Grossing $226 million worldwide within just its opening weekend, “Wicked: For Good” has attracted an enormous amount of attention, from casual moviegoers to megafans of the Broadway musical.
This franchise has stemmed from many adaptations. The tale originated as a children’s book by Lyman Frank Baum, which was later adapted into a movie, and then further developed into the 1995 novel “Wicked” by Gregory Maguire.
From there, the story was adapted into a stage musical, reaching its Broadway debut in 2003. This mature adaptation of the story focuses on the upbringing of the Wicked Witch and Glinda the Good Witch, named Elphaba and Glinda, while they are at school.
The musical attracted director Jon M. Chu, who adapted the story into a two-film movie musical franchise. The second half of the franchise was released on Nov. 21 this year, titled “Wicked: For Good,” inspired by “For Good,” a duet sung by Elphaba and Glinda just before the movie’s end.
“Wicked has been in my life for nearly 20 years, and it has played a huge part in my life. I love that the movie has brought it to a whole new audience and generation. It’s not only wonderful music by Stephen Schwartz, but it’s just a beautiful story that connects with people,” said British actress Kerry Ellis.
Ellis was the first British Elphaba in the West End’s stage production, followed by a transfer to the Gershwin Theatre, where she played the role of Elphaba on Broadway for six months. Performances like hers solidified Elphaba into an iconic role that would reenter the spotlight on film.
The first movie, “Wicked: Part One,” was a box office success, breaking multiple records, including “Biggest Global and Domestic Opening for a Movie Based on a Broadway Show,” according to Deadline. It combined Schwartz’s music, Chu’s direction, and a stellar cast, featuring talent from stars such as Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
It also received positive reviews from critics, with an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
“Whenever people are making movie adaptations from musicals, I’m always worried that people are gonna start hating on it. But they actually did so well with it. I was really surprised because people loved it and it completely took off. It was really good, and it’s really cool that it got that much of a positive reaction,” said junior Clara Lewis.
One crucial element that makes “Wicked” special is its deeper meanings.
“It’s not just about two young girls who meet and have a real friendship, and the difficulties that they face. I think it resonates with everybody because everybody has relationships, whether it be with their parents, siblings, loved ones, or friends. Everybody goes through relationships. Therefore, it does just appeal to the masses,” Ellis said.
While the story does include a central theme of friendship, many other metaphors can also be found. “Wicked” employs magic to make serious themes such as racism, bigotry, and corruption more digestible to a broad audience.
“They kick all the animals out of Oz, and I think that’s really important because that’s a real issue we’re facing today, where people are forced to leave the country,” Lewis said.
The film’s protagonist, Elphaba, fights for equality between people and animals, and is also overlooked for her green skin. This message teaches viewers to be more open-minded and kind.
“Wicked has made me a little bit more tolerant, and maybe not quick to judge. Not that I was a massively judgmental person, but I think it really makes me kind of stop and think before reacting,” Ellis said.
Following such a grand first movie, it could be hard to meet fan expectations in “Wicked: For Good.”
One massive change to the second movie was the addition of two new songs, “No Place Like Home” and “The Girl in the Bubble.” These songs, written by Schwartz, are primarily solo numbers, one sung by Elphaba and the other sung by Glinda.
“I feel like they were very surface-level, and I feel like they didn’t really add a lot,” said sophomore Lucas Papa.
While the second film has received a lower rating of 67% on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie still retains an emotional impact on audiences.
“I think that’s the core of ‘Wicked’ — it’s about friendships and bringing people together. It keeps inspiring and connecting people,” Ellis said.
