Everything You Need to Know About ‘Wicked’ Ahead of the Universal Pictures’ Movie
From its Origins to the Broadway Legacy to the Film's Cast, Production Design, Music, Key Partnerships and Where to Watch - here's your guide to all things 'Wicked'.
November 14, 2024
The story of Wicked begins in 1995 when Gregory Maguire reimagined L. Frank Baum's classic novel, The Wizard of Oz, into the literary phenomenon. Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz. In 2003, producers Marc Platt and David Stone, writer Winnie Holzman and composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz adapted it into a hit Broadway musical starring Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel. Now, the film adaptation of Wicked, the first chapter of a two-part immersive cultural celebration directed by Jon M. Chu is set to release on November 22, 2024. Wicked Part Two is scheduled for release next year, on November 21, 2025.
The Origin of Wicked: The Novel
In 1995, almost a century after L. Frank Baum’s enduring classic, The Wizard of Oz, first hit bookshelves in the year 1900, novelist Gregory Maguire reinvented Baum’s world in his bestseller Wicked. The novel, about the untold stories of the witches of Oz, Elphaba and Glinda set in the years before Dorothy dropped in, became a literary sensation.
A New Chapter Begins: Wicked on Broadway
A few years later, in 2003, producers Marc Platt and David Stone, composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz and writer Winnie Holzman set out to enchant audiences of all generations by introducing Wicked on Broadway. Inspired by the passion and commitment of that creative team, the visionary leadership at Universal created a theatrical production wing to bring Wicked to life on the stage. The studio was so integral to the stage musical's history, in fact, that the first ever table read for the stage musical took place on the Universal Studios Lot.
Produced by Marc Platt, who is also producing the film, the original production of Wicked premiered on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre in October 2003, after completing pre-Broadway tryouts at San Francisco's Curran Theater in May and June of that year. The original Broadway production won a total of three Tony Awards and seven Drama Desk Awards while its original cast album received a Grammy Award. The success of the Broadway production has spawned many productions worldwide, including a long-running West End production. Wicked has broken box-office records around the world. In 2017, Wicked surpassed The Phantom of the Opera as Broadway's second-highest grossing musical, trailing only The Lion King.
Since then, the groundbreaking reinvention of L. Frank Baum’s century-old tale has redefined the modern musical theatre landscape. With more than $6 billion in global receipts, the stage musical of Wicked has been seen by 65 million people across 100+ cities in 16 countries.
Jon M. Chu Lands in Oz: Wicked The Film
For years, producer Marc Platt had been approached about adapting the stage musical for the screen. The timing had never seemed right, but when the stars aligned, Platt knew it was time to let Elphaba and Glinda soar. The film, Platt says, allows them to expand and explore the Wicked universe in a way that isn’t possible on stage.
To adapt the musical for film, Marc Platt turned to the trusted fellow creators with whom he had worked on the stage show: Musical comrades-in-arms Emmy and Tony nominee Winnie Holzman, writer of the book for the musical, and Grammy and Oscar-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz. Little could producer Marc Platt know, but the filmmaker he would ultimately hire to direct the film of Wicked, Jon M. Chu, was a longtime superfan of the stage production. Decades earlier, Chu, the acclaimed visionary filmmaker of Crazy Rich Asians and the film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda's stage musical In The Heights, had attended early performances of Platt’s seminal show at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco before it transitioned to Broadway. “Jon has a skillset as a visual director,” Platt says. “But what I love the most is his heart and humanity. Wicked is a story of humanity, about people, and Wicked wears its heart on its sleeve; so does Jon. He was born to direct these films. With the brilliant creative vision of Jon, Stephen and Winnie, together, we have ventured to create a world that can only be realized on film.”
For Chu, the goal was to immerse audiences in the land Oz, and in these characters, in a way that had never been achieved before. "I want people who saw it on the stage to experience it in a way they never have,” Chu says.
Who Are The Main Characters of Wicked
Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo)
Elphaba Thropp, eldest daughter of Governor Thropp, was born with iridescent green skin and mysterious abilities that she cannot control, casting her apart from just about everyone besides her younger sister, Nessarose. The only person in Oz with green skin, Elphaba is a racial minority of one and it has made her an outcast, hardened her defenses. But that tough exterior hides a full and compassionate heart. Her extraordinary adventures in Oz will see her fulfill her destiny as the Wicked Witch of the West.
Erivo is a seasoned Broadway veteran, who scored both a Tony and a Grammy for her Broadway stint as Celie in the 2015-2017 run of The Color Purple.
Galinda / Glinda (Ariana Grande)
Glinda the Good, née Galinda Upland (of the Upper Uplands) is an irrepressible, and irresistible, bundle of over-confidence. An avid collector of followers and footwear, Galinda hails from a life of privilege, but the thing she desperately yearns to possess is something money cannot buy: magical power.
Grande began singing on Broadway at the age of 15 and has become a Grammy-winning global superstar. When Grande was ten years old, her mother took her to see the original cast on Broadway. As far back as 2011, Grande posted that Glinda was her “dream role.”
The Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum)
They call him “wonderful,” but The Wizard himself knows that there’s more to the story. Landing the unparalleled Jeff Goldblum for the role— originated on Broadway by Oscar® winner Joel Grey —was a coup for the filmmakers. Goldblum has been such a lifelong fan of the material—especially Dorothy and Toto—that Goldblum’s first dog as an adult was a Cairn Terrier.
Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey)
The Crown Prince of Winkie County, one of several regions in the land of Oz, Fiyero Tigelaar appears to while away the hours perfecting his image as a carefree player; committed only to whatever (and whomever) tickles his (fleeting) fancy.
Brought to the screen by Olivier Award winner and Emmy nominee Jonathan Bailey, Fiyero is introduced to audiences as the devil-may-care bad boy of Shiz University. But appearances can be deceiving.
Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh)
A woman of incomparable elegance and discernment, Shiz University’s Dean of Sorcery Studies, Madame Morrible, is admired by all, and is the first person in Oz to recognize Elphaba’s true—and untapped—potential. When it came time to find the actor to portray Madame Morrible, director Jon M. Chu was certain of his dream candidate: Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh, with whom he had worked on the global hit Crazy Rich Asians.
Nessarose (Marissa Bode)
The younger daughter of Munchkinland Governor Thropp, Nessarose has grown up under the fierce protection of her sister Elphaba and longs to assert her independence. Her unrequited love for Boq, who is more interested in getting Glinda’s attention, will shape Nessarose’s fate as much as her sister’s rising power. After an extensive casting call, the filmmakers chose newcomer Marissa Bode for the role of the heartbroken young woman striving for control of her own life.
Boq (Ethan Slater)
Broadway star and Tony nominee Ethan Slater, who shot to theatrical fame with his title role in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical and as Lee Harvey Oswald in Assassins, was brought aboard to play Boq. In a classic, and tragic, love triangle, Boq is the object of Nessarose’s affections, but he’s focused on doing whatever it takes to get Glinda to notice him.
The Production and Costume Design
Wicked is perhaps the largest-scale production in Universal’s history. With that in mind, the Studio needed to populate every role across the production perfectly to ensure that the films stand the test of time.
From costuming thousands of Oz residents to planting nearly nine million tulips, everything needed to feel real to surround the Wicked cast and crew with the magic of Oz. That artistry and commitment to world building makes Wicked like no musical, and in many ways no film, ever seen on screen.
Taking on the production design of Wicked was an endeavor six-time Oscar-nominated production designer Nathan Crowley approached with a profound sense of responsibility and creativity.
Crowley and his teams’ work on Wicked is a testament to his unparalleled ability to create a visual spectacle that honors the beloved Broadway production while offering a fresh and breathtakingly new experience.
When director Jon M. Chu approached Academy Award-nominated costume designer Paul Tazewell to collaborate on Wicked, the timing seemed serendipitous. Having designed five productions of The Wiz, including NBC’s The Wiz Live!, Tazewell was no stranger to the world of Oz. Approaching Wicked required a delicate balance of honoring its storied history while injecting a fresh, contemporary vision. A team of approximately 150 artisans, including costume makers, tailors, custom weavers and embroiderers, thoughtfully considered every aspect.
The Music
The film of Wicked features beloved songs from the stage musical by Grammy and Oscar winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, and a score by Grammy and Oscar® nominee John Powell and Schwartz. To create the sound and capture the musical performances in the film, Oscar®-winning production sound mixer Simon Hayes and team were tasked with ensuring that the set of Wicked provided the performers the space and time to sing from the heart—just as if they were on a Broadway stage. Songs were performed live on set whenever possible.
Wicked Partnerships
The vibrant world in which the untold story of Elphaba and Glinda takes place has inspired innovative products with licensees and retailers worldwide, including apparel, accessories, footwear, home décor, beauty, toys, role play, publishing, collectables and more. This campaign, years in the making, is set to deliver unique, impactful and culture-defining moments and partnerships to drive significant box office returns, while connecting with fans and consumers to build the brand beyond its loyal theatre following.
More than 400 brand partners, including Starbucks, Amazon, Bloomingdales, LEGO, Target, Mattel and more, have brought one-of-a-kind Wicked experiences, activations and products to fans around the world. View the full global lineup of Wicked product collaborations here.
How Do I Buy Tickets to See Wicked?
Wicked will be released domestically on November 22, 2024. Tickets are available now at Fandango here.
