From over-the-top pink and green outfits to powerful ballads, Wicked has taken over our lives (and for you pages). You literally can’t scroll without seeing Ariana and Cynthia holding space. It’s a musical phenomenon that took Broadway by storm and is now in theatres. Maybe you’re a die-hard theatre kid, or you could be completely oblivious to the whole story. If you’re the latter, you might be wondering where the movie actually fits into The Wizard of Oz timeline. Let’s break down the story, the drama, and how a kind, green girl became the Wicked Witch of the West.
Vocals
What makes this movie a big film is the vocals have actors sing live on the set, which stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande said was a “no-brainer” that allowed them to really connect to their material. Some key songs are “I’m Not That Girl,” “Popular,” “Defying Gravity,” “Dancing Through Life,” and more.
Stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo sang all of the songs live while filming in London, bringing such intensity that it shook things up behind the scenes. Indeed, John Chu’s epic musical, the first of a two-part release, is that witches Glinda (Grande) and Elphaba (Erivo) really did make the cast and crew cry.
“Live singing affected the entire mood of the set,” said cinematographer Alice Brooks during an exclusive interview with NBC Insider. The hundreds of technicians and grips who worked on the film apparently melted every day hearing Erivo’s breathtaking soprano and Grande’s bright vocals.
For Ariana Grande, ‘Wicked’ represents a full-circle moment in her career. Known for her chart-topping hits and powerhouse vocals, Ariana has always had a theatrical edge to her music. This role not only fulfills a lifelong dream but also cements her versatility as an artist capable of commanding both the stage and the screen. As she balances her music career with acting, Ariana’s Glinda could mark the beginning of a new chapter—one where she seamlessly merges her love for Broadway with her global stardom.
Background
“Wicked” is a highly successful Broadway musical that has been running for years and continues to be performed in various theaters worldwide. It tells the story of the Wicked Witch of the West (Elphaba) and Glinda the Good Witch from The Wizard of Oz, but from a different perspective. It’s based on the 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire.
As of 2024, Wicked is still playing on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre in New York City. It’s also being staged in other major cities and countries around the world, as the musical is a global sensation. Furthermore, the new Wicked movie premiered in theatres last week starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
Wicked Recap
Wicked opens right where The Wizard of Oz ends, where the munchkins are celebrating the Wicked Witch’s death. We get a flashback of little Elphaba where we discover that her unique green skin is the result of her mother drinking a green elixir while cheating with the Mayor of Munchkinland. We also find out that Elphaba’s little sister, Nessarose, was born with disabilities after their dad forced their mom to chew milkweed during pregnancy so she would be white and not green. The milkweed also killed their mother.
Fast forward to Shiz University, where Elphaba’s main mission is babysitting Nessarose. But life at Shiz gets complicated. Elphaba and Glinda become best friends, and Elphaba kicks off a new movement to stop the silence of talking animals. This is where she frees a lion cub from captivity. This lion turns out to be the Cowardly Lion.
Obviously there is a ton of lore and connection between Wicked and The Wizard of Oz. Let’s get into some more.
Wicked Lore
Wicked takes place before The Wizard of Oz. The two stories overlap briefly, with the tornado that drops Dorothy’s house in Oz. Elphaba is on the run, Nessarose is the governor of Munchkinland, and things are spiraling fast.
We see the famous ruby red slippers, which were originally Nessarose’s and were cursed by Elphaba so that she could walk. The house that gets thrown in the tornado is the house that lands on Nessarose. That is also the tornado that controversially makes Dorothy an accidental murderer. There’s also Boq’s transformation. To protect Fiyero, Elphaba casts a spell to make him un-killable. He becomes the Scarecrow.
The timelines officially overlap when Dorothy arrives, Elphaba captures her to get Nessarose’s ruby slippers back. Dorothy retaliates with a bucket of water, and then the witch melts. Elphaba fakes her own death. She and Scarecrow (Fiyero) run off together, leaving Glinda to rule Oz.
Easter Eggs
Obviously, as I just explained, one of the easter eggs in Wicked is the characters. Fiyero is the scarecrow, Boq is the Tin Man, and the cub Elphaba saves is the lion. Although we know Dorothy won’t be part of Wicked until the second movie, we do get to see a version of these characters come to life in the first film.
Glinda’s Pink Ball Gown
One of the most iconic looks from the original Wizard of Oz movie is Glinda’s pink bejeweled ball gown she wears while in her magical bubble. Wicked sees Ariana Grande wearing an updated version of that gown as Glinda rides in her magical bubble. But keep in mind — Glinda’s outfit in the musical is different from her light blue dress.
Fiyero’s Blue Outfit
Fiyero is famous for his white shirt and cream-colored pants in the Wicked musical, but we first meet the Winkie prince while he’s wearing this elaborate cerulean and gold embellished ensemble.
This change of costume may be a small nod to the appearance of Fiyero in the Wicked novel, as he’s described as having blue markings painted on his ochre-colored skin.
Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth’s Cameos
You can’t have a Wicked movie without the original Elphaba and Glinda in it!
Fans already picked up on Kristin Chenoweth making a cameo in the movie, and Idina Menzel is right alongside her in the process. Fans can see them portray actors in the Emerald City, telling the story of how the Wizard came to Oz and became all-powerful.
Red Poppies
Wizard of Oz fans may remember an iconic scene in which the Wicked Witch of the West magically causes Dorothy and her friends to fall asleep in a poppy field. Well, viewers will get to see the beginning of how Elphaba was able to do this in Wicked!
When Doctor Dillamond (played by Peter Dinklage) is captured and a new Shiz University professor is brought in his place, he brings in a lion cub who’s stuck in a cage. Not able to control her anger, Elphaba manages to summon poppies and put everyone (except for Fiyero) to sleep. This leads the two to rescue the animal, with Fiyero wondering why he’s the only one immune to this interesting quirk of Elphaba’s.
Red Ruby Slippers
You know those red ruby slippers Dorothy is famous for wearing in The Wizard of Oz? Well, they make an appearance in Wicked … just not in the way one would think.
During the scene where Glinda sings “Popular,” folks see her toss Elphaba a pair of red ruby sequined heels. While they aren’t the silver shoes that Elphaba’s sister Nessarose (played by Marissa Bode) is seen wearing and later gets passed on to Dorothy, it’s definitely a fun moment!
Nessa Rose’s Silver Shoes
As for the silver shoes Nessarose receives from her and Elphaba’s father before attending Shiz University, this is actually a nod to the creator of The Wizard of Oz universe.
When the 1939 movie was in production, author L. Frank Baum originally wanted Dorothy’s shoes to be a silver color. Playbill notes they were changed to red for an eye-popping effect, but the Wicked musical honored Baum’s wishes by bringing the color back onstage. So, it totally makes sense that the shoes would stay silver in the Wicked movie.
Hot Air Balloon
As Elphaba and Glinda try to escape the Emerald City and Madame Morrible and the Wizard’s wrath, they do so by jumping into a hot air balloon.
While it’s unclear why the Wizard had a hot air balloon, we do know he leaves Oz in one at the end of the musical. What’s more, in The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy tried to use one as a way to get back home to Kansas.
Press Tour
In every single interview Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have partaken in for the Wicked press tour, they have mostly ended up finishing it crying. Their poor eyes are permanent red puffs this month. Well, if it all seemed a touch dramatic – we finally know why. Cynthia says “This experience was a huge life-changing, crazy, emotional thing.”
Overall
While The Wizard of Oz portrays Elphaba as evil, Wicked flips the narrative and shows Elphaba as human and kind. She is just caught in a bad situation. Elphaba isn’t wicked, she’s actually just misunderstood. And Glinda? She’s not just good, she’s complex and flawed.
So, there you have it – the full Wicked timeline. Whether you’re a fan or new to Oz, this story proves there’s always more than one side to every tale. Wicked is out in theatres and is an amazing movie! Go see it now!
