“Wicked” takes Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel and Stephen Schwartz’s 2003 stage musical and turns them into a 162-minute fantasy drama. Jon M. Chu directs from a script by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, and the film opens with Glinda the Good arriving in Munchkinland to face questions about the Wicked Witch of the West’s death. The movie then flashes back to Elphaba and Glinda’s time at Shiz University, where the two women first meet and their friendship begins to form.
Trailer, via Universal Pictures.
Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West
Glinda explains to the gathered Munchkins that the Witch was born of an affair between Governor Thropp’s wife, Melena, and a traveling salesman who offered her a green elixir. Elphaba, born with green skin, is ostracized and misunderstood at Shiz, where she is forced to share a room with the popular aristocrat Glinda, played by Ariana Grande. Cynthia Erivo plays Elphaba, and the chemistry between the two leads drives the early scenes.
The film’s first act establishes the stakes: Elphaba’s desire to meet the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the loss of speaking among Animals, and the social pressures facing both women. The movie runs long, but the pacing holds up through the flashbacks and the party at the Ozdust Ballroom nightclub, where Fiyero Tigelaar, played by Jonathan Bailey, takes a group of students to a celebration.
Dr. Dillamond and the Animals
Elphaba’s history professor is Dr. Dillamond, a talking goat who faces discrimination as one of Shiz’s last Animal professors. Erivo’s performance carries the weight of Elphaba’s isolation, and her interactions with Madame Morrible, played by Michelle Yeoh, show the tension between Elphaba’s desire for power and the institution’s expectations of her.
The film’s supporting cast is strong. Ethan Slater plays Boq Woodsman, and Marissa Bode plays Nessarose. Jeff Goldblum appears as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and Peter Dinklage voices Dr. Dillamond.
Cameos and the “One Short Day” Sequence
The “One Short Day” sequence features multiple cameos. Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth appear as the Emerald City Players, Michael McCorry Rose plays the Wiz-O-Mania narrator, and Winnie Holzman appears as an audience member who exclaims, “He can read it [the Grimmerie]! He must be a Wizard!” Composer Stephen Schwartz appears as the Emerald City Guard, who announces to Elphaba and Glinda that “the Wizard will see you now.” Adam James and Alice Fearn appear briefly as Galinda’s parents.
The Casting of Erivo and Grande
The casting news is part of the film’s history. Cynthia Erivo was cast as Elphaba in November 2021, and Ariana Grande initially auditioned for Elphaba due to a miscommunication that caused Chu to believe she expressed interest in that role over Glinda. Grande had previously recorded “Popular Song” in 2012 and performed “The Wizard and I” in the 2018 NBC special A Very Wicked Halloween. Erivo performed “I Couldn’t Be Happier” in the 2021 PBS special Wicked in Concert.
Grande revealed she auditioned three times for the role of Glinda. She stated she began taking acting lessons a year before her first audition and that “transforming [her] voice to sing Glinda’s soprano parts took months.” Dove Cameron, Reneé Rapp, and Amanda Seyfried were also reported to have auditioned for Glinda.
The production design was confirmed in June 2022, and Jonathan Bailey joined the cast as Fiyero in September 2022, beating Cooper Koch, Nick Jonas, and Joe Jonas for the role. Jeff Goldblum joined in final talks in October 2022, and the rest of the cast followed in December. Peter Dinklage was cast as the voice of Dr. Dillamond in April 2024.
The Plot’s Order
The film’s structure places the death of the Witch at the start, then moves backward through the relationship between Elphaba and Glinda at Shiz. The sequence runs as follows:
- Glinda arrives in Munchkinland.
- The Munchkins ask about the Witch’s death.
- Glinda explains the elixir and the affair.
- The flashback begins at Shiz University.
- Elphaba and Glinda meet and clash as roommates.
- Elphaba follows Dr. Dillamond to the Animals’ meeting.
- The party at the Ozdust Ballroom nightclub occurs.
- The film returns to Munchkinland to close.
Our Verdict
“Wicked” is a solid adaptation that respects the source material while adding new layers of emotion and character detail. Erivo and Grande earn their lead roles, and the supporting cast delivers strong performances across the board. The movie’s runtime is a challenge, but the pacing stays steady through the flashbacks and the party sequence.
The film’s most memorable moments come from the larger ensemble, particularly the cameos during “One Short Day.”
This is a movie for fans of the stage musical, and it rewards their patience with strong performances and a clear emotional core.
7.3 of 10.
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