Wicked
Release Date: 3rd November 2024 - Australia (Sydney, premiere)
Production Companies
Universal Pictures (presents)
Marc Platt Productions
SKY Studios
Dentsu (presented in association with)
Distribution
Universal Pictures Australia
Genre: Fantasy/Musical
Rating: PG
Runtime: 160 minutes
Budget: $150,000,000
Box Office Gross: $531,335,495 (Worldwide - figure subject to change)
Plot Summary
Misunderstood but
rebellious Elphaba,
a girl born with green
skin, and Glinda, an
to be popular, become
unlikely friends in the
magical land of Oz.
After meeting the
Wizard of Oz, their
friendship reaches a
breaking point as they
begin to fulfil their
destinies as Glinda the
Witch of the West.
Cast
Cynthia Erivo - Elphaba
Ariana Grande - Galinda/
Glinda
Jeff Goldblum - The Wonderful
Wizard of Oz
Michelle Yeoh - Madame Morrible
Jonathan Bailey - Fiyero
Ethan Slater - Boq
Peter Dinklage - Dr. Dillamond (Voice)
Andy Nyman - Governor
Thropp
Courtney Mae-Briggs - Mrs
Thropp
Aaron Teoh Guan Ti - Avaric
Bowen Yang - Pfannee
Bronwyn James - ShenShen
Keala Settle - Mrs Coddle
Sharon D. Clarke - Dulcibear (Voice)
Jenna Boyd - Wolf Doctor (Voice)
Lexi Lancaster - Munchkinland Kid
Arlo Turner - Munchkinland Kid
Joey Unitt - Munchkinland Kid
Bea Ward - Munchkinland Kid
Dereke Oladele - Munchkinland Kid
Sienna-Rose Amer -
Munchkinland Kid
Tarik Frimpong -
Munchkinland Crier
James Dryden - No One
Mourns Munchkin
Malinda Parris - No One
Cries Munchkin
Noah Prempeh - The Good
Man Munchkin
Debbie Kurup - Winkie Mother
Jasmine McIvor - Winkie Mother
Hattie Ryan - Curious Munchkin
Kirsty Anne Shaw - Skeptical Munchkin
Karis Musongele - Young Elphaba
Cesily Collette Taylor - Young Nessarose
Jarlan Bogolubov - Munchkin
Bullie
Isaac Bishop - Munchkin Bullie
Adam James - Galinda's Popsicle
Alice Fearn - Galinda's Momsie
Clive Kneller - Emerald City Train Conductor
Michael McCorry Rose -
Wiz-O-Mania Narrator
Idina Menzel - Wiz-O-Mania
Super Star (Cameo)
Kristin Chenoweth -
Wiz-O-Mania Super Star (Cameo)
Robin Berry - Palace Guard
Bobby Windebank - Shiz SecurityCherida Strallen - Shiz Librarian
Tom Kitely - Snow Leopard (Voice)
Elizabeth Dulau - Piebald Deer (Voice)
Kim Durham - Tamarin/Owl (Voice)
Jennifer Woodward - Birds (Voice)
Stephen Stanton - Fiyero's Horse (Voice)
Stephen Schwartz - Emerald
City Guard (Cameo) (Uncredited)
Crew
Director - Jon M. Chu
Book/Screenplay/Executive
Producer - Winnie Holzman
From the Novel - Gregory
Maguire
Based on Characters -
Frank Baum (Uncredited)
Executive Producers -
Dana Fox and Jared
LeBoff
Executive Producer/Unit
Production Manager - David Nicksay
Executive Producer/Music & Lyrics - Stephen Schwartz
Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager - Joan Schneider
Production Designer - Nathan Crowley
Supervising Art Director - Ben Collins
Senior Art Directors - Rod McLean and Gavin Fitch
Art Directors - Roxana Alexandru,
Jordana Finkel Sarah Ginn, Rhys Ifan,
Hugh McClelland, Chris Peters,
Quinn Robinson and Luke Sanders
Set Decorator - Lee Sandales
Set Decoration Art Directors - Laura Ng
and Jo Ridler
Construction Consultant - Paul J. Hayes
Property Master - Jamie Wilkinson
Costume Designer - Paul Tazewell
Hair and Makeup Designer - Frances Hannon
Prosthetics Makeup Designer - Mark Coulier
Director of Photography - Alice Brooks
First Assistant Director - Jack Ravenscroft
Second Unit Director/Director of
Photography - Sam Renton
Choreographer - Christopher Scott
Stunt Coordinator - Jo McLaren
Special Effects Supervisor - Paul Corbould
Senior Floor Supervisor - Chris Corbould
Visual Effects Supervisors - Pablo Helman
and Jonathan Fawkner
Visual Effects Supervisors: ILM - Anthony Smith
and Robert Weaver
Visual Effects Supervisor: Foy - Colin Strause
Visual Effects Producer - Kevin Elam
Visual Effects Producers: Foy - Greg Strause
and Marguax Mackay
Visual Effects Art Director - Gordon Champ
Visual Effects Art Director: ILM - Chris Voy
Animation Supervisors - David Shirl
and Dale Newton
CG Supervisors: ILM - Karin Cooper,
Michael Duong and Nick Pitt-Owen
Editor - Myron Kerstein
Supervising Sound Editor and Sound Design/
Re-Recording Mixer - John Marquis
Supervising Sound Editor and Sound Design -
Nancy Nugent Title
Sound Designers - Malte Bieler and
Tim Walston
Additional Sound Designers - Erick Ocampo
and Brandon Jones
Production Sound Mixer - Simon Hayes
Re-Recording Mixer - Andy Nelson
Music - John Powell
Executive Music Producer - Stephen Oremus
Music Producer - Greg Wells
Music Supervisor - Maggie Rodford
Review
I've heard of WICKED but have never seen the original musical. It's because I only go to live musicals sometimes. I didn't read Gregory Maguire's book either because I didn't know until then that it existed. There's something wicked about this movie that the title primarily suggests otherwise. Oz fans have long waited for this film adaptation since its official announcement in 2012. However, splitting this two-hour musical into two parts has left them sceptical. It's similar to how they split DUNE into two movies. I've watched a few of its trailers. One was a LEGO version, and I needed clarification that this was the actual film. Fortunately, I was relieved that it wasn't, but I had second thoughts about the movie until a friend convinced me to see it with him. Nevertheless, I decided to go ahead with it.
Incidentally, this film does it better than the other attempts to revive the land of Oz (minus Oz the Great and Powerful). It perfectly honours the original 1939 The Wizard of Oz film and the 2003 musical while also having its identity. Having worked on Step Up 2: The Streets and In the Heights, director Jon M. Chu knows what it takes to fill the screen with awe-inspiring choreography and the momentum needed to shift between intimate moments in each number. Taking full advantage of the story's fantasy elements beyond what the stage musical could do, the film is a pure fantasy experience, transforming it from a stage musical to a Hollywood blockbuster.
While there have been some recent symbolic interpretations of Baum's original book, the themes of fascism and racism in WICKED are deliberate and explicit. At 160 minutes, WICKED is almost too long, especially considering this is the first part, but it isn't tedious. It only covers the first half of the stage musical but introduces copious amounts of material to expand on the story. There are many references to the classic film for Oz fans and a few cameos that feel less like fan service and more like a logical expansion.
Cynthia Erivo is the heart and soul of the movie, giving a magnificent, heart-wrenching performance as Elphaba. Ariana Grande is more impressive in her acting than her singing as Glinda. However, the magical chemistry that those two leads have together is unlimited. Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, and Jeff Goldblum are excellent in their supporting roles, particularly the latter as the mysterious Wizard. Peter Dinklage is the perfect choice for the role of the wailing Dr Dillamond, adding weight to the film's examination of discrimination and social injustice.
The costumes, set design, and other visual aspects are fascinating as they bring the story to life. The songs are the film's undisputed high point and are very lively and enjoyable to listen to at times. They had this musical theatre flair, which was very much in tune with the movie. The film's standout moment, "Defying Gravity", is a showstopper.
From its dazzling spectacles to its beautiful scenery, costumes, strong cast, and spectacular visuals, WICKED is a spellbinding movie that defies gravity to enchant viewers with an immersive experience. I can't wait for the second part, which will be out next year.
Star rating: (9/10) Excellent Movie
