Wicked’ Movie Garners Early Praise for Stellar Performances and Enchanting Visuals

The highly anticipated film adaptation of the Broadway musical ‘Wicked‘ is generating significant buzz with its first reactions. Directed by Jon M. Chu and starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, the film has been praised for its powerful performances and enchanting visuals.

‘Wicked,’ the first of a two-part film adaptation, is based on the acclaimed stage musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, which in turn was inspired by Gregory Maguire‘s 1995 novel ‘Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West’ and characters from L. Frank Baum‘s ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.’ The film follows the early life of Elphaba at Shiz University and her unlikely friendship with Glinda, setting the stage for her eventual transformation into the Wicked Witch of the West.

The film boasts an impressive cast, including Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Keala Settle, and Peter Dinklage in supporting roles. Principal photography began in December 2022 in England but was paused due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike before resuming and concluding in January 2024.

‘Wicked’ is set to premiere at the State Theatre in Sydney, Australia on November 3, 2024, with a theatrical release in the United States scheduled for November 22, 2024. The sequel, ‘Wicked Part Two,’ is slated for release on November 21, 2025.

Director Jon M. Chu has cited influences such as Steven Spielberg‘s ‘Hook‘ and the films ‘Pleasantville‘ and ‘The Truman Show‘ for the film’s use of large-scale sets and thematic portrayal of the Land of Oz. The film features extensive practical effects, including a life-size art deco-inspired train and nine million colorful tulips planted on location to surround the Munchkinland set.