The 2024 movie musical Wicked, inspired by the multi-award-winning hit Broadway musical of the same name, was released on November 22, 2024. The film stars Ariana Grande as Glinda, Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, and Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero.
The plot of Wicked follows Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz. In Wicked, the Wicked Witch of the West (known as Elphaba) begins attending Shiz University and becomes friends with the popular Glinda who grows up to be Glinda the Good (Glinda the Good Witch).
“I really like the musical and I really like Cynthia Erivo and it’s gonna be really good,” said Brandon Hirsh, senior. Hirsh has seen the musical twice for the Broadway (West End) show. He said Wicked is not his favorite show, but he does think the movie will be really good because they can go in a lot more depth. “I think hearing [the cast] sing [the songs] in a different way than a lot of the people who are on Broadway sing it,” said Hirsh.
The film has garnered mass attention from theater fans all over. Many fans of the Broadway show have been looking forward to seeing the film with friends and family. Some fans who plan on going to see the film in theaters also plan on dressing up in either green or pink to represent the film’s two main characters Elphaba and Glinda.
“The cast is really good, and I’m looking forward to how they’ve changed the songs,” said Syd Worth, senior.
Worth went to go see Wicked The Musical with his family at DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center) when he was young. Worth also loved listening to the Broadway soundtrack when he was growing up so this movie is very meaningful to him.
“The cast [of the film] is really good and I’m looking forward to how they’ve changed the songs,” said Worth. Worth said when he saw the show at DPAC he really enjoyed the score of the show.
The film has also taken part in many collaborations with different brands including Crocs, Bloomingdale’s, Béis, Gap, H&M, Voluspa, Lego, and Conair to name a few. The film has also started many trends across social media that have become very popular with audiences looking forward to the film’s release.
“I have been a Wicked fan since day one, and I saw the musical at DPAC, and I’m excited to see Ariana, too. I’m so excited,” said Lucy Varela, freshman. Varela said she thinks Wicked is a really good musical and very excited that the movie adaptation is finally in theaters now. “I really wanna hear ‘Defying Gravity’ with [Cynthia Erivo],” said Varela.
As of the release day of the film, it has already received a 4.4 out of 5-star rating from fans with one 5-star review saying, “There are movies that come to mark your soul, and Wicked is one of them. From the first minutes, its magic enveloped me completely, taking me on an endless emotional journey.”
Diana Valentina Alvarado Gonzalez, sophomore, is looking forward to Ariana Grande’s interpretation of the beloved character of Glinda and how she compares to the original Glinda, who was played by Kristen Chenoweth.
Alvarado Gonzalez has seen the show in the past. “I really like the overall message [the show] gave,” said Alvarado Gonzalez. “[I’m looking forward to] the singing, I really like musicals.”
The film will be a smash hit with fans from all around the world who cannot wait to see what the film brings to the “Wicked universe”.
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