The world of storytelling has long captivated audiences, but few tales have been reimagined as powerfully or as often as the story of Oz. Wicked originates from Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, which itself was a retelling of L. Frank Baum’s original 1900 children’s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its iconic 1939 Hollywood adaptation. Maguire’s novel took the world of Oz and created a complex prequel that explored the contrasting lives of the two witches, Glinda and Elphaba.
This was then adapted into a Broadway musical, directed by Winnie Holzman and Stephen Schwartz, which premiered in 2003. The stage production instantly became a global phenomenon, running for over two decades and becoming the second highest-grossing Broadway production of all time, earning a whopping $1.6 billion. The story has now come full circle by hitting screens as a major motion picture. And we’re happy to say that Jon. M. Chu’s film adaptation of the play easily measures up to Wicked’s legacy.
The film tells the story of two young women: Elphaba, a misunderstood green-skinned witch who later becomes the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the charming and popular girl who would be celebrated as Glinda the Good. At first, upon arrival at Shiz University, Elphaba and Glinda have their difference but as the film progresses, they realize that opposites may attract.
Beyond the plot, the visual storytelling of Wicked captivates audiences with its stunning set and costume design. The vibrant, technicolor adaptations of the set bring the world of Oz to life in a way that feels entirely new and enchanting.
Similarly, costume design was led by Oscar and Tony-winning costume designer Paul Tazewell, who spun his magic on characters including Ariana Grande’s Glinda and Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba. With over three decades of experience designing costumes for Broadway, film, and television, Tazewell’s creations debuted in the first part of this two-part film in November 2024 and will return for the second installment in 2025. When asked about his role in the new film in an interview with Teen Vogue, he replied, “I love fantasy work as a designer. I also love period work. And this ends up being a combination of both.”
Tazewell crafted the wardrobes of both Elphaba and Glinda using the incorporation of modern designs and pieces from the original 1939 film. His approach to Elphaba was deeply rooted in her connection to nature, which played a key role in understanding her character. Tazewell chose black as Elphaba’s defining color, to symbolize her personality and journey throughout the story. On the contrary, Tazewell was inspired by the iconic Bubble Dress worn by Billie Burke in the original film for Glinda. Tazewell and his team of artists crafted a more modern version, with layers of silk organza. The process of crafting Glinda’s clothing was complex, but the end result allowed Grande to float effortlessly in the gown.
Music was written by fabled composer Stephen Schwartz, who once again blended elements from The Wizard of Oz and Gregory McQuire’s Wicked novel, into the film. The film has several iconic songs which have become synonymous with Wicked. “What Is This Feeling?,” “Popular,” and “Defying Gravity” are just a few of the standout songs that bring the world of Wicked to life. Each song plays a vital role in driving the plot or highlighting various aspects of the character’s relationships, therefore making them essential to the thematic art of Wicked.
What ties the adaptation together, however, is the casting. Cynthia Erivo’s portrayal of Elphaba is powerful, poignant, and expresses the complexities of her character. Similarly, Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda, brings her own unique touch to the role. While primarily known for her pop music career, Grande proved herself to be a surprisingly adept and charming actress. Her portrayal of Glinda also captures Glinda’s distinctive journey: from a more superficial and popularity-obsessed young woman to an empathetic and emotionally intelligent character. Most importantly, however, the chemistry between Erivo and Grande is electric. All in all, Chu could not have picked better actors to play these parts.
At its core, Wicked is a story about friendship, identity, and perspective. Jon M. Chu’s adaptation explores and further develops many of these themes to successfully maintain the magic of the Broadway musical. While the runtime is quite long, spanning close to three hours, we’ll absolutely be coming back for Part 2!
