Wicked director Jon M. Chu (In the Heights) says he wants audiences to feel like they are transported to Oz. To accomplish that goal, his team built Emerald City and Munchkinland. The production team grew 9 million tulips, the forest set is enormous, and the train featured in the film actually weighs 16 tons. Chu took incredible steps to ensure audiences would feel immersed in the magical world of Wicked.
“To see all that detail, all of it adds to the things that you can imagine,” says two-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo, who stars as Elphaba. Ariana Grande (Glinda) added, “A lot of it is real, physical, tangible sets.”
“Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy, and Tony-winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart,” reads Universal Pictures’ synopsis.
“The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.”
Joining Grande and Erivo are Michelle Yeoh as Shiz University’s regal headmistress Madame Morrible; Jonathan Bailey (Fellow Travelers) as Fiyero, a roguish and carefree prince; Tony nominee Ethan Slater (Fosse/Verdon) as Boq, an altruistic Munchkin student; Marissa Bode in her feature-film debut as Nessarose, Elphaba’s favored sister; and pop culture icon Jeff Goldblum as the legendary Wizard of Oz.
The cast of characters includes Pfannee and ShenShen, two conniving compatriots of Glinda played by Emmy nominee Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live) and Bronwyn James (Harlots); a new character created for the film, Miss Coddle, played by Tony nominee Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman), and four-time Emmy winner Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) as the voice of Dr. Dillamond.
Wicked is written by Winnie Holzman, based on the musical Wicked, music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Winnie Holzman, from the novel by Gregory Maguire. Marc Platt and David Stone serve as producers, with Schwartz, David Nicksay, and Jared LeBoff executive producing.
Wicked opens in theaters on November 22, 2024. Part Two follows on November 26, 2025.
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