Everything to Know About 'Wicked'

FILM REVIEW

By Cidney Atcherson
Spectrum Staff Writer

In 1900, L. Frank Baum released the story that we all know to this day: “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” Some 39 years later, the film we have all seen, “The Wizard of Oz,” was released. Throughout time, we have had many adaptations of the story. One includes the 1978 adaptation called, “The Wiz.” In 1995, Georgy Maguire released a novel, “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.” In 2003, “Wicked” had its first showing on Broadway and blew up.

If you have ever wondered, “What is the back story of the Wicked Witch?” “Why is she so evil?” and the ever-so-asked question, “Why is she green?” “Wicked” has all of your answers. “Wicked” is based on the story of Elphaba (The Wicked Witch of the West), played by Idina Menzel. It shows her life and follows her journey. Through this journey, she meets a quirky, bubbly, pink-loving girl named Glinda (played by Kristin Chenoweth), also known as Glinda the Good.

The Broadway play is one that I would recommend everyone to see. Between the stage design, costuming, songs, plot twist, and character storyline, this musical is top-tier. After having its 7,486th performance in April, it has become the fourth-longest running show on Broadway.

During the Super Bowl, many Broadway fans were shocked when we saw the trailer for "Wicked." The news had been circling about the film’s production, but the excitement went global when the news dropped. The trailer sent chills down your spine just from the opening scene. The sight of the Wicked Witch of the West’s iconic hat and the next scene showing her green hand excited every “Wicked” fan and watcher.

In this stage-to-film adaption, Elphaba is played by Tony-, Grammy- and Emmy award-winning Cynthia Erivo, and Glinda is played by pop superstar singer/actress Ariana Grande. The trailer captures the film’s scenes while parts of Elphaba's iconic song, “Defying Gravity,” is heard in the background. The scenes are bright and colorful and show many characters that are known in the original story. There is a scene of Dorothy, The Tin Man, Scarecrow, The Cowardly Lion, Toto and The Wizard. We get to see the flying monkeys and the Emerald City as well. The trailer gets you super excited for the movie and will have you counting down the days until the film drops on Nov. 27, 2024.

With many Broadway plays becoming films, the anticipation of “Wicked” getting a movie adaptation was high. The theatre is bound to be filled with excited fans ready to sing along to the upbeat, heart-wrenching and jaw-dropping music. So, tune in on Thanksgiving for a fun new twist on the classic story of “The Wizard of Oz,” showing a perspective we have never seen before.