Wicked

Wicked — Release Date: November 22, 2024.
Directed by Jon M. Chu and written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, Wicked is a musical fantasy film adapting the first act of the long-running Broadway phenomenon. Based on Gregory Maguire’s novel and the stage musical by Stephen Schwartz and Holzman, the film stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp and Ariana Grande as Glinda Upland, reimagining the Land of Oz before the arrival of Dorothy.

Set years prior to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the story reframes a familiar myth through the unlikely friendship between two young women at Shiz University. Elphaba, born with green skin and extraordinary magical ability, grows up marginalized and mistrusted in Oz. Galinda, charismatic and ambitious, is determined to be adored and influential. Forced into proximity as roommates, their relationship begins with rivalry and misunderstanding before gradually evolving into a complex bond shaped by empathy, ambition, and moral divergence.

As Elphaba comes into her power under the guidance of Madame Morrible, she dreams of meeting the Wizard of Oz, believing he can help right the injustices faced by the sentient Animals of Oz. Galinda, meanwhile, pursues popularity and status, navigating romantic entanglements and institutional privilege. Their shared experiences—acts of rebellion, moments of vulnerability, and ethical awakening—draw them closer even as their paths begin to separate.

The film positions Oz as a society built on spectacle, propaganda, and quiet oppression. When Elphaba uncovers the truth behind the Wizard’s authority and the systemic silencing of Animals, she is forced into a defining choice: complicity or resistance. Her refusal to conform brands her as an enemy of the state, transforming her into the figure history will label the Wicked Witch of the West.

Jon M. Chu’s direction emphasizes scale, colour, and theatricality while grounding the spectacle in emotional intimacy. Lavish production design and choreography coexist with character-driven drama, allowing musical numbers to function as expressions of ideology and inner conflict rather than diversion.

Wicked is ultimately a story about how narratives are shaped—who gets remembered as a hero, who becomes a villain, and why. By centering friendship, moral courage, and the cost of standing apart, the film recontextualizes a classic myth through themes of power, identity, and choice, setting the stage for its concluding chapter.