Evil has been a cultural phenomenon for more than two decades, since its debut on Broadway in 2003, thanks in large part to Winnie Holzman’s incisive book and Stephen Schwartz’s catchy songs. The pair reunited to adapt their work for the big screen, but discovered that the wonderful world of Oz was too big to be contained in just one film. Alongside director Jon M. Chu (who has already proven his musical credibility with In the heights), they developed a two-film plan, with Evil premieres on November 22nd and Wicked: Part II continuing in 2025.
Part 1 of Evil features Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo), who will become the Wicked Witch of the West from L. Frank Baum’s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Ozand Galinda Upland (Ariana Grande), better known as Glinda the Good. The two girls are students at Shiz University, where Elphaba is initially insulted for her unnaturally green skin, but soon impresses Madame Morrible with her supernatural magical abilities. Evil explores Elphaba’s family history and Glinda’s slow realization of the goodness within her roommate, juxtaposing their personal stories with the political turmoil surrounding talking animals in Oz.
ScreenRant interviewed Holzman and Schwartz about how they expanded the world of their musical in Evildiscussing how the two films could have reverted to one if their additions hadn’t worked as well as they did. The duo also praised Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s dedication to their roles and admired Jon M. Chu’s genius choice to connect Shiz via waterways.
Wicked Writers Explain How Their Broadway Musical Became Two Movies
“No one wanted to cut any songs – we actually wanted to add songs.”
Screen Rant: I was really scared Evil being split into two films, but after watching it now, I think it was very well done. The final moment ends on a fitting high note. Winnie, can you talk about the decision-making process of adding certain elements?
Winnie Holzman: Yes, it was done very carefully. We really enjoyed our time a lot. We didn’t say, “Let’s do this arbitrarily to resolve this.” We were very, very discerning and had long conversations – Steven and I along with Jon Chu, all of us with Marc Platt as well – just talking and weighing the two options.
In the end, as Stephen said, we had too much story for one movie. We wanted fun, and the whole artistic achievement of being able to make these films was being able to explore our story and our characters in a little more depth; take a little longer. As we do this, it adds up. And no one wanted to cut any songs – we actually wanted to add songs.
Finally, Jon had a lot of confidence in the idea of doing two, and he’s a very persuasive guy. We could just feel your insides [knowledge]. And Marc had a moment with the two of us where he said, “Look, if it turns out that it’s not really working as two, that one of them doesn’t seem to have enough integrity to be its own movie, let’s put them together.” And that was very comforting for us.
Stephen Schwartz: We could always go back to the idea of a movie, which is where we started, and just put in cuts and compress things so it’s not a six-hour movie. But it made the choice less scary knowing that if it didn’t work, we could always back out.
Wicked Composer Says Ariana Grande Knows Glinda Inside and Out
“It was especially important to Ariana that she be Glinda and not appear to be Ariana now playing at being Glinda.”
Screen Rant: Stephen, a big part of what makes Glinda such a unique, idiosyncratic, and iconic character is Kristin Chenoweth’s original performance. Did you work with Ariana on the sculpture of her own Glinda while also paying homage to who we know her to be on stage?
Stephen Schwartz: I produced the songs, so we were together in the studio working on their performances. Ariana and Cynthia in particular are such amazing singers that they ended up singing a lot live because they can.
But in terms of putting together the performance, it was exactly like you would do with any artist when preparing it. Both Cynthia and Ariana had very clear ideas about who the characters were and how they would embody them. Ariana saw the show when she was 10, I think, and she and Kristin are close friends, so she’s been thinking about it for a long time.
Actually, though, what was interesting was that it was important to Ariana, especially that she was Glinda and didn’t appear to be Ariana now playing at being Glinda. Many decisions were made to honor that, and that came from your own desire.
The Wicked director’s vision for Shiz was beyond the comprehension of even his screenwriters
“There was a part of us that imagined Oz the way he was [The Wizard of Oz].”
Screen Rant: Did you talk to Jon Chu specifically about Shiz’s design?
Winnie Holzman: The interesting thing is I remember the first time he talked about water. Do you remember this?
Stephen Schwartz: Yeah, we were like, “Water? What? There’s no water in Oz. What are you talking about?” We were so surprised. “I think they should come in boats.”
Winnie Holzman: I think that still happens, but I’m not sure because I’m the age I am. But when I was a kid and when Stephen was growing up, it was a big deal to watch The Wizard of Oz on television every year. That movie is so precious to our childhood and stuff, and it meant so much to us that when we were forming the musical, we held it in such high regard.
We knew we would nod our heads and sometimes be gently amused by it, but we could never deny its reality. We could never pretend that something that happened in the film didn’t happen. We tried really hard because of our genuine reverence for the film, even though we were very open-minded. We were thinking a lot about, “Could it be this, could it be that,” but there was a part of us that imagined Oz the way it was in the movie.
Stephen Schwartz: “What do you mean she’s on a cliff?”
Winnie Holzman: Yes, what cliff? [Laughs]
Some things you can explain and some things you just [follow]. I think an artist like Jon Chu knows inside that this is what he wants to do and that it will work. As much as he tried to explain it, until I actually saw it, I don’t think I understood the power of it. I’m just going to be a little intellectual for a second, but water is the symbol of the unconscious, and it’s the idea of water that takes you to another part of your consciousness. It’s the place where fantasy can be.
Maybe I’m exaggerating, but I think some part of him was evoking a dream state. Anyway, that’s what I think and I think it works. What I’m trying to say is that I think it works beautifully, and you could have locked me in a room for a million years, but I never would have thought of it.
More about Wicked Part 1 (2024)
Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars the powerful Emmy, Grammy and Tony winner Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, which still didn’t discover it. 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.
The two meet as students at Shiz University, in the fantastic Land of Oz, and create an unlikely but deep friendship. After an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda’s unwavering desire for popularity causes her to be seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself and those around her will have unexpected and shocking consequences for her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately lead them to fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
Check out our others Evil interviews here:
Source: Screen Rant Plus