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“Wicked” First Reactions: A Dazzling Adaptation That Conjures the Magic of Movies at Their Best

October 31, 2024
By The Credits

The first reactions to director Jon M. Chu’s Wicked are descending upon social media like so many flying monkeys. Chu’s adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical—itself an adaptation of Gregory Maguire’s novel—is led by two powerhouse performers in Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda. The first reactions are mostly raves, with folks calling it one of the very best adaptations of a Broadway hit ever, and Erivo and Grande are being hailed for knockout turns as the two future, star-crossed witches that have launched them into Oscar contention.

 “Jon Chu IS a musical genius and the world he creates and the performances he captures are really next level,” writes Vanity Fair’s Chris Murphy. “Wicked is the best musical-to-movie adaptation since Chicago and Mamma Mia,” writes IndieWire’s Erin Strecker. “Glinda is the role Ariana Grande was born to play. Perfectly suited and genuinely a hilarious, scene-stealing performance. Cynthia Erivo’s heavenly vocals allow her to make Elphaba her own,” writes Variety’s Clayton Davis.

Wicked is the first big-screen adaptation of the juggernaut Broadway show and reveals the world of Oz before Dorothy dropped in and changed everything. The adaptation boasts the power ballads that rocked the Broadway stage and will enroll viewers at Shiz University, where Elphaba and Glinda cross paths and form an unlikely but profound friendship, one that will change both of their lives forever.

The supporting cast includes Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero—a love interest of both Elphaba and Glinda—Michelle Yeoh’s Madame Morrible, the headmistress of Shiz University where Elphaba and Glinda meet, Marissa Bode’s Nessarose, Elphaba’s younger sister, Bronwyn James’ Shenshen and Bowen Yang’s Pfannee, Glinda’s friends at Shiz U., and Jeff Goldblum’s Wizard of Oz.

Wicked’s production team includes production designer Nathan Crowley, a six-time Oscar nominee and longtime collaborator of Christopher Nolan (The Prestige, Dunkirk, Interstellar); Oscar-nominated costume designer Paul Tazewell; cinematographer Alice Brooks; and composers John Powell (Oscar nominee) and Stephen Schwartz (three-time Oscar winner).

L to R: Director Jon M. Chu with Cynthia Erivo (as Elphaba) and Ariana Grande (as Glinda) on the set of WICKED

Let’s take a flight around the Wicked reactions below. Wicked hits theaters on November 22.

For more on Wicked, check out these stories:

See the Magic: “Wicked” Unveils Dazzling New Images From Oz and Behind-the-Scenes

Hear the Magic: “Wicked” Debuts Iconic Songs in New Teaser

“Wicked” Casts a Spell and Causes Commotion in a Brand New Trailer

Featured image: L to R: Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba and Ariana Grande is Glinda in WICKED, directed by Jon M. Chu

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The Credits

The Credits is an online magazine that tells the story behind the story to celebrate our large and diverse creative community. Focusing on profiles of below-the-line filmmakers, The Credits celebrates the often uncelebrated individuals who are indispensable to the films and TV shows we love.