Spoiler Warning: Major spoilers for Wicked: Part 1 ahead!The musicalWickedwas a smash hit that came out onBroadwayin 2003 following the untold stories of the witches of Oz. Yes, likeThe Wizard of Oz. The original casting featuredIdina Menzelas Elphaba andKristin Chenowethas Galinda/Glinda. Since 2003, the musical has gained a large following of fans, and over twenty years later in 2024, the world has been graced with aWickedmovie with a star-studded cast, huge budget, and great ratings.But thisWickedmovie is unique, as it only covers Act 1 of the stage show.
Wicked: Part 2,covering Act 2, will come out next year in 2025. A year-long intermission!While theWickedmovie is very well-received as a loyal adaptation of the stage show, there are a handful of differences between the movie and the stage show.Beyond the intermission between acts being about a year longer than the one on Broadway, of course.
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10The Runtime
The movie is the same length as the entire runtime of the stage show.
Wickedon Broadway is about 2 hours and 45 minutes. TheWickedmovie is 2 hours and 40 minutes, and it just covers Act 1! So to put it into perspective,theWickedmovie is about double the length of the stage show. With this comes a lot of scenes and moments that can be lengthened. It also gives more time to get to know the characters on a deeper level.
Before the film came out,fans of Wicked were worriedabout this time discrepancy, wondering what exactly would be added. However, since the film has come out, fans are generally happy with the lengthened time. Rather than add or change plot points, it just lengthened what fans of the stage show already loved.
9The Costumes
There are more costumes on display in the movie.
Both the Broadway and movie versions ofWickedhave gorgeous costuming, but they are different. Of note,Glinda rocks a blue bubble dress in the stage version, while in the movie, Glinda rocks a pink dress more similarly reflecting the dress from Glinda inThe Wizard of Oz.
There are also many more costumes in the movie than in the stage version. For example, during most of the beginning of the stage show, Elphaba wears the same blue outfit. But in the movie version, she cycles through several outfits, most of them being black or dark blue. In the same sequence for “What Is This Feeling,“Elphaba and Galinda bothcycle through multiple outfits to represent days passing by.More costume changes are something that lends itself to the film format, and that is a noticeable difference.
8The Stunts
The movie utilizes more stunts in its choreography.
Stunts are another thing that the film format lends itself to, as unlike on the stage where only practical effects can be used, in film, special effects can also be used. There are many stunts in the film that are not in the stage show. The “Defying Gravity” sequence hasCynthia Erivo flipping through the air as Elphaba. “Popular” hasAriana Grandeas Galinda dancing atop balconies, spinning from light fixtures, and climbing boxes. “Dancing Through Life” hasJonathan Bailey,Ethan Slater, and many other actors spinning around a spinning library and performing very complicated and risky moves.
Overall, there is a lot that the film gaveWickedfans, as often when watching stage productions, fans must suspend their disbelief at times when it comes to certain scenes. But, additionally, the stunts gave fans of the Broadway production things that they didn’t expect!
7The Score
There are more references to Act 2.
Most great musicals make use of leitmoifs, or musical motives that are specially aligned and associated with a particular character, scene, emotion, etc. WhileWickedin general makes use of this throughout, the movie implemented this idea even further. “Unlimited” is a motif that is one of the most repeated throughout the songs ofWicked,butthe movie had Elphaba sing this again before the end of “Defying Gravity”, where it wasn’t in the original soundtrack.
Additionally, there are many more references to songs from Act 2, which will undoubtedly appear in Part 2, especially “For Good.“There are several moments throughout the movie where the melody to “For Good” is heard, specifically in important and special moments between Elphaba and Glinda. This is a prime example of a leitmotif being used in a way that previousWickedfans will already have noticed, but the casual moviegoer will not notice until rewatching afterseeing Part 2 next year.
6"Popular”
The musical number is longer and more elaborate in the movie.
“Popular” is, ironically, one of the most popular songs inWicked.The scene with this song in the movie is longer than the stage show, with some extra time added on to the end of the song. Additionally, there are pauses in the song where Galinda is teaching Elphaba how to be popular.The scene in the movie is definitely a love letter to the song that so manyWickedfans love, and composer Steven Schwartz has said that he loves the lengthened ending to the song itself.
The scene itself is also more elaborate. In the stage show, the scene takes place with Elphaba sitting on a bed and Galinda dancing and singing around her. In the movie, a lot more happens within the scene. Galinda brings out a lot of props, such as shoes and accessories that Elphaba tries on.Ariana Grande as Galindaalso performs stunts such as hanging onto a chandelier and spinning around, as well as dancing on a balcony railing.
5"Dancing Through Life”
The Ozdust Ballroom scene is more emphasized in the movie.
The song “Dancing Through Life” and the Ozdust Ballroom sequence is one of the longest in the stage show. However, in the movie, it is even longer, and there is anincredibly touching dancing scene between Elphaba and Galindathat is emphasized. In the scene, when Elphaba is being laughed at and made fun of while dancing, Galinda steps forward and dances with her, the two previous enemies then embracing with understanding. It is a beautiful scene of understanding, friendship, apology, and forgiveness.
For some context, in theoriginal WickedBroadway cast recording, “Dancing Through Life” is about seven minutes and thirty seconds. In theWickedoriginal movie soundtrack, “Dancing Through Life” is nearly ten minutes, and then there is a separate instrumental track called “Ozdust Duet” that is about two minutes. So, the scene length is nearly doubled! The Ozdust Ballroom scene is loved amongWickedfans, and the way that it was portrayed in the film is not only touching, butit truly represents a bonding between Galinda and Elphaba that is beautiful to watch for new and old fans alike.
4"Defying Gravity”
The musical number is given more space as an impactful end to Act 1.
“Defying Gravity” isthe most famous song inWicked, and for good reason. In this movie adaption,the “Defying Gravity” sequence is longer and involves a lot more. It is obvious that movies have the opportunity to include more effects than stage productions, butWickedreally went for it here. In the stage production, Elphaba rises into the air and sings the climax of the song while elevated in the same spot. In this version, she speeds through the sky all around on her broom, going upside down, into the clouds, and even falling before the climax of the song.
The song is also made longer with more pauses where action is going down. Additionally, before the last verse of the song,Elphaba sores into the clouds to sing the “unlimited” motif that is sung throughout the entire musical. This was not originally in “Defying Gravity,” but it works very well. The scene is visually and vocally stunning, and definitely brings new flair to the song that so many love and adore.
3Wiz-o-mania
The added section in “One Short Day” provides important plot information and surprise cameos.
The Wiz-o-mania section of the “One Short Day” sequence in the movie is longer. It tells a longer story of Oz, and to the surprise ofWickedfans,features very prominentcameos from Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth! The iconic originalWickedduo showed up to sing an extended portion of the song which included Idina’s iconic “Defying Gravity” riff!
Idina and Kristen play the wise women of Oz who tell the story to everyone watching, including Elphaba and Glinda.There is then a touching moment where these original actors stand by and sing to their new Elphaba and Glinda counterparts,Cynthia Erivoand Ariana Grande. It is fun, touching, and a great homage to the original Broadway production ofWicked. Plus, who doesn’t love a longerWickedsong?
2"No One Mourns The Wicked”
The movie shows Elphaba and Nessarose’s childhood.
Elphaba and Nessarose’s childhood is mentioned throughoutWicked’s stage productions, but in the movie, we actually get to see Elphaba as a baby and then both Elphaba and Nessarose (Melissa Bode) as small children; in it,Karis Musongoleplays the younger version of Elphaba andCesily Collette Taylor, young Nessarose. It is really fun to be able to get a peek into the childhood of these characters. Plus,there is a touching moment in “Defying Gravity” where Elphaba looks at an image of her childhood self in the mirror.
Both this moment in “Defying Gravity” and the scenes directly dedicated to Elphaba as a child add an extra level to her character.
We also get to see that Elphaba was cared for by a bear, Dulcibear (Sharon D. Clarke), in her childhood while her father neglected her, and this is another building block that leads toElphaba’s passion for saving and liberating the animals, which leads to “Defying Gravity” and is the main plot driving Act/Part 2. Both this moment in “Defying Gravity” and the scenes directly dedicated to Elphaba as a child add an extra level to her character.
1The References
The movie features more visual nods to ‘The Wizard of Oz’.
As aprequel toThe Wizard of Ozthat is based on a book, the stage showWickedhas a lot of both direct and indirect references toThe Wizard of Oz.Some of these are in Act 1, but many of these are in Act 2. In theWickedmovie, while just covers Act 1, there are many more references toThe Wizard of Oz.First off,the title screen that readsWicked: Part 1is in the same font as the title screen inThe Wizard of Oz.At the beginning of the film, we see Dorothy and crew walking with the witch’s broom, and the camera literally goes “over the rainbow.”
There are also many more indirect but super fun references, such as Galinda tapping together ruby slippers three times in “Popular.” Another reference features Elphaba riding a bike with a lion cub peeking out of a basket. Thisexactlymirrors the original witch inThe Wizard of Ozplayed byMargaret Hamilton, who biked just like that with Toto the dog peeking out of the basket. Plus, that lion cub may be another link toThe Wizard of Oz…but we’ll just have to wait forWicked: Part 2to see for sure!
