Navigating the Hurdles: Key Obstacles Facing The Wicked Movie Series

Jon M. Chu's two-part movie adaptation of the Broadway musical Wicked is facing various challenges in terms of marketing and storytelling. The musical, based on Gregory Maguire's novel, is widely considered one of the best stage productions of the 21st century. It showcases powerful musical numbers and explores the intricate friendship between Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda the Good, as they navigate the politics of Oz before Dorothy's arrival.

In the upcoming Wicked movie, Cynthia Erivo, a Tony Award-winning actress and singer, takes on the role of Elphaba, while Grammy-winning pop star Ariana Grande portrays Glinda. The film will inevitably be compared to other movies set in the land of Oz and will have to compete with other holiday season box office releases. Notably, Wicked will be up against the potential release of Moana 2 on the same day. The true challenge for Wicked lies in successfully adapting a beloved story that has thrived in both stage and literary forms, while ensuring that the characters, storyline, and music remain as captivating as ever.

Wicked's CGI & Visuals

Wicked's CGI settings and magical elements have already become divisive.

Glinda (Ariana Grande) wears a big pink gown and crown and stands inside a bubble in Wicked. - Wicked's CGI settings and magical elements have already become divisive. - Wicked's CGI & Visuals

Creating a captivating and visually enchanting world is a key challenge for any fantasy production. Nowadays, many movies rely heavily on CGI, often resulting in artificial and unconvincing settings. The initial reception of the first Wicked trailer has been mixed, with some criticizing the perceived low quality of the CGI used.

Wicked Needs To Sell Itself As A Musical

Wicked, as a musical, needs to effectively market itself to audiences. The 2013 movie Oz the Great and Powerful may have gone overboard with its production design, while the Wizard of Oz movie relied on practical effects and sets, giving it a nostalgic appeal. In comparison, the Wicked trailer only offers quick glimpses of the setting, but too much of it could be overwhelming for viewers. Therefore, Wicked must find the right balance in showcasing its unique and captivating elements to attract audiences.

Advertising movie musicals like Wicked can be difficult.

Cynthia Erivo in Wicked trailer - Advertising movie musicals like Wicked can be difficult. - Wicked Needs To Sell Itself As A Musical

The Wicked trailer only includes short snippets of the musical's songs, highlighting a common issue with advertising movie musicals. Producers struggle to effectively showcase the soundtrack in a way that captures the essence of the film. For instance, the recent Mean Girls movie mainly promoted Olivia Rodrigo's song "get him back!" instead of the Broadway tunes. Despite this, the trailer's focus on elaborate dance sequences still hinted at the musical nature of Mean Girls.

To avoid any confusion for viewers, Wicked must find a way to clearly indicate that it is a musical. If the movie fails to emphasize this aspect in its marketing, audiences may feel disoriented during the viewing experience. Even if they are aware that Wicked is based on a Broadway show, this knowledge may not fully register if the promotional material does not highlight the musical elements. Ultimately, this could negatively impact Wicked's performance at the box office.

Extending Wicked's Story

The Wicked adaptation needs expand the plot to fill up two movies.

Dorothy wearing silver shoes alongside Toto in Wicked - The Wicked adaptation needs expand the plot to fill up two movies. - Extending Wicked's Story

To enhance the movies and deepen the storyline of Wicked, filmmakers can refer back to the original book for additional inspiration. This can help bring more depth and complexity to the narrative.

The Wicked show is longer than the average movie — but not quite long enough for two full movies. Dorothy's appearance in the Wicked trailer suggests that additional connections to The Wizard of Oz might add to the runtime. Wicked might also look to the original book for more ideas to add to the plot. This will hopefully enrich the movies and further develop the nuanced story of Wicked. On the other hand, it runs the risk of feeling unnecessary and making people wonder why they didn't try to make it one movie.

The Potential of Wicked to Expand its Story and Characters

Stephen Schwartz is writing new songs for the Wicked movie.

Wicked: - Stephen Schwartz is writing new songs for the Wicked movie. - The New Wicked Songs Living Up To The Old Ones

Adapting Dr. Dillamond's Storyline

Stephen Schwartz, the talented composer behind Wicked, is currently working on two new songs for the upcoming Wicked movies. These songs are expected to be featured in Wicked Part Two: For Good. While the original Wicked soundtrack holds a special place in Broadway history, Schwartz's new songs are sure to captivate audiences and enhance the storyline.

The story of Elphaba's favorite teacher is difficult to adapt.

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba looking concerned in the Wicked movie - The story of Elphaba's favorite teacher is difficult to adapt. - Adapting Dr. Dillamond's Storyline

A minor character in the Wicked play is Dr. Dillamond, an anthropomorphic goat who teaches Elphaba and Glinda for a period of time. Despite being labeled as "infamous" by Just Jared and disliked by Kristin Chenoweth, Dillamond's character is confirmed to appear in the Wicked movie.

According to Bowen Yang, who portrays Glinda's friend Pfannee, Dillamond will be featured in the movie as a female character. Yang mentioned, "The goat is staying, unfortunately. Right now it’s a lovely puppeteer named Louisa who has been delivering amazing line reads." There is even speculation that Idina Menzel may make a cameo as Dillamond.

Wicked Movie Being Compared To The Wizard Of Oz

The Wizard of Oz is a famous but very different movie from Wicked.

Scarecrow, Tin Man, Dorothy, and The Cowardly Lion cowering by door in The Wizard of Oz - The Wizard of Oz is a famous but very different movie from Wicked. - Wicked Movie Being Compared To The Wizard Of Oz

If you're expecting Wicked to be a direct continuation of The Wizard of Oz, you might be disappointed. The Wizard of Oz is a fun and heartwarming film about friendship and the importance of home. However, Wicked delves into more complex themes with greater depth and real-world implications. Additionally, the soundtracks of the two productions come from different eras and have distinct styles. Criticizing Wicked for not being like an 85-year-old movie seems unfair, and hopefully, it will be judged on its own merits.

Meshing The Tones of The Wicked Musical & Book

The Wicked musical is also very different from the book it is based on.

Wicked musical promo art with the Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch of the North - The Wicked musical is also very different from the book it is based on. - Meshing The Tones of The Wicked Musical & Book

The Wicked movie poses a unique challenge in terms of its source material. While it is commonly believed that the movie is based on both the musical and the book, there are differences to consider. The original novel by Maguire offers a more detailed and mature storyline compared to the colorful and whimsical tone of the musical. Star Erivo describes the movie as a tribute to both the show and the book, hinting at a blend of the two distinct tones. It will be intriguing to see how the film navigates the differences in approach to the Wizard of Oz story between the show and the book.

Wicked's Complicated Characters (Especially The Wizard)

Many of Wicked's characters are nuanced and morally gray.

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba putting her hat on and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard looking stunned in the Wicked trailer - Many of Wicked's characters are nuanced and morally gray. - Wicked's Complicated Characters (Especially The Wizard)

Wicked is a complex tale that delves into the idea of perception. The Wizard, portrayed by Jeff Goldblum, highlights this concept when he shares with Elphaba that in his homeland, many false beliefs are accepted as history. Interestingly, the Wizard and Madame Morrible, played by Michelle Yeoh, are seen as honorable figures by the citizens of Oz.

The best songs will be featured in the first Wicked movie.

In the story, Glinda understands that Elphaba is wrongly portrayed as a monster by the government of Oz. However, she chooses to go along with this unfair treatment to avoid becoming an outcast herself. Elphaba, on the other hand, has good intentions but is eventually forced to accept the role of the villain in the narrative. Adapting the characters for the Wicked movies presents a significant challenge as they need to be both loved and hated by the audience. It is important for the movies to maintain a complex discourse and avoid oversimplifying the characters.

The second part of Wicked might be disappointing due to the soundtrack.

Ariana Grande as Galinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in Wicked - The second part of Wicked might be disappointing due to the soundtrack. - All The Best Songs Will Be In The First Wicked Movie

Most of the standout songs in Wicked are performed in the first act of the show. Glinda's catchy tune "Popular" and Elphaba's powerful ballad "Defying Gravity" are among these. As a result, the second act may not feel as impactful in comparison. One way to address this is to highlight the emotional themes of the musical numbers in the latter part of the show.

"Thank Goodness" should delve into Glinda's feelings of remorse over her separation from Elphaba. On the other hand, the intense and darkly dramatic song "No Good Deed" should aim to be just as forceful as "Defying Gravity." Additionally, the prospect of Schwartz composing new songs for Wicked Part Two brings a glimmer of hope.

The Wicked Broadway Show Is Beloved

Like most adaptations, the Wicked movie has a lot to live up to.

Ariana Grande as Glinda leaning on Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in the Wicked movie - Like most adaptations, the Wicked movie has a lot to live up to. - The Wicked Broadway Show Is Beloved

In the end, Wicked is up against the common hurdle faced by any adaptation or remake: meeting the high expectations set by the original in the eyes of the fans. Adding to the pressure is the fact that many moviegoers may have only caught glimpses of the show and heard the soundtrack, further solidifying the musical's revered status. Adapting beloved Broadway productions is no easy feat, but successes like Chicago and Les Misérables have shown that it can be done. With any luck, Wicked will rise above these challenges and become the darling of the next year's Oscars, just like its musical movie predecessors.

Source: Playbill, Just Jared,Collider

Editor's P/S:

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the upcoming "Wicked" movie adaptation, highlighting the challenges and opportunities it faces. The author acknowledges the beloved status of the Broadway musical and the anticipation surrounding the film. They delve into the complexities of adapting such a beloved story, particularly in terms of expanding the plot and balancing the tones of the musical and the book.

However, the article also raises concerns about the film's visual effects and the potential for the second part to be less impactful due to the distribution of standout songs in the musical. It emphasizes the need for the film to effectively market itself as a musical and to avoid oversimplifying the characters, maintaining their nuanced and morally gray nature. Overall, the article presents a well-rounded examination of the challenges and potential of the "Wicked" movie adaptation, leaving readers with a sense of both excitement and apprehension.