Wicked started out as a broadway show based on the story of the wicked witch of the west from the Wizard of Oz from 1939. Now, the broadway show is being turned into a movie, a musical to be exact, and is releasing to theaters on November 22nd.

What makes Wicked such a highly anticipated movie? First off, there are plenty of renowned actors and actresses starring in the film., like Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, and Jonathan Bailey. Ariana Grande plays the role of Glinda, and was actually an actor before she was a pop star. She starred in Victorious and Sam & Cat, both of which are Nickelodeon TV shows. She was also in Swindle, a Nickelodeon TV movie, Zoolander 2, and Don’t Look Up. While some might question the famous pop star’s appearance in such a highly anticipated, high budget movie, they might want to think twice before casting their judgment on her acting skills. The other main role in this film is Elphaba, also known as ‘the wicked witch of the west,’ played by Cynthia Erivo. Erivo has acted in countless movies, but her best performance was in Harriet,  where she received an academy award for her portrayal of Harriet Tubman. Jonathan Bailey plays Fiyero Tigelaar, the main love interest. Bailey, like Erivo and Grande, has been in countless films, but is most well known for his role as Anthoney Bridgerton, in the Netflix series, Bridgerton.

Another reason for the high level of anticipation among the public for this movie, is because of its acclaimed director. The director of Wicked, Jon M. Chu is known for his work on Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights. Wicked also is expected to be a spectacular production because of its stunning details, visuals, and costumes, all of which are going to bring the story to life. Based on the voices of the lead actresses, it is easy to conclude that the film will also be a musical masterpiece, among everything else. Finally, just like in the Broadway show, the movie is being split into two parts. It promises to cover the entire narrative in depth. Part one, which is releasing this year, will end after the iconic musical number, “Defying Gravity,” and part two will release on November 21st of next year. 

What makes this film different from the Broadway show? The first difference between the show and the film, is that the film is going to take a deeper dive into Elphaba and Glinda’s pasts than was seen in the show. This is going to allow the audience to create a deeper connection with the characters, keeping them hooked for the sequel. Secondly, the film will include more elaborate visual effects and set designs than the show. This one seems a bit obvious, considering that a broadway show can’t use CGI. So it will be exciting to see the world of Oz brought to life in the most magical way. Finally, the movie will be adding on extra characters, and expanding on existing ones. An example of one of the extra characters being added to the show is young Elphalba. Played by Karis Musongole, young Elphalba will help viewers get a look into Elphalba’s past, and add emotion to the story. As for the expansion of existing characters, Madame Morrible, played by Michelle Yeoh, and The Wizard, played by Jeff Goldbum, will both have an added flair of personality that wasn’t seen in the original show. Overall, one of the biggest changes from show to film is going to be a more flushed out plot, backstories, and characters. 

‘Would you consider watching Wicked?’ In response to this question, 10th grader Gwen Connors responded, “Maybe. I feel like it would be fun to watch with my friends. I think we would enjoy it and have fun listening to the music, or just comparing it to the musical.” This quote implies that Connors knows enough about the musical to compare it to the new movie, validating how well known the musical really is. Connors suggestion of ‘comparing it to the musical’, also demonstrates how high the expectations are for this film. Another 10th grader, Mia Trakilovic, said, “I’ve seen clips of it so far, and it just looks very well put together.” Yes, the official trailer for Wicked is available to watch. The trailer paints a picture of what viewers will be able to expect going into the movie, and as Mia said, it seems ‘very well put together,’ also increasing the audience’s expectations for the merit of the film. 

Will Wicked transport its viewers into Oz, or leave them checking their watch? Watch the movie, in theaters November 22nd, to find out.