Wicked Film Adaptation Expands Story with New Songs, Five-Hour Runtime, and Addresses Initial Criticism
Jon M. Chu's two-part "Wicked" film adaptation expands its story with new songs and scenes, totaling five hours, despite facing initial criticism for its execution.
Oz Has Never Been Less Wonderful
The Atlantic
Overview
- Filmmaker Jon M. Chu has adapted the beloved Broadway musical "Wicked" into an ambitious two-part cinematic experience, translating its complex narrative to the big screen.
- The sequel to the musical adaptation introduces new songs and scenes, significantly expanding the original story and adding depth to the beloved narrative.
- The complete film, including its first part, boasts an approximate five-hour runtime, allowing for extensive exploration of emotional and romantic scenes within the story.
- Elphaba, known as the Wicked Witch of the West, faces exile and is branded as such, setting the stage for her dramatic actions after defying the Wizard.
- Despite the ambitious efforts and expanded content, the film adaptation of "Wicked" has encountered criticism regarding its execution and overall presentation.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame 'Wicked: For Good' as a creatively ambitious and emotionally resonant adaptation. The interviewer's enthusiastic questions and positive descriptive language emphasize the film's enhanced central friendship and impactful new scenes, portraying the production as a triumph of collaborative storytelling that successfully expands upon its source material.
"The film picks up right after Elphaba’s designation as the Wicked Witch of the West has been unfairly thrust upon her, as she is forced to live in exile after threatening to overthrow the Wizard."
Deadline"The conclusion to Elphaba and Glinda’s story, Wicked: For Good, is now in theaters."
Deadline"Things are darker in Oz this time."
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FAQ
The 'Wicked: For Good' adaptation introduces new songs and scenes, including 'Everyday More Wicked' written by Stephen Schwartz and performed by Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Yeoh, Ariana Grande, and the cast. Additional scenes expand on emotional and romantic arcs, particularly focusing on the evolving relationship between Elphaba and Glinda, as well as the impact of their choices on other characters.
The complete two-part 'Wicked' film adaptation has an approximate five-hour runtime, significantly longer than the original Broadway musical, which typically runs for about two and a half hours. This extended runtime allows for deeper exploration of the story and characters.
The adaptation was split into two films because the creative team found it difficult to condense the story into a single movie without omitting important scenes or songs. Composer Stephen Schwartz noted that the song 'Defying Gravity' is designed to end Act I, and continuing without a break felt anti-climactic.
Despite its ambitious expansion and new content, the 'Wicked' film adaptation has faced criticism regarding its execution and overall presentation, with some reviewers questioning the effectiveness of the expanded runtime and new scenes.
The main cast returning for 'Wicked: For Good' includes Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Ariana Grande as Glinda, and Jonathan Bailey as Prince Fiyero. Other notable cast members include Ethan Slater as Boq and Marissa Bode as Nessarose.
History
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4 articles