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Wicked (2024 film)
The poster mimics Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam and is pink on the left and green on the right. Glinda is at the bottom left in a pink dress, reaching up to Elphaba, who's at the top right in a black dress, witch's hat, and on a broomstick, reaching down to Glinda. In the middle, both hands are outstretched but not touching, and the film's tagline is written in white text on separate lines: "Everyone deserves the chance to fly." The landscape of the Land of Oz is in the background.
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Jon M. Chu
Produced by
  • Marc Platt
  • David Stone
Screenplay by
  • Winnie Holzman
  • Dana Fox
Starring
Music by
  • John Powell (score)
  • Stephen Schwartz (score and songs)
Cinematography Alice Brooks
Editing by Myron Kerstein
Studio
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date(s) November 3, 2024 (2024-11-03) (State Theatre)
November 22, 2024 (2024-11-22) (United States)
Running time 160 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $150 million
Money made $729.1 million

Wicked (also known as Wicked: Part I) is a 2024 American musical fantasy film. It was directed by Jon M. Chu and written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox. The movie is based on the first part of the 2003 stage musical. This musical was inspired by Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel, which tells a new story about the Oz world and the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.

The film stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp and Ariana Grande as Galinda Upland. Other actors include Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum. The story takes place in the magical Land of Oz, before Dorothy Gale arrives from Kansas. It follows Elphaba, who will become the Wicked Witch of the West, and her friendship with her classmate Galinda, who later becomes Glinda the Good.

Universal Pictures and Marc Platt, who also produced the stage musical, announced the movie in 2012. The movie was filmed in England starting in December 2022. It was split into two parts to tell the full story and show more about the characters.

Wicked first showed in Sydney, Australia, on November 3, 2024. It was released in the United States on November 22. The film received good reviews and became very popular. It was named one of the best films of 2024 by the American Film Institute. It also won Best Film at the National Board of Review. The movie was nominated for many awards, including ten at the 97th Academy Awards. It won Best Costume Design and Best Production Design. Wicked has earned over $729 million worldwide. This makes it the highest-grossing Oz film ever and the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2024. The next movie, Wicked: For Good, is set to come out on November 21, 2025.

Meet the Cast of Wicked

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo at the Wicked Premiere in Los Angeles
Jonathan Bailey at the Wicked Premiere in Los Angeles
Jeff Goldblum at the Wicked Premiere in Los Angeles
Michelle Yeoh at the Wicked Premiere in Los Angeles
Ethal Slater at the Wicked Premiere in Los Angeles
Marissa Bode at the Wicked Premiere in Los Angeles
The cast includes (from top left) Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater, and Marissa Bode.

The movie features a talented group of actors bringing the characters to life:

  • Cynthia Erivo plays Elphaba Thropp. She is a young woman with green skin who is often misunderstood. She later becomes the Wicked Witch of the West.
    • Karis Musongole plays young Elphaba.
  • Ariana Grande plays Galinda "Glinda" Upland. She is a popular student who becomes Glinda the Good.
  • Jonathan Bailey plays Fiyero Tigelaar. He is a prince from Winkie Country who meets Elphaba and Galinda at school.
  • Ethan Slater plays Boq Woodsman. He is a Munchkin who is in love with Galinda.
  • Bowen Yang plays Pfannee, one of Glinda's friends at college.
  • Peter Dinklage is the voice of Dr. Dillamond. He is a talking goat and history professor at Shiz University. He becomes friends with Elphaba.
  • Michelle Yeoh plays Madame Morrible. She is the Dean of Sorcery at Shiz University.
  • Jeff Goldblum plays the Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
  • Marissa Bode plays Nessarose Thropp. She is Elphaba's younger sister who cannot walk.
    • Cesily Collette Taylor plays young Nessarose.
  • Bronwyn James plays Shenshen, another one of Galinda's college friends.
  • Andy Nyman plays Governor Thropp, Elphaba and Nessarose's father.
  • Keala Settle plays Miss Coddle, the headmistress of Shiz University.

Special Appearances

Some familiar characters from the Oz stories also appear:

  • The Cowardly Lion appears as a cub.
  • Dorothy Gale, the girl from Kansas, is seen briefly with her dog Toto.
  • The Scarecrow, Tin Man, and an adult Cowardly Lion also have short appearances.
  • Robin Guiver plays Chistery, the leader of the Wizard's monkey army. He is Elphaba's favorite winged monkey.

The movie also features special guest appearances from actors who were in the original Wicked musical:

  • Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who first played Elphaba and Glinda on stage, appear as members of the Emerald City Players.
  • Book writer and screenwriter Winnie Holzman and composer Stephen Schwartz also have small roles.

Awards and Achievements

Main article: List of accolades received by Wicked (2024 film)

Wicked has won many awards and nominations. It was the first fantasy film to win Best Film at the National Board of Review. It was also the first musical film to win this award since Moulin Rouge! in 2001. The American Film Institute named it one of the top 10 films of 2024.

At the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, Wicked won for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement. It was also nominated for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Cynthia Erivo was nominated for Best Actress, and Ariana Grande for Best Supporting Actress.

The film received 11 nominations at the 30th Critics' Choice Awards. It won three awards: Best Director for Jon M. Chu, Best Production Design, and Best Costume Design.

Wicked also led the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards with five nominations. These included Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for Jonathan Bailey.

At the 97th Academy Awards, Wicked received ten nominations. This included Best Picture, Best Actress for Erivo, and Best Supporting Actress for Grande. It won Best Costume Design and Best Production Design.

What's Next: The Sequel

Main article: Wicked: For Good

The second part of the movie, Wicked: For Good, will continue the story. It is planned to be released on November 21, 2025. The creators have also talked about possibly making more Wicked movies in the future.

See also

  • Other movies based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
  • Films made one after another
  • Films released in parts
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