Since its Broadway debut in 2003, Wicked has gained much popularity, both in the United States and internationally. The play was based on Gregory Maguire’s novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. The original cast consisted of incredible performers like Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel, Stephen Schwartz, Norbert Leo Butz, Joel Grey, Christopher Fitzgerald, and Carole Shelley. However, long before it reached the stage, there was the Judy Garland version of The Wizard of Oz, which came out in 1939. This movie was based on the book by Frank L. Baum’s, The Wizard of Oz. Wicked is essentially a prequel for the classic movie.
Though the novel had such great success as a musical adaptation on Broadway, the dream was always to turn it into a modern on-screen adaptation. This dream came true when filming of the movie began in late 2022. Unfortunately, in mid-2023, filming stopped due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, but continued and finally wrapped up in 2024.
The movie’s cast includes Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda. It also includes Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, and Marissa Bode. The movie finally hit the theaters in late November of 2024. Since its release, the movie has had much success. It has made around $600 million in the box office, and has gathered an incredible amount of popularity over the course of the past few months.
What makes Wicked so beloved? One major reason is the LGBTQ+ representation, on and off the screen. Many of the cast members, including Cynthia Ervio and Jonathan Bailey identify as queer, making the movie a significant step forward in terms of LGBTQ+ representation in the media. Beyond representation, aspects of the movie like the choreography, the set designs, costumes, and of course, the songs, allow people to reminisce about the play.
Social media has also played a huge role in the movie’s popularity through a multitude of memes and hilarious videos, the iconic ‘Defying Gravity’ riff performed by Cynthia Ervio, and interviews of the cast. The heartwarming friendship of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Ervio is also celebrated. During most of the press tour, the two can be seen attached at the hip, constantly crying and holding hands.
Between its depiction of characters defying the expectations of society, the score, and the movie’s alluring cast, it was one of the most popular movies of 2024. Longtime fans and people who experienced the magic of this playwright for the first time have agreed that it should be cemented into cinematic history.