At first glance, it seems fairly obvious thatWickedis connected to the 1939 classic,The Wizard of Oz,yet the two movies have a much more complicated relationship than it seems.Wickedis an upcoming movie musical, set for release on June 28, 2025. With a star-studded cast including Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, there is a lot to anticipate with the premiere of this movie. Plus, because of its musical origins, there is a passionate fanbase already eager to see the story on the big screen. Yet,newcomers may be confused aboutWicked’scomplex origins.
To understand the connections betweenWickedandThe Wizard of Oz,it is important to return to the movies' beginnings. Before it was a movie musical or a Broadway musical,Wickedoriginated as a 1995 novelwritten by Gregory Maguire. Similarly,The Wizard of Ozdid not start out as a film, but had its origins 40 years earlier with L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel,The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.These books are quite a bit different from their on-screen counterparts, which leads to the idea thatWickedis more inspired byThe Wizard of Ozthan connected to it.
Wicked Is Not Explicitly Connected To The Original Wizard Of Oz Movie
What Wicked Is Really About
Wickedis not a sequel or spinoff ofThe Wizard of Oz,but can be described as a revisionist account of Baum’s characters and settings. In this way,Wickedis inspired by Baum’s work, but does not necessarily attempt to continue it in any way. Maguire’s story is completely separate from Baum’s, though they share certain elements. For example, bothWickedandThe Wonderful Wizard of Ozcontain characterswho are “The Wicked Witch of the West.” However, Baum’s version of this witch is vastly different from Maguire’s, who earns herself a name and a complex backstory.
Wickedmay use Baum’s characters and world, but Maguire expands both of these into much darker realms that explore prejudice, propaganda, and the power of nature versus nurture.
Rather than telling the story of Dorothy Gale’s adventures in Oz,Maguire usesWickedto explore the story of Elphaba, otherwise known as the Wicked Witch of the West. Maguire offers a dark and tragic backstory for the character, while also showing her life before Dorothy’s arrival in Oz. In particular,Wickednarrows in on therelationship between Elphaba and Galinda, commonly remembered as Glinda the Good.Wickedmay use Baum’s characters and world, but Maguire expands both of these into much darker realms that explore prejudice, propaganda, and the power of nature versus nurture.
The Original Wicked Book & Musical Were Inspired By The Wizard Of Oz Movie
Wicked & The Wizard Of Oz’s Biggest Commonalities
BecauseWickedwas created after the release of the 1939 movie adaptation ofThe Wizard of Oz,the book and musical definitely take inspiration from the film as well as the book. Notably,The Wizard of Ozmade many changes from Baum’sThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz,including the many colors of Oz and the appearance of certain characters. For example, Glinda and the Wicked Witch are much bigger parts of the movie than they are in the book.Wickedcontinues this change by focusing heavily on Galinda and Elphaba, while also making Dorothy a tiny part of the story.
Wicked’s Timeline & When It Takes Place Compared To The Wizard Of Oz Explained
Wicked isn’t exactly a conventional prequel, which makes it difficult for fans to place the story within the original Wizard of Oz timeline.
For the most part,Wicked’sconnections toThe Wizard of Ozmainly have to do with visuals. Elphaba is just as green as she appears inThe Wizard of Oz,though she lacks the warts and elongated chin of Margaret Hamilton. Furthermore, Galinda is characterized by her pink clothing and bubbly personality.Wickedalso includes references toThe Wizard of Ozthrough the use of Elphaba’s flying monkeysand the appearance of The Wizard. Ultimately, anyone who looks atWickedwould immediately think ofThe Wizard of Ozbecause of the stories' shared colorful settings and characters.
How Wicked’s Story Is Different From 1939’s The Wizard Of Oz
What Wicked Adds To The Wizard Of Oz Universe
Of course,Wickedis also incredibly different fromThe Wizard of Oz.Wickedmay use the familiar colors and settings ofThe Wizard of Oz,but they are painted in a distinctly different light. InWicked,Oz is not as whimsical and happy as it seems in the 1939 movie.Through the eyes of Elphaba, audiences see the intense prejudice that exists in Oz, especially between different species. Where someWickedcast memberslike Galinda and Fiyero have all the power, people like Elphaba and Boq are cast aside due to how they look and where they come from.
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Ultimately,Wickedis not just a darker version ofThe Wizard of Oz.Maguire’s book shakes up Baum’s story completely by turning an antagonist into a heroand delving deep into the politics of Oz. On top of that, theWickedmusical puts a special focus on female friendship and the dangers that come from standing up for what you believe in.Wickedis certainly inspired byThe Wizard of Oz,but the book, the musical, and the upcoming movie all show how something beautiful can be hiding something rotten underneath.
Wicked
Cast
Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
