As a filmmaker with over two decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that the marketing for “Wicked” has been nothing short of extraordinary. The team behind this project has truly outdone themselves in creating a buzz that’s both captivating and sustainable.
Before being appointed as the director for the high-profile film adaption of the hit Broadway musical “Wicked”, Jon M. Chu had always been an avid admirer of it.
It became a matter of deciding where rather than if he would show his admiration towards Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who initially portrayed Elphaba and Glinda in the two-part film. Following careful consideration among the authorities of Oz, they chose to make an appearance in the movie as the leading stars of Wizomania, a grander production within the movie that unfolds during the song “One Short Day,” when Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) visit the Emerald City.
Reflecting back, I shared with them my longing to replicate for them the initial magic they created. Back in 2003, at the Curran Theatre, I witnessed Idina and Kristin during their rehearsals, an experience I’ll always cherish as it left me awestruck by their talent. When they stepped onto the set, I believe the gravity of what they were a part of truly hit them, making it a full-circle moment for both of them.
Wicked,” a musical that brought hits like “Defying Gravity,” “Popular,” and “For Good” to Broadway, tells the story that unfolds before Dorothy arrives in Oz and treads along the famous Yellow Brick Road. This tale takes place both before, during, and after “The Wizard of Oz” and follows the extraordinary bond between Elphaba, the green-skinned character who later becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, initially a perky pink admirer, eventually known as Glinda the Good. The first part of this musical, to be released in November 2025, focuses on their time at Shiz University, where they are roommates who eventually form a strong friendship. The second movie continues after Elphaba has mastered her powers and is labeled an adversary by the Wizard (portrayed by Jeff Goldblum) and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh).
In the beginning as “Wicked: Part One” unveils on the theater screen, Chu enthusiastically engaged in a detailed discussion with EbMaster about appearances by Menzel and Chenoweth, significant lines that were retained or omitted from the script… and the likelihood of further Dorothy scenes in “Part Two.
“Wicked” was originally being developed as one movie. What did those earlier versions look like?
Upon entering, it was evident that the room was buzzing with an intense debate: Should this project be divided into two films? Various scripts aimed to compress it into one film, but at the cost of deleting numerous songs and altering the narrative in ways that seemed illogical and emotionally unsound. While stage audiences may tolerate such changes, moviegoers are more discerning. As we scrutinized each script, I posed questions that sparked extensive discussions. It eventually became clear that a two-film approach was necessary.
Were Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel likely to be part of the film without much persuasion? And at what point did you decide to incorporate them into the plot?
Instead of merely showing up to perform something casual, our close-knit group brainstormed numerous ideas for them. Is Kristin cast as Glinda’s mother? Are they the character who announces, “The Wizard will see you now”? It always seemed lackluster. We felt it necessary to provide them with a grand spectacle. In our production of “Wizomania,” there was a section requiring backstory that wasn’t essential for the play: What is the Grimmerie? And an explanation of how the Wizard arrived in Oz. I suggested, ‘What if we present this segment as a play? It was initially intended to be a small-scale amusement park ride like “It’s a Small World,” which was an intriguing idea. However, if it becomes a show, it becomes somewhat self-referential. Idina and Kristin portray the two most celebrated actors in Oz. They get to embody glamour, and audiences can appreciate them. Stephen Schwartz quickly grasped the concept and incorporated Idina’s Elphaba battle cry, as well as scenes of them competing and pushing each other aside. It’s enjoyable to play off the show’s lore involving two prominent stars.
Were some memorable phrases such as “we’ll be late for Wizomania” eliminated a challenge, considering how well-versed the fans are with the series?
When performing comedy without a live audience, certain jokes may not resonate as intended. For instance, during filming, a specific line like “the Wizard will see you now!” wasn’t used because the characters were further along in their journey. In rehearsals, this line was often sung despite its absence, leading to Ari’s insistence that it be included. I agreed and found a way to incorporate it by creating two entrances instead of one. There were frequent discussions about changes, such as when Glinda says “It’s good to see me, isn’t it?,” she initially said “No need to answer. That’s rhetorical.” in the show, but in the movie, this joke didn’t quite hit the mark. This was not due to the performance, but because there was no audience feedback for it. We added fake Ozian reactions, but they felt too self-referential and premature. Cutting that line was nerve-wracking since it’s almost like a sacred text in the story.
Why did you incorporate a tribute to “The Wizard of Oz” by depicting Dorothy, the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion strolling along the Yellow Brick Road?
In “The Wizard of Oz,” it’s possible that the story could be a dream. Since Elphaba and Glinda inhabit a world where there are genuine consequences, it was necessary to remind the audience that this was reality. To achieve this, we plunged our characters into one of the most well-known crime scenes in both cinema and literature – the mysterious hat in the puddle. This scene offers a panoramic view of Oz, a vibrant and tangible world with distinct cultures, emphasizing that it is not a dreamland. Furthermore, the appearance of the four main characters instantly connects them to this place, a connection we will explore further in the sequel.
Will Dorothy be a character in “Part Two”?
As a film enthusiast, I’m eagerly anticipating the continuation of this captivating series. There’s a character – or perhaps it’s more than one – named Dorothy who makes an appearance in the first part. The storylines are set to intertwine, but for now, all we can do is hint at their connection. It’s not definitive whether she’ll be present in the sequel, but there’s a sense of continuity that leaves me intrigued. I’m hoping each viewer will find their own interpretation of Dorothy’s character. The details of these interactions and crossovers are something I can’t wait to see unfold in “Part Two.
Does MGM actually own the rights to the Yellow Brick Road and the Ruby Slippers? Should I seek their approval before using these elements in my work?
In my project, I chose to steer clear of certain references such as the iconic ruby slippers. Instead, Nessa wears crystal slippers, reminiscent of those from L. Frank Baum’s book, Gregory Maguire’s adaptation, and the show. While I believe the phrase “yellow brick road” isn’t under copyright, the distinctive shape of that road is certainly protected. Consequently, I opted for a continuous circular path to emphasize that our journey doesn’t end there.
How did you decide where to add new characters and expand the plot?
In our adaptation of “Defying Gravity,” we’ve delved deeper into Elphaba’s unique abilities. Her superpower lies in her profound connection with nature and gravity. To better understand her origins, we’ve included a scene depicting her childhood. It’s essential to clarify that her green complexion and powerful ability are both integral to her character. The show might have been unclear about this initially, but in our version, it’s evident that she is feared due to both her powers and her unique green coloration. To illustrate her power, we demonstrate it even at birth, where everything around her lifts off. As a child, Elphaba struggles to control her abilities, especially when she’s being bullied, which she often expresses through her turbulent relationship with gravity.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that despite everyone assuming Madame Morrible was responsible for the events, Glinda clearly recognizes Elphaba’s involvement. This underscores Glinda’s intelligence and perception, proving she’s not as simple-minded as often portrayed. These character nuances are crucial for development and complexity. Furthermore, demonstrating the passage of time is challenging within the context of a performance, but it was skillfully achieved here, requiring careful planning and execution.
Upon the initial release of the movie’s preview images, there was a lot of discussion on social media platforms expressing that these snapshots appeared quite dim.
Yes. Tell them to turn up their brightness on their phone!
I wondered what your response would be, given that the film is vibrant and full of color, but may not resemble those images.
I deliberately selected those images at the outset of our shoot. The hour was still early, and we were just getting started. I aimed for images that would be evocative and thought-provoking to convey it wasn’t a cheerful, vibrant tale. At that point, the visual effects hadn’t been applied yet. The backdrop was blue, so VFX was required to add a sky. I was editing colors on my iPhone. We weren’t following a traditional process. I enjoy working in the darker tones, but I had my iPhone’s brightness set quite high. When I published the photos directly from my iPhone, I suddenly understood, “Oh, most people don’t increase their screen brightness that much.” I felt guilty because of that. There was no studio post-processing involved.
How did you decide how to stage and slow down parts of “Defying Gravity”?
The nightmare of my life has been thinking about “Defying Gravity.” In the show, it’s very fast. She walks [away from] Wizard and goes into “I hope you’re happy.” It goes so fast that it doesn’t feel like the end of the movie and it doesn’t feel earned. Her whole journey leads to this. Doing it live was helpful. I didn’t know how long it would be until they acted those lines. We can’t add more words to “Defying Gravity.” So, what if when she thinks she’s ready to fly, she’s not, and she falls? That changed things for us.
Initially, I found it extremely unsettling. Throughout this process, my thoughts were something like, “Alright, let’s try this out and gauge reactions.” We definitely toned things down to avoid excessive spread. At the same time, my mind kept questioning, “I want to ensure that the rapid version isn’t malfunctioning now.” We also created versions with a quick pace, but realized, “No, we need all of this. This is far more than just a song. It represents the climax of a movie and the emotional journey of a character whom we have deeply invested in.
During our collaboration, Marc Platt often expressed his amazement at the way we were dissecting the song. We frequently examined every aspect of it from multiple angles, leaving no stone unturned and questioning everything thoroughly. This thoroughness was driven by the understanding that what we were working on held significant importance, which is why it kept him awake at night.
Is there a number you felt benefitted going from stage to screen?
Performing ‘Something Troublesome’ is challenging on stage. Instead, it occurs in the classroom where Dr. Dillamond finds himself idle. This storyline portrays a covert gathering of animals, not deformed human-like creatures, but actual animals, which makes them more relatable. The community involved is grappling with this issue, and they’ve been maintaining a hidden record of these incidents. A sinister side to Oz is hinted at.
What strategies do you plan to use to keep up the amazing marketing efforts for “Part Two” of “Wicked,” which is scheduled for release in November 2025?
“Regarding ‘Part Two’, I can confirm because I’ve edited it, that it’s quite impactful. You’ll grasp the essence. To be honest, I didn’t foresee the context in which we’d find ourselves today. However, in light of our current societal discussions about truth and the repercussions of choices, its relevance has increased dramatically. It’s a deeply intense piece.
Read More
- SUI PREDICTION. SUI cryptocurrency
- „People who loved Dishonored and Prey are going to feel very at home.” Arkane veteran sparks appetite for new, untitled RPG
- LDO PREDICTION. LDO cryptocurrency
- Destiny 2: A Closer Look at the Proposed In-Game Mailbox System
- Clash Royale Deck Discussion: Strategies and Sentiments from the Community
- Jennifer Love Hewitt Made a Christmas Movie to Help Process Her Grief
- ICP PREDICTION. ICP cryptocurrency
- Naughty Dog’s Intergalactic Was Inspired By Akira And Cowboy Bebop
- Critics Share Concerns Over Suicide Squad’s DLC Choices: Joker, Lawless, and Mrs. Freeze
- EUR IDR PREDICTION
2024-11-23 21:52