Wicked Movie Released Its Official First Look
Photos from the Wicked movie were just released, providing a long-awaited first look at the iconic musical’s first on-screen adaptation, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
The film’s director, Jon M. Chu, posted two photos on his Instagram page which revealed the story’s two stars, Elphaba and Glinda, in Oz. The first photo features Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, who is turned away from the camera, her green skin peaking through her dark attire as she grips her witch’s broom. The second photo depicts Glinda, portrayed by Ariana Grande, who can be seen running up a long dark staircase in a pink, sparkly ruffled gown.
Chu captioned the post, “You weren’t told the whole story. What happens when you veer off the Yellow Brick Road? FIRST LOOK of the #WickedMovie … currently in production in Oz.” The images have an ominous atmosphere that eludes to the dark nature of this story. Although Oz appears to be a joyous place, those who know Elphaba’s tale are aware that it is not as cheerful as it seems.
This first look at Elphaba and Glinda has been a long time coming, as it was back in 2016 that the film adaptation was first announced. The movie is based on the Tony award-winning Broadway musical inspired by Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. The original Broadway cast hailed stars such as Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. Now, with Erivo and Grande assuming the legendary roles, this two-part project is set to be one of the most exciting releases of 2024.
Wicked plans to tell the original story of the Wicked Witch of the West, while also reinventing the classic tale. In fact, at the 2022 SAG Awards, Erivo stated, “I think it’s going to be unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. I think we’re going to enjoy the magic of it. We’re going to try and put our own spin on what we know already and show you a story about two women [who] are sisters.”
After Chu shared the stunning images on Instagram, fans were overjoyed to finally catch a glance at this highly-anticipated new project.
i’m honestly so excited for the wicked movie i really didn’t think it was ever going to happen
— river (@river_medway) April 18, 2023
This makes me so excited for the wicked movie. pic.twitter.com/1VbU35Z6Of
— Roh🌬️| (@ro_no22) April 16, 2023
I’m so excited for the Wicked movie 😭
— melissa ¨̮ (@sailormels) April 19, 2023
Although Wicked: Part 1 is not set to release until November 24, 2024, this first look is promising, and will hopefully be followed up with more sneak peeks as the premiere gets closer.
