Wicked movie: Everything you need to know (2024)

Wicked is finally happening! The filming is going smoothly — and secretly — and the release date for the two-part adaptation has already been announced, so we can only hope this original take on The Wizard of Oz really defies gravity on the big screen.

In case you haven't seen the musical or read the novel it's based on, Wicked is a retelling of The Wizard of Oz told from the perspectives of the witches. It follows the unlikely friendship of Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (Glinda the Good Witch), leading up to Elphaba's transformation into the Wicked Witch.

Cynthia Erivo and singer Ariana Grande are playing the main roles of Elphaba and Glinda, respectively. Here are the only official images released to date:

As mentioned above, the adaptation of the popular musical will be divided into two films, directed by Jon M Chu (In the Heights).

But what else do we know about Universal's adaptation of Wicked so far? Let's discuss.

Shop Now Wicked tickets (various dates, Apollo Victoria Theatre, London)

Wicked movie release date: When's it arriving?

The first part of Wicked will arrive in cinemas on November 27, 2024, while the second is set to arrive on December 26, 2025.

The adaptation was set to arrive on December 22, 2021, though that date announced was back in 2019. According to the musical's creator, Stephen Schwartz, the 2021 date was always a "fake date" and "there wasn't a prayer in hell" the movie would be released then (via The Hollywood Reporter).

Schwartz wrote the screenplay with Winnie Holzman (who wrote the book for the musical), so we're expecting the movie to live up to the quality of the musical.

Director Jon M Chu revealed (via Entertainment Weekly) that the movie doesn't include CGI or blue screen. "It's a fully immersive experience," he explained.

"This movie has everything: giant musical numbers, big action pieces. And using a classic story you all know, The Wizard of Oz, and at the end of the day, it's actually not about those things. It's about change and [how] it's necessary for things to get better," Chu teased.

Wicked movie cast: Who will be in it?

While we definitely wouldn't have been against the movie reuniting Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth as Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, from the original Broadway cast, we couldn't be more excited about Wicked's movie cast.

Cynthia Erivo is playing Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West and, as we find out, a deeply misunderstood villain in the original story.

The actress knows what it means to make it on Broadway: She won a Tony award for her performance as Celie in The Color Purple. Her voice is otherworldly — a requirement to tackle the iconic song 'Defying Gravity'.

After years of dreaming about the role, Ariana Grande got her wish to play Glinda in the movie adaptation of Wicked. Grande has a load of experience as a television actor, starting out on Nickelodeon, and has made cameo appearances in a handful of films. And, of course, she knows a thing or two about singing. She's been on Broadway, too, appearing as Charlotte in the 2008 musical 13.

Grande further proved she was ready to play Glinda when she sang 'The Wizard and I' on NBC's A Very Wicked Halloween: Celebrating 15 Years on Broadway special.

Jonathan Bailey is playing Fiyero, the witches' romantic interest. As we see him reprise his role as Anthony Bridgerton in Bridgerton season three, Bailey will show his musical theatre experience on the big screen.

The rest of the cast includes recent Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All At Once) as Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard of Oz, Marissa Bode as Elphaba's sister Nessarose, Ethan Slater as munchkin Boq and Bowen Yang as Elphaba's classmate Pfannee.

Bronwyn James, Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman), Aaron Teoh and Colin Michael Carmichael have also been confirmed as part of the cast of Wicked.

Wicked movie songs: Any new ones?

Fans of the musical should prepare themselves for the movie not being exactly the same as the show.

Shop Now Wicked – original cast recording

In 2017, Schwartz told Variety that there will be "at least two" new songs and that won't be the only change.

"There are things that work on stage but won't work on film," he teased of the adaptation.

"In order to do something that will work on its own merits, you have to do something different. The only concern is people who would be coming expecting to see a filmed version of the play. They're not going to see that."

Wicked movie trailer: When will it land?

The movie is still being filmed, so we don't expect a trailer until at least late 2023.

Wicked will be released in cinemas on November 27, 2024.