Unless you’ve been living under a house for the past year and a half, you likely know by now that the film Wicked has become one of the most popular movies of this year. This November, the highly anticipated sequel, Wicked: For Good, is coming to theaters to continue the thrilling story of the witches Elphaba and Glinda. The first film left us on an incredible cliffhanger with Elphaba singing that very last, iconic note of “Defying Gravity,” right after calling out the Wizard for his lies and becoming an enemy of Emerald City. Elphaba flies away on her broom, leaving the audience with the question, “What happens next?” Well, those who are fans of the original Broadway musical know what happens, but those who don’t know are in for some surprises!
If you don’t already know, Wicked is the untold story of the Wicked Witch of the West from the beloved tale The Wizard of Oz. The story shows The Wicked Witch, or Elphaba, as an innocent teen being outcast because of her unusual green skin. The story follows her unexpected friendship with Glinda, the Good Witch, and her life leading up to when she became the memorable villain. The film takes the characters we know, such as Glinda and the Wizard of Oz himself, and inspires the audience to view them in a new perspective. It also introduces new characters to the story such as Fiyero, Boq, and Nessarose, who have a great impact on the Wicked Witch’s origin story, and who also might return as some familiar faces in the sequel.
Wicked: For Good takes place five years after the first movie. This film will show a side of Elphaba that we have never seen before. She will finally use her powers to their full potential, while also falling in love for the first time. As for Glinda, we will witness her continuous struggle to stay loyal to her old friend while still being a positive public figure for society. New fans of the franchise will also get to find out why Elphaba was born the way that she is and explore the truth about her past. We will see multiple connections to the classic tale of The Wizard of Oz as well, so fans of the film should be excited!
Wicked was originally a novel written by Gregory Maguire in 1995. Inspired by the book, it became a hit broadway musical in 2003 starring Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. Wicked, starring Cythia Erivo and Ariana Grande, was released last November. It has since become a cultural phenomenon, bringing in new fans and breaking box office records by earning $755.9 million worldwide.
The first film was overall a feel-good experience with inspiring songs and fun dance sequences that attracted many old fans of the original musical. While drawing in the current audience, the film was also able to attract a new, younger audience. With the colorful costumes, dazzling musical numbers, and modern story telling, the film was successful in appealing to the younger generation, giving them a new appreciation for it. Having pop superstar Ariana Grande playing Glinda, one of the main characters in the movie, also helped bring in a new range of audiences because of her massive popularity.
The film has become so popular that many well known companies, such as Owala, Starbucks, and Lego have collaborated with the film to sell promotional products, so people can show their love for the musical with these green and pink products. Even retail brands have been selling Wicked merchandise.
Almost everywhere you go to shop, there is going to be some sort of Wicked merchandise. From little girls singing the Elphaba riff, to others dressing up as Glinda for Halloween, Wicked has reached audiences across the world.
So, if you have nothing to do the week of November 21st and are looking for some entertainment, Wicked: For Good is the perfect film to watch! The sequel is said to include two new original songs written by the original composer of the musical, Stephen Schwartz, so musical lovers are in for a treat! Buy your tickets now because theaters are guaranteed to be packed full with enthusiastic fans. Wear your pink and green (and maybe bring some tissues) to go see Wicked: For Good!