“Wicked” Charms Beijing: A Magical Premiere
On December 4th, the highly anticipated musical fantasy adventure “Wicked,” produced by Universal Pictures, premiered in Beijing. Before the screening, stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande sent a special video message to Chinese audiences, saying, “The gates of Oz are opening, and we’re inviting you to step into this vibrant, magical world. Whether you know the story well or are discovering it for the first time on the big screen, join us for this enchanting moment.”
Exclusive greetings from the leading ladies of “Wicked.”
A Long-Awaited Return to Magic Schools
In the wake of the Harry Potter series, the silver screen has been yearning for stories set in magical academies. “Wicked” arrives to fill that void, adapted from the smash-hit 2003 Broadway musical of the same name. Despite its title, this first installment unfolds as a heartwarming “girls help girls” narrative spanning 160 minutes. Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), misunderstood due to her green skin, and Glinda (Ariana Grande), dazzling and ambitious, meet at Shiz University, forging a deep friendship despite their contrasting personalities. However, their encounter with the Wizard of Oz leads their friendship to a crossroads.
More Than Just a Witch’s Tale
While seemingly chronicling the origins of Elphaba’s transformation into the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda’s ascent to becoming the Good Witch, “Wicked” delves into deeper themes. It subtly portrays the rise of a fascist movement, with the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum) demonizing sentient, talking animals, blaming them for society’s ills, and attempting to silence them. This mirrors the rise of the Third Reich in the 1930s, exposing how a cunning and charismatic leader can manipulate the public with lies, inciting fear and hatred, leading to unspeakable acts and betrayals of loved ones.
Box Office and Critical Acclaim
“Wicked” has already been released internationally, amassing $214 million in North America within just eight days, making it the highest-grossing musical adaptation in North American box office history. To date, its global box office has surpassed $260 million. Beyond its commercial success, the film has garnered critical acclaim, boasting an IMDb score of 8.2, a 90% “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a 96% audience score, and a CinemaScore of A.
Official poster for “Wicked.”
The Director’s Vision
Director Jon M. Chu, a self-proclaimed die-hard fan of the stage musical “Wicked,” recalls his childhood, when his parents frequently took him to touring operas and local musicals. It was in the theater that he found his life’s calling, a passion he carried into his film career, from the innovative “Step Up” series to the groundbreaking “Crazy Rich Asians” and the acclaimed musical romance “In the Heights.”
Chu states that his goal is to allow audiences who have seen the stage play to experience the work in a new way. “We spent a long time building the perfect cast. This movie had to find actors who could sing and act well, and they also had to have a bit of ‘Oz’ in them. You know, the characters in this story are a little quirky and unconventional. So I especially like bringing these ‘misfits’ together to make a movie about ‘misfits.’”
Star Power and Dedication
Grammy Award-winning and multi-platinum recording artist Ariana Grande revealed that she had been pursuing producer Marc Platt for ten years to play Glinda. “When I was 10 years old, I had the privilege of seeing the original Broadway cast of ‘Wicked,’ and it was a dream come true for me. The songs, the deep friendship between Elphaba and Glinda, and Kristin Chenoweth’s portrayal of Glinda, all blew me away. This play changed my life in many ways.”
A Stellar Supporting Cast
Notably, Madame Morrible, the headmistress of Shiz University’s magic academy, is played by Michelle Yeoh, the first Asian actress to win an Oscar. Yeoh, who previously collaborated with director Jon M. Chu on the global hit “Crazy Rich Asians,” said, “If Jon calls, I’ll come immediately. He’s a visionary director who always directs by intuition.” Regarding her first time in a musical, she admitted that singing is not her forte, “But as artists, our mission is to embrace challenges and try different things. As for dancing? That’s the easy part; I love to dance.”
Scenes from the premiere.
The Music of “Wicked”
“Wicked” features beloved songs from the musical, all written by Grammy and Oscar-winning lyricist and composer Stephen Schwartz. Additionally, Grammy and Oscar-nominated composer John Powell collaborated with Schwartz to create a score for the film.
To capture the film’s vocal and musical performances, Oscar-winning mixer Simon Hayes (“Les Misérables”) and his team ensured that the set provided actors with the space and time to sing freely – just as they would on a Broadway stage. Whenever possible, songs were performed live on set.
More scenes from the premiere event.