One Way The Wicked Movie Will Be Different From Broadway Show

Cynthia Erivo explains one way the Wicked movie will be different from the Broadway show, revealing that more time will be spent with its characters.

Cynthia Erivo is explaining one way the upcoming Wicked movie differs from the Broadway musical. Based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, the original stage production is one of the most successful shows on Broadway, with the performances of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, as well as songs like “Defying Gravity,” earning particular recognition over the years. It observes the evolving relationship between Elphaba and Glinda, before the former turned into the Wicked Witch of the West, and features elements from The Wizard of Oz.

Excitement surrounding Wicked’s film adaptation and the casting of Erivo as Elphaba has been building since production commenced. In a recent interview with Collider, the star talked about how the movie honors the Broadway show, but revealed that it will be “slightly different.” She added that Wicked will spend more time with Elphaba and Glinda as well, allowing audiences to understand them better. Read Erivo’s comments regarding the screen adaptation of Wicked below:

I don’t know that you can compare them. It’s like apples to oranges. The show is its own thing. The show is its own legend. I think this film is both an homage to the show and the book. We also get to create something really new and slightly different to what you’d be used to seeing. We’re lucky, in that we have the space to really fill the world and to really fill these characters. You’ll be able to get into the psyche of these women. You’ll get to know them more. You will live with them a lot more, and you’ll live with them a lot longer. I think it’s really special that we get to reintroduce these two women to you, in a slightly different way.

Related: The Wizard Of Oz Remake Should Connect To The Wicked Movies

Why Spending More Time With Wicked’s Characters Is Good

In their youth, the two witches had a complicated friendship, sharing contrasting views and eventually expressing feelings for the same man, Fiyero. A larger rift was created when Elphaba became the Wicked Witch of the West, but Glinda was not without fault either. With the Wicked movie being split into two parts, it makes sense that more time would be spent exploring the characters of Elphaba and Glinda, and though there has been debate over multiple films, the decision allows Wicked to avoid limiting other roles as well.

With Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman returning to adapt the musical for screen, the film will likely still retain some of the original production’s qualities. Compared to her depiction in The Wizard of Oz, the Broadway show sees Elphaba as a protagonist. By spending time with her character, the Wicked movie can show how she was different from those around her, and when it comes to Glinda, her arc and the way she changes in the end will also be significant.

In addition to Erivo, Wicked features a star-studded cast that includes Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Jeff Goldblum, and Michelle Yeoh. Ariana Grande, who last appeared on-screen in such projects as Hairspray Live! and Adam McKay’s Don’t Look Up, will star as Glinda. Given the support of original Broadway’s stars, including Chenoweth, fans of the musical are eagerly awaiting more details and looking forward to seeing how Elphaba and Glinda are portrayed.

Next: Wicked Movie’s 2-Part Split Creates A Big Musical Problem To OvercomeSource: Collider