Wicked: How does this movie relate to The Wizard of Oz?

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Wicked follows the journey of the legendary wizards of the world of Oz. Elphaba, a young woman who is misunderstood because of the unusual color of her green skin, does not even doubt the strength of her powers. Next to him is Glinda, who, as popular as she is, still doesn’t know the true nature of his heart. Their meeting at Sheez University, in the fantastical world of Oz, is the beginning of an unlikely but deep friendship.

However, their relationship with the Wizard of Oz will undermine this friendship and see them part ways. While Glinda allows herself to be seduced by her thirst for fame, Elphaba’s decision to stay true to herself and to those around her has both unfortunate and unexpected consequences. Their extraordinary adventures in the Land of Oz will eventually lead them to fulfill their destinies, becoming the Good and Wicked Wizards of the West.

Is this a prequel to The Wizard of Oz?

quite. Or rather a reinvention, because there are certain nuances. Like the 1996 book of the same name by Gregory Maguire, the musical, which opened on Broadway in 2003 and in London in 2006 (where it is still performed today), offers a different perspective on L. About the events of Frank Baum’s book and its adaptation. By Judy Garland.

The first part of the story is really a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, following the meeting of Glinda and Elphaba and the way in which the latter becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. The second parallels Dorothy’s adventures, which she gives us from a different angle.

As the feature film, released on Wednesday, December 4, only adapts the first part of the show, it could be considered a pure prequel. But it has nothing to do with the 2013 Sam Raimi directorial. We suspect that the success of Wicked encouraged Disney to try to break into telling its own origin story, but its story is different from that of the show.

What do you mean by a movie in two parts?

Yes. Like Dun, this aspect was hidden in the action. And only those who have been following the news of the project and the announcement of the diptych will not be surprised by the mention. “Part 1” will appear on the title screen. or “to be continued” The finale, which invites us back after a one-year hiatus, on November 26, 2025.

Unlike some books that have been split in two (yes, we’re talking about you, Harry Potter 7 and The Hunger Games 3 ), the split of Wicked makes sense in that the musical show is split into two distinct parts. “Even if it was just a show, we realized that condensing it wouldn’t make it believable.”explains director Jon M. Chu (Where We Come From, Sexy Dance 3D), in addition to talking about each line and word with the show’s creators to ensure their meaning in the story.

There are logic problems that we do in the theater that won’t work with a movie audience

“I don’t think it would work with a cinema audience. There are problems with the logic, the things you do in the theater, like traveling from one place to another. We had to create it here, and that meant taking out so many songs. It wouldn’t be evil anymore, or creating space, and we thought we could Choosing the latter.”

songs? is it a musical

exactly The Wicked, released in theaters at the end of the year, is not so much an adaptation of the novel by Gregory Maguire as a transposition of it into a musical show that quickly became a phenomenon. As John M. Chu explained to us that instead of sacrificing the songs, it was decided to expand the story into two films.

There are eleven of them, all taken from The Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holtzman Show (which eliminated the film from the Oscar race for Best Original Song), and sung by actors ranging from Jeff Goldblum to Michelle Yeoh. Peter Dinklage and Jonathan Bale. Let’s not forget the two stars of the feature film, namely Ariana Grande (Glinda) and Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba).

The songs, which are rare enough to highlight, were translated into the French version of the film. Which may come as a surprise, given that Wicked has never been staged in France.

Between the titles in the feature film and its original soundtrack already available for purchase (English version only), we especially find the hits. “popular” and – above all – “Defying Gravity”which contributed greatly to the success of Wicked. Which, with more than 65 million viewers worldwide, quickly earned its stripes “phenomenon”.

phenomenon? for what

There’s one sign that’s unmistakable: When a show becomes the subject of a joke or a reference that doesn’t need to be explained in US movies and TV series, it’s because its success has gone beyond Broadway. Not so long ago, he managed to get a place to watch “Hamilton” The same evening was, for example, synonymous with great social success and a long arm.

A few years earlier, it was Wicked that regularly appeared on the small screen: Brothers & Sisters or Ugly Betty (where the heroine said that she recognized herself in Elphaba, an outsider like her), jokes The Simpsons, South Park, New. Girl and Les Griffin, aka Glee rerun time (obviously!).

“popular” is on the Welcome to Zombieland soundtrack, while “Defying Gravity” According to many experts, it would have an impact “released, delivered”Hit from Frozen: The two titles share common themes (especially emancipation) and song styles, as well as their artists. Because Idina Menzel, who plays Elsa when she sings in the Disney classic, was Elphaba on Broadway.

But music is not the only explanation for the success of this monster: “We always said it was thanks to the girls, the relationship between these two women.”John M. Chu tells us. “There was a long line of Glindas and Elphabas, each with their own take on things. And there’s obviously Stephen Schwartz’s music.”

“When you look at what Winnie Holtzman and Stephen Schwartz wrote, it’s terribly prescient. This is the timeless story of a leader rising to control. That’s what every generation is about: At some point, each one of them has to stand up and decide who they are with you and how great it is that we have these pop and fun songs, but what’s average.”

A timeless story of rebellion in the face of a leader’s control

“Nobody in Oz is really good or bad, that’s the irony brought by Gregory Maguire”adds Jeff Goldblumwho plays a magician. “It’s much more nuanced, like in this Western, which I really like: The man who killed Liberty Valance. You find something different from a different angle, and that surprised the audience even before the music seduced them.”

“We really didn’t want to miss out because there are millions of fans. Not just in New York, but in London and the rest of the world.”Adds Michelle Yeo, Ms. Morrible’s translator, who discovered the show after hiring Crazy Rich Asians as its director. “And I quickly realized why Wicked appealed to all these age groups, women, but also men.”

“The story being told and the nuance being developed is something we relate to very well: being mistreated, misunderstood, ostracized because you look different, because you sound different, because you’re a different color. When you watch Wicked, you realize that it’s still relevant to the issues we face, and time has allowed that to happen with diversity and inclusion.

“Gregory Maguire brings to Wicked some big, interesting political and cultural questions about demonizing others, taking power and corrupting it.”Jeff Goldblum concludes. “On animal cruelty, which from the last century is still a vital and urgent issue that requires asking moral questions.”

Like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, you risk being caught in a storm when the first notes of the Wicked soundtrack play in your cinema. But now you know why you’ll meet a phenomenon that you might become one of your new fans. In that case, welcome to the club!

Comments collected by Maximilien Pierret in London on 19 November 2024