Something wonderful is happening in Oz! We caught an early screening of Wicked—here's what you need to know.
Sneak Peek! 8 Surprises About the New Wicked Movie
Published on Nov. 13, 2024
You’ve followed the yellow brick road, and now it’s finally time to go green. After years of anticipation, the big-screen adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical Wicked is touching down on Nov. 22. I caught an early screening (now who’s green with envy?), and I can tell you this: The epic fantasy film is so magical that it just might defy Thanksgiving box-office records.
For the newbies: Wicked, adapted from Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, is a prequel to L. Frank Baum’s original Oz books—the first of which was adapted into the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz. It centers on Elphaba, the green-skinned Wicked Witch of the West, and Galinda, the Good Witch better known as Glinda, years before Dorothy landed in Oz. The story follows the pair’s journey from mutually unhappy roommates at Shiz University to unlikely friends. (They’ll ultimately end up as heated rivals, but that comes later.) The women also fall for the same guy, the dashing Prince Fiyero.
Two absolute pros step into the formidable shoes of original Broadway stars Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. That’s Tony winner Cynthia Erivo as the misunderstood Elphaba and Grammy winner Ariana Grande as privileged Galinda. Rounding out the main cast: Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Michelle Yeoh as Dean of Sorcery Studies Madame Morrible and Jeff Goldblum as the not-so-wonderful Wizard. Plus, newcomer Marissa Bode portrays Elphaba’s wheelchair-using younger sister, Nessarose (Nessa), and Ethan Slater, best known for his portrayal of the titular character in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, plays the munchkin Boq.
But a new ensemble isn’t the only way Wicked differentiates itself from the stage extravaganza that’s run on Broadway for 21 years and counting. After seeing the movie musical, I present a spoiler-free guide to all the intriguing twists and turns.
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1. This is just the beginning
Though the Wicked movie and musical both run around two hours and 45 minutes, give or take an intermission, the film covers only the first half of the show. As director John M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights) explained in a statement posted to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) in 2022, “it became impossible to wrestle the story of Wicked into a single film without doing some real damage to it. As we tried to cut songs or trim characters, those decisions began to feel like fatal compromises to the source material that has entertained us all for so many years.” Indeed, there’s now more time and space to establish and foster the bond between Galinda and Elphaba at school.
So if this is just Part 1, when can you expect the sequel? Prepare for a wait. Wicked: Part 2 arrives on Nov. 21, 2025.
2. There are no new songs
Because Wicked is essentially a 1-to-1 translation of the play’s first act, all 11 songs—from the opening “No One Mourns the Wicked” all the way through to the showstopping Elphaba anthem “Defying Gravity”—have made the celluloid cut. One asterisk: We’re getting a bonus instrumental track, “Ozdust Duet,” from original composer Stephen Schwartz (Pippin), which the movie soundtrack credits to the Wicked Orchestra.
The second installment of Wicked promises even more music. Schwartz has shared that he’s written two new songs for it.
3. But there are new characters
Aside from the familiar cast of Wicked characters, a few fresh faces have arrived in Oz. Welcome Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman) as no-good Shiz faculty member Miss Coddle. Adam James (The Buccaneers) pops up in a new role as Galinda’s father, seen briefly dropping her off at school. Also of note: The snippy Pfannee of Phan Hall, who’s constantly sucking up to Galinda, is played by Bowen Yang from Saturday Night Live. The character is a woman in the stage musical.
4. The goat is in the house!
For months, speculation raged over the status of Dr. Dillamond, the goat professor of history—as in, an actual goat and not the Greatest of All Time—who warns Elphaba about the dark forces that threaten the talking animals of Oz. Last year, Yang teased that a female puppeteer was standing in for the character during production. It turns out that Game of Thrones Emmy winner Peter Dinklage provides the voice of the good doctor (in a British accent, no less). He also sings the ominous “Something Bad.”
5. Jonathan Bailey can really sing
Fans have already swooned over the British actor in Bridgerton and Fellow Travelers. Just wait until he arrives at Shiz and woos both Elphaba and Galinda with his charm. As the handsome Fiyero, he also leads his fellow students in a rousing rendition of “Dancing Through Life.” And boy can Bailey really belt out a tune.
He’s not the only standout singer. Yeoh gets her moment in “The Wizard and I.” Even Goldblum hits the high notes (who knew?!) in his ballad “A Sentimental Man.” Of course, Grande and Erivo are known for their powerful voices. But bonus points to them for insisting on using live vocals in their numbers.
6. Ariana Grande can really act
Audiences who grew up on Victorious and Sam & Kat know Grande can act, but even fans of these tween shows have been wondering how she’d handle a film of this magnitude. Well, worry not. Grande brings charisma and a quick wit to a character famous for her bubbly personality.
In her first major film role, the pop star commands Galinda’s big numbers, such as her signature “Popular.” But it’s her knack for both zippy comedic timing and physical humor that makes her such a winning force. (“Something’s wrong … I didn’t get my way … I need to lie down!” is a laugh-out-loud highlight.) There could very well be an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the end of this rainbow.
7. Cynthia Erivo gives Elphaba a playful personality
Erivo’s talent is no surprise. She nabbed a Tony for her breakthrough performance as Celie in The Color Purple and scored two Oscar nods—for Best Actress and Original Song—for the film Harriet. But fans have been clamoring to find out how she interpreted the famous green witch.
Elphaba does a lot of literal and metaphorical heavy lifting in Wicked as she grapples with her unique mystical powers. But Erivo plays many of her scenes with a twinkle in her dramatic smoky eye. Nope, this future witch is not above witty banter with her crush, Fiyero, and even teases him for being shallow and self-absorbed.
Erivo’s funny-bone talents are also on display in “Popular,” when she valiantly tries to toss her thick braided hair in the air to mimic her pal Galinda’s favorite habit. The actress should do more comedies!
8. The Wizard of Oz gets subtle shout-outs
Though young Dorothy is never seen in the Wicked musical and is only referenced offstage near the end, it’s easy to spot the sly homages to the iconic source material in the new film.
Start with the prologue, which is like a recap of the climactic Wizard of Oz scene from a different point of view. While Toto is back barking in Kansas, Elphaba and Fiyero ride on bicycles equipped with wooden baskets. Don’t sleep on the scene with poppies. There’s even a cameo appearance by a certain pair of famous shoes, and Nessa sports sparkly silver slippers.
Longtime fans, expect a wicked-good time
Fans of the Broadway show have another reason to spend one short day at the cinema: The film honors the Wicked musical too. We promised no spoilers, so you’ll have to take our word that Ozians will absolutely squeal with delight.
Why trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. For this story on Wicked, Mara Reinstein tapped her two decades of experience as an entertainment journalist, film critic and pop culture expert. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- John M. Chu: “Special #Wicked Movie Announcement…”
- Spotify: “Wicked: The Soundtrack”
