The Wicked The musical has been adapted into two individual movies, with one particular moment from the Broadway show serving as the logical end to Part 1. The massively popular prequel story for The Wizard of Oz was first brought to Broadway back in 2003, and its quick success on stage meant that an eventual movie was inevitable. Of course, there were significant challenges involved with bringing Wicked To the screen, and after years of development hell, two major motion pictures are on the way. This was, ultimately, the only way to pull off such a project.
Universal Pictures has director Jon M. Chu (in the heights) both both Wicked Movies starring Cynthia Ervio as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Ariana Grande as her Wizard of Oz Enemy, Galinda the Good. The first movie, which hits theaters on November 22, 2024, sees the duo at school together as an unlikely friendship forms. However, they are destined to be at odds with one another, a story that Bad: Part 2 Be sure to explore. of course, Chu had to find the perfect place to split Wicked In the two films— and the musical provided a major opportunity.
Bad Part 1 is expected to end after Defying Gravity
Defying Gravity is the final scene of Wicked’s First Act
The first Wicked The movie is expected to end after the musical number “Defying Gravity,” Which serves as the finale of the first act of the Broadway show. While Act 2 contains some exceptional scenes, Elphaba’s big moment comes in “Defying Gravity,” making it the climactic high point of the overall story. This allows for a natural stopping point for the first movie. What’s more, the following act picks up after a small time jump, which should make the beginning of Bad: Part 2 An organic continuation of the first film.
The Wicked songwriter has already explained why Defying Gravity had to end Part 1
Stephen Schwartz explains the role “defying gravity” has split the bad movies
“Defying Gravity” is a convenient place to leave these Wicked movie, but composer Stephen Schwartz, who worked on the original musical and the films, explained that the song was the primary reason the show had to be split into two films. Although the desire to retain all the important moments of the 2-hour and 45-minute show was a significant motivator, Schwartz found that continuing a movie after “Defying Gravity” was challenging to pull off. “This song was written specifically to bring down a curtain– he said,And whatever scene to follow it without a break just seemed very anti-climactic.”
Audience watching the Wicked Musically watch the curtain fall after “Defying Gravity” and have a moment when the lights come up to fully process the magic they just experienced. After the intermission, they are welcomed back to a brand new OzIn which Elphaba and Galinda (now Glinda) both left their innocent school days and officially stepped into their roles as the bad and good witches. Fitting this transition into a single film that wouldn’t come with the moment to break free from the illusion would certainly have felt awkward in comparison.
How bad part 1 splitting the musical will set up part 2
Wicked Part 1 is the prequel, while Part 2 takes place during The Wizard of Oz
As previously mentioned, the two acts of Wicked Split Elphaba and Glinda’s stories into their school days and adult years. For this reason, the first Wicked Movie will be primarily dedicated to the two developing their unlikely friendship, as well as the development of their magical powers. “Defying Gravity” comes as Elphaba realizes that the Wizard of Oz is a man of smoke and mirrors. She thought his power could save Oz, but the big moment is when she accepts that she can only count on herself, even if that means she has to become the Wicked Witch of the West.
Looking at the story like this, it is clear that there was no other option than to divide Wicked into two films.
The second act of Wicked Takes place during the events of The Wizard of Oz But from Elphaba’s perspective rather than that of Dorothy and her companions. In this way, the first Wicked Movie will be the truth Wizard of Oz Prequel, which will set up the characters who will ultimately play a role in Dorothy’s iconic journey and the fall of the deeply misunderstood Wicked Witch. Looking at the story like this, it is clear that there was no other option than to split Wicked In two films. This is how the story was made to be told.