovative wave in the late 2000s and early 2010s to breathe new life into their cherished animated tales through live-action adaptations. This movement began with the release of “Alice in Wonderland” in 2010. Although Disney lacks the rights to the iconic “The Wizard of Oz” or the successful musical “Wicked”, they didn’t need them as they had a treasure trove of timeless classic musicals from their own vaults to reimagine and share with us once more.

The reimagined versions of “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” and “The Lion King” earned a collective $1 billion at the global box office, indicating that Disney has an uncanny ability to appeal to musical enthusiasts while also leveraging its powerful, recognizable brand imagery in grand-scale productions. The impact of “Wicked” remains evident, as demonstrated by 2021’s “Cruella,” which, like the preceding films “Maleficent” and “Wicked,” delved into the backstory of a villain, offering a fresh perspective on stories that audiences thought they were familiar with.

As a movie enthusiast, I must say that Disney managed to outpace Universal Pictures in bringing “Wicked” to the silver screen. Initially, Universal had planned to release the film by 2016, but unfortunately, they missed their mark. In the interim, Disney produced several movies and a TV season reminiscent of “Wicked,” effectively stealing the limelight before the real deal hit theaters.

Initially scheduled for December 2021, the release of Wicked was postponed again due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Wicked – Part One is now anticipated to premiere in theaters on November 22, 2024, marking a delay of eight years from its original intended release and approaching a decade since Disney began working diligently to bring Wicked to the big screen. This period proved quite intriguing for the studio’s history.

Although Oz the Great and Powerful has largely been overshadowed, Frozen emerged as one of Disney’s most acclaimed films in recent times, marking a new era for Walt Disney Animation. Indeed, Disney’s ventures into Walt Disney Animation, Lucasfilm, Pixar, Marvel Studios, and now 20th Century Fox have proven to be profitable decisions. For instance, the upcoming Disney Animation film, Moana 2, is posing a significant challenge to Wicked that has led the musical to move up its release date to steer clear of direct competition. Similarly, Inside Out 2 from Pixar Animation and Deadpool & Wolverine from Marvel Studios are leading the pack as the highest-grossing movies of the year so far. While Elphaba may be able to defy gravity, she might struggle to outdo Disney at the box office.

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2024-11-23 05:02