In the world of musical theater, one of the most popular pieces of all time is “Wicked,” which tells the story of an unconventional friendship between a popular sorceress named Glinda and a misunderstood witch, Elphaba.
Long before it saw the lights of a Broadway stage, “Wicked” began as a children’s book called “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” written by L. Frank Baum in 1900. Subsequently, Gregory Maguire authored four books known as The Wicked Years, including “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” “Son of a Witch,” “A Lion Among Men” and “Out of Oz.” Eventually, these stories were adapted into a film in 1939, becoming the critically acclaimed “The Wizard of Oz.”
Since its creation, viewers have noted that one of the musical’s most favorable plot points is the empathy the audience feels for Elphaba. She faces prejudice her entire life for being a witch with vibrant emerald skin different from those around her. Bringing her struggles to life gives people who relate to Elphaba a sense of community and belonging, adding to the story’s appeal.
As the story goes, Elphaba befriends Glinda, another witch attending Shiz University for wizardry. Their friendship is a symbol of strength, trust and resilience and challenges the normalcy of society by celebrating both of their differences.
“I think ‘Wicked’ holds a lot of sentimental value for many. For some, they grew up with the story of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and fell in love with that and others loved the Broadway show, so getting to see it on the big screen is special for a lot of people,” says “Wicked” fan Cameron Johnson.
The show first appeared on Broadway starring Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda and Idina Menzel as Elphaba in 2003. It became a commercial success, amassing $1.2 million in 20 years. As more people became exposed to the captivating story of two untimely witches, the spin-offs made based on “Wicked” saw a pause in the film industry.
Now, the cult-following behind “Wicked” can find solace in director Jon M. Chu’s 2024 “Wicked” film.
For months, fans anticipated the November 22, 2024 release of the movie to theaters. The star-studded cast made even new crowds head to the theaters to watch the movie. The cast stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Ariana Grande as Glinda, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard of Oz.
The film was a box office hit, grossing $360 million in less than two weeks after its release. This makes Chu’s rendition of “Wicked” the highest-grossing musical adaptation of all time in the U.S., surpassing the classic movie-musical “Grease.”
Senior Zoe Kumpfmiller adds, “It was phenomenal, and they did the musical justice for sure. I thought that the minor details they changed about it for it to become a movie weren’t drastic and didn’t change the story up and I thought they did a great job with the casting. I actually thought Ariana Grande nailed her role as Glinda.”
Despite the new movie already being released, fans will not have to wait long before they see yet another “Wicked” movie in theaters. “Wicked: For Good” is set to release on November 21, 2025.
Without a doubt, the legacy of “Wicked” has been passed on through the 2024 film and will make a profound impact on its fans for years to come.
