On November 22, 2024, Wicked was released in theatres. Wicked is originally a Broadway musical, and its original cast featured Idina Menzel as Elphaba and Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda. In November of 2024, this movie remake was released and has since then been the talk of many news stations and social media outlets. There have been mixed reviews regarding 2024’s interpretation of the beloved musical, but I, for one, think this movie was amazing.
Famous pop star Ariana Grande took on the role as Glinda in the new Wicked film. Grande is known worldwide for her incredible vocal ability, as well as her previous acting experience such as her role of Penny in Hairspray Live and the recurring role of Cat Valentine in Victorious and Sam&Cat. Many critics believe that Grande was not the best actress for the job. However, I feel that her portrayal of Glinda in Wicked was a testament to her acting ability and was a reminder of her unreal vocals. In the opening scene of Wicked, for example, Glinda the Good Witch is singing a song called “No One Mourns the Wicked.” Glinda’s part in this song is mainly operatic, which showcased Ariana Grande’s “wicked” vocal and acting talent.
Cynthia Erivo is a Tony and Grammy Award winning actress and singer who portrayed Elphaba in Wicked 2024. Many fans recognize Erivo’s talent from a mile away and may recognize her from her original music as well as her roles in 2019’s Harriet or her Broadway debut in The Color Purple. Prior to the Wicked movie, I had actually never heard of Erivo before. However, after watching the movie, I can say that I am a big fan. In one of Wicked’s most beloved songs, “Defying Gravity,” she sang her heart out, and it was a beautiful rendition that showcased her unbelievable talent. The platonic chemistry that her and Ariana Grande were able to show throughout the movie was truly beautiful and definitely paid justice to the original production.
The director of the Wicked movie, Jon M. Chu, made very key decisions when it came to his directing that made the movie so breathtaking. For example, in the opening scene in Munchkinland, the surrounding set was in fact not CGI. It was a practically built set that was constructed in England. “These expansive, practical sets — many as tall as 50 feet and covering entire stage footprints — allowed for 360-degree filming with minimal blue-screen work,” according to the official production notes provided by Universal Pictures. Due to the reality of the settings, the photography teams were able to create a much more realistic and authentic film. In addition, it has been released by Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, and many other sources that the soundtrack for the movie was recorded live. Even through their stunts and dancing, these stars were able to sing their hearts out to provide the film with a certain level of authenticity.
Overall, I feel that the 2024 version of Wicked was very memorable and has left me on the edge of my seat for part two. The original musical is ranked as the top-selling Broadway show as of December 10, 2024 according to Broadway.com. The new film is living up to the Wicked legacy, and has already grossed $457.5 million worldwide, a total topped by only one other film that was based on a Broadway musical, according to Billboard. Wicked the movie surely had big ruby slippers to fill, but it did not disappoint.
