We all know and love the Wizard of Oz. With iconic lines and catchy songs, the movie about a girl named Dorthy has been the staple for several movie parodies and sitcom skits through the 20th and 21st century.
And we all know the antagonist of the story, the wicked witch of the west. Green, mean, and recognizable by her evil laugh, the wicked witch is easily one of cinema’s most known villains.
Well, every villain needs an origin story and the broadway spectacular Wicked is just that. Very loosely based on the book written by Gregory Maguire, Wicked is a prequel to ‘The Wizard of Oz’, told through the perspective of two witches, Elphaba and Galinda, before and after Dorothy’s arrival in Oz.
The story explores the complex friendship between Elphaba (who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West) and Galinda (who becomes Glinda the Good Witch). Full of unexpected love, gut wrenching betrayal, and the tender bonds of found sisterhood, Wicked is well deserving of the 21 years and counting that it has thrived on the Broadway stage.
Talking to Wicked superfan, Senior, Oliva Sharma during an interview, she said this, “I may be the biggest fan of this musical ever. I have seen the first Broadway show, so my opinion is that Elphaba and Glinda are some of the most powerful females ever written. In terms of vocals, characterization, and role they play in the story, they offer a complex and nuanced view of what it means to be truly “good”.”
And just like Chicago in 2002, Rent in ‘05, or the even more recent West Side Story in 2021, the beloved story of the iconic wicked witch of the west finally hit the theaters last Friday after its long awaited arrival. Fans of the Broadway show lined up at the ticket booth, eager to watch the adaptation of the musical they love so much.
“One incredible thing about a movie adaptation, is that it makes the story accessible to a much larger population. You won’t need to go to New York and buy an expensive ticket in order to see it anymore. So I am excited for it.” Sharma said.
Though, much to the dismay of movie watchers or the joy of hard core musical lovers, to save the musical from feeling too rushed or having to stifle the character’s growth, the director and his creative team have decided to cut the movie into two parts.
The first half came out last Friday and the second half will be coming out November 21, 2025, bumped up from its original date November 24. The movie will end similarly to an actual Broadway performance’s Act 1, with a stunning showstopper that will no doubt be running through the audience’s head for a while.
Talking to Oliva Sharma, this is what she said about the movie cuts, “I’m so glad the movie was cut into two. I think it’s a sign that the movie is really trying to stay true to the musical. This plot is incredibly complicated and the characters change and develop in very complex ways throughout the story.”
With stars like Ariana Grande ( playing Glinda), Cythia Erythio (playing Elphaba), Jonathan Bailey (playing Fiyero), and many more talented actors this movie is setting up to look like a cinematic success.
Though only a full week into its theater debut, Wicked has already gotten opinionated reviews from critics.
Robbie Collin, a film critic for The Telegraph, was less than happy about the turnout of the musical. Calling it “utterly exhausting and hopelessly miscast” when talking about Erythio’s Elpaba and Grande’s Glinda. Saying they had the singing chops needed for the roles but were not emotionally equipped to deliver the acting needed for the characters to come to life.
On the other hand, Erik Kain from Forbes, along with several other newspapers, was thrilled about the musical adaptation. He said that “everything about Wicked is a triumph of cinema, from its faithfulness to the musical to its gorgeous and creative sets, costumes and special effects.” Kain seemed exhilarated about the movie’s attention to detail and duty to stick to the original script.
Needless to say that while reviews from critics can easily sway one’s views of a movie, you’ll never know you like it until you go and see it for yourself.
Wicked is filled with wonderfully bright scenery and stunning music composed by Stephen Schwartz. It would be a shame to miss this one of a kind movie musical.
Now go off to see the movie, the wonderful movie of Oz.