‘Wicked’ the musical, first performed on the 10th of June 2003 on Broadway has now
been cinematically completed following the release of ‘’Wicked: for good’ in
November this year. It acts as the second part to the release of ‘’Wicked: part one’
last November, which became the biggest box office opening for a film based on a
Broadway musical, reaching $165 million. It now joins the list of over 100 musicals
which have been adapted into films. This translation from stage to screen is not a
new phenomenon, however a lot of recent adaptations have suffered stage fright and
fallen flat in the box office and reviews.
For instance, recent musicals turned into films include ‘Mean Girls,’ ‘Dear Evan
Hanson,’ and ‘In the Heights.’ Yet, all of these seem to have fallen flat for varied
reasons.
‘Mean girls’ seems to have been stuck in a vortex of adaptation for years. The
original cult classic film became a musical, and in 2024 the musical was then re-
adapted into a new movie. Yet this movie was proof that some things should be left
alone. The not so Fetch adaptation disappointed fans, butchering classic jokes from
the original film and songs from the musical. It seemed to deviate too far from the
original movie, with the new modern take not capturing audiences. The bits that were
kept and recycled fell flat as they were competing against culturally embedded
quotes and deliveries from the original cast. Therefore, this film strayed too far from
the original.
‘Dear Evan Hanson’ was an example of the flip side of the coin; it tried to stay too
true to the musical and fell flat on screen. It lacked the same connection as the
musical, as they made the choice to have Ben Platt as their protagonist. Whilst this
was a notable homage to him originating the part at 21 years old in 2016, it did not
translate as well when he was 27 playing a character a decade younger. With such
strong themes and topics surrounding adolescence in this film, the age gap left a
chasm between the audience and Evan. In this musical, the raw live performances
really add to the emotion of the musical- another element which seemed empty on
screen. Therefore, this film’s Achilles heel was its inability to adapt to filmic demand
and connect with audience members.
In the heights was an enjoyable movie with a stunning soundtrack, but it did not
come without faults. There was a lot of criticism around the demographic of the cast
not honouring the original message behind the film. Additionally, it fell victim to the
increasing usage of streaming, with the film opening to a mere 11 million dollars in
theatres. However, it performed better on streaming services- but still not amazingly.
Therefore, this film missed the cinematic buzz and demographically lost the whole
meaning behind its story.
‘Wicked’ however seems to offer a masterclass in these very areas where other adaptations have failed. It offers a beautiful balance between the old and the new and really cast a spell over cinema-goers. So, lets dissect the masterclass that is the film adaptation of the musical ‘Wicked’. It is important to note that ‘Wicked’ is an example of a perfect evolution, as the story originated as a book, developing into a musical, and then finishing with a film. Hence this is not the first time the story has been adapted into another entertainment media.
One thing that it does do is handsomely honour the version that came before it. This
film honoured the pacing of the musical splitting it into two parts which allowed for
sufficient plot and character development. Additionally, it pays respect to the original
musical by including the original actors. Now unlike Dear Evan Hanson, Idina
Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth were not front and centre. Instead, they had a small
part in one of the most upbeat songs in the first film, with the audience ecstatic to
see these actors reprise a small role in the beloved musical. On top of that, one of
the most beautiful homages is the ending shot of the second part. We see Glinda
dressed in white whisper something to Elphaba, echoing the original musical poster.
Therefore, the final image is a whisper of the old meeting the new, a portrait of a mix
between the past and the present. It is like a thank you to the musical from the
movie.
However, unlike ‘Dear Evan Hansen,’ the film was also not afraid to bring in new
elements. Yet it did not overdo it like ‘Mean Girls,’ as ‘Wicked’ managed to add new
elements that added depth to the already heart-warming tale. For instance, it
introduced 2 new songs to the musical. ‘No place like home’ belongs to Elphaba, and
‘the girl in the bubble’ to Glinda. These were slower, more ballad like songs that
contrasted the original soundtrack dramatized to fill a Broadway stage. However,
these more intimate songs allow for a connection fit for the silver screen. Therefore,
these choices allowed for the film to retain its Broadway bigness but also make way
for a filmic intimacy which could fall flat on a stage.
Finally, it really honoured the message behind the film. The casting (unlike ‘In the
Heights’) was near perfect, especially with Cynthia Erivo. The protagonist Elphaba
who is constantly side-lined, misunderstood, and under-estimated is portrayed by a
Black queer woman. ‘Wicked’ itself is an allegory for the propaganda that
perpetuates racism, discrimination and segregation, and having a character played
by an actor who represents a community that have faced such prejudice. That kind
of casting is one thing the musical faced criticism for, with 2023 being the first year a
Black woman (Lencia Kebede) played Elphaba in the USA. Hence this is one
criticism of the musical that the movie rectified, adding a deeper meaning to the
story’s message.
Therefore, this blend between the old and the new allows for a film that defied all
expectations. It runs a masterclass in how to maintain an original without sacrificing
the charm that captured audiences in the first place. It is a story that needed to be
treated with care, and it goes without saying that it was a success. It is clear from
cast and producer interviews that everyone involved had such a deep-rooted love for
‘Wicked’, which translated seamlessly on stage. This in turn allowed the masterclass
to take place, a class which will hopefully teach and instruct further adaptations on
how to fly instead of staying stagnant in the box office.