Writer of Pop Culture

Unless you’ve been lying under a rock (or a house that has fallen from the sky from a tornado), you’re well aware that Wicked is coming to movie theaters on November 22, 2024. Universal Pictures is really banking on this movie and will do just about anything to get you to go see it. It looks amazing and it should since it has been reported that this epic movie has been made with a budget of $145 million. To put things in perspective, the 1939 MGM The Wizard of Oz movie was made with a budget of $2.8 million. Sure, that was a long time ago, but sheesh!

^{Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande}

The Journey Through Oz Premiere Tour

Next month, Universal Pictures is going all out with a five-city global premiere tour for the movie. The exclusive series of events will include themed premieres and special events across five international cities, featuring sets, costumes and props from the film, offering fans an experience like no other. Wish I could go.

The Journey Through Oz will feature four one-of-a-kind premiere events, with each city transforming into a dazzling, immersive tribute to a key location in Wicked. The global tour will reimagine the following iconic sets from Wicked’s land of Oz:

• Sydney, Australia – Munchkinland: November 3, 2024.
  Experience the whimsical charm and vibrant beauty of Munchkinland at Sydney’s renowned State Theatre.

• Los Angeles, California – Shiz University: November 9, 2024
  Step into the soaring, ornate academic halls of Shiz University at the iconic Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

• Mexico City, Mexico – The Enchanted Forest: November 11, 2024
  Explore the mystical, shadowed, arboreal magic of the Oz’s Enchanted Forest at Mexico City’s celebrated Auditorio Nacional.

• New York City, New York – Ozdust Ballroom: November 14, 2024
  A special screening will be followed by an event at the renowned Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), featuring a re-creation of the film’s glamorous Ozdust Ballroom.

• London, United Kingdom – Emerald City: November 18, 2024
  Discover the shimmering jewel of Oz, the capital city, with it towering, gilded architecture and thrilling sights, at the legendary Royal Festival Hall.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande will be joined at various stops on the premiere tour by their fellow cast members, including Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Marissa Bode, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang and Bronwyn James. The film’s visionary director Jon M. Chu and three-time Oscar® nominated producer Marc Platt will also make appearances at select premieres.

You can follow The Journey Through Oz at @WickedMovie on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and join the global conversation using #WickedMovie.

How to Prepare for Wicked at Home

In case you are unavailable to attend one of the premieres or have lost your invitation, you can prepare here at home. Here’s how:

• Make Your Own Movie Poster: The official Wicked movie website features a poster generator where you can print out your movie poster featuring – you!

• Tour the School: Universal has created a website for Shiz University where you can check out the dormitories, see Dr. Dillamond’s classroom, explore the library and encounter Madame Morrible’s study. Under Student Services, you’ll find information on how to get to Shiz, how to get your school I.D. and more in your welcome packet. (No word on how much the tuition costs.)

• Buy Tickets: Universal Pictures would love for you to order your movie tickets right now.

• Buy the Soundtrack: Wicked: The Soundtrack will be released on November 22, 2024. You can pre-order here.

• Watch the Special: NBC will be hosting Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked on November 19 at 10 p.m. It is a special behind-the-scenes celebration of the film, led by Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande and the all-star cast of Wicked on Nov. 19.

^{Movie Posters: Jonathan Bailey and Michelle Yeoh}

What is ‘Wicked’ All About?

This fantasy film is an adaption of the stage musical of the same name…which in turn was based on Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West…which features the characters from L. Frank Baum’s novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Directed by Jon M. Chu, Wicked is going to be kind of a big deal this holiday season and it’s just the first chapter of two parts! Wicked Part Two is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 21, 2025. But first things first…

Wicked tells the untold story of the witches of Oz: Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is a young woman who is misunderstood because of her unusual green skin and she has yet to discover her true power. The story is also about Glinda (Ariana Grande) who is a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart.

The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads, and their lives take very different paths. Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

^{Movie Posters: Jeff Goldblum and Ethan Slater}

The film also stars Michelle Yeoh as Shiz University’s regal headmistress Madame Morrible; Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, a roguish and carefree prince; Ethan Slater as Boq, an altruistic Munchkin student; Marissa Bode in her feature-film debut as Nessarose, Elphaba’s favored sister; and Jeff Goldblum as the legendary Wizard of Oz.

The cast of characters also includes Pfannee and ShenShen, two conniving compatriots of Glinda played by Bowen Yang and Bronwyn James; a new character created for the film, Miss Coddle, played by Keala Settle and Peter Dinklage as the voice of Dr. Dillamond – who is a goat.

^{Movie Posters: Marissa Bode and Bronwyn James}

The Long Road to Oz

The stage production of Wicked was produced by Universal Pictures’ stage division in 2003 and it has been amazingly successful. The musical is the 4th longest-running Broadway show in history having been performed over 7,500 times. Creating a movie version of the show has been a no-brainer, but it’s been a task that has proven to be very difficult. It’s been a long journey taking the show from the stage to the screen.

In 2009, It was reported that ABC wanted to make a non-musical adaptation of Wicked, but after at least two years of planning, nothing materialized. Then, in 2012, Marc Platt, who is also a producer of the stage show, announced that Universal Pictures wanted to make a film version with the hopes of having it released in 2016. Then it was pushed to 2019. Then pushed to 2021. Then, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was pushed back yet again to 2024.

^{Bowen Yang and a goat (voiced by Peter Dinklage!)}

In 2021, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were announced as the film’s leads. Erivo got the part of Elphaba after performing the song, “The Wizard and I” during an NBC Wicked 15th Anniversary special. Grande had to audition for the role of Glinda five times beating out Dove Cameron, Amanda Seyfried, Renee Rapp and Taylor Louderman.

In 2022, Jonathan Bailey was announced to be playing the part of Fiyero beating out Ryan McCartan, Nick Jonas and Joe Jonas. It was also announced that Jeff Goldblum, Ethan Slater, Michelle Yeoh, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Keala Settle, Aaron Teoh and Colin Michael Carmichael were added to the cast. Peter Dinklage’s role of Dr. Dillamond was announced earlier this year.

All Images: Universal Pictures