10 Changes the Wicked Movie Made to the Broadway Musical

Fellow Ozians, let us be glad, because after much anticipation (and marketing tie-ins) the Wicked movie is finally released鈥攐r at least the first part. And that means we can tell you all about the changes director Jon M. Chu, book writer Winnie Holzman (joined by Dana Fox for the film's screenplay) and composer Stephen Schwartz made to the film adaptation of the hit stage show. This new Wicked movie is actually only part one of a two-part film, running at two hours and 45 minutes. But wait a minute, you might think鈥攈ow can Wicked, Part One be longer than the entirety of the stage musical?

Well luckily, we have many Grimmerie scholars here at 半岛体育 who have seen the movie and can pinpoint the changes (and additions) that were made to separate it from the stage musical.

There are more changes, big and small, than can fit into one article. And we鈥檝e previously written about the film's expanded orchestrations and the changes in costuming. Below, we鈥檝e chosen 10 big story and song changes from Wicked, Part One, which were surprising enough that it made us feel like we were watching the musical again for the first time.

Beware of flying ~~monkeys~~ spoilers.

Jon M. Chu, Cynthia Erivo, and Ariana Grande Courtesy of Universal Pictures

1. Ozian Designs

If you鈥檙e a fan of the Wicked stage show, its steampunk aesthetic (and the moving Time Dragon Clock) is near and dear to your heart. The reason that Wicked on stage has such a different look than The Wizard of Oz film is because the musical鈥檚 creative team were not allowed, legally, to reference any visual element from The Wizard of Oz when they were making the musical. They only had rights Gregory Maguire's Wicked novel and the ability to use elements from L. Frank Baum鈥檚 public domain Oz鈥攖hat鈥檚 why there鈥檚 no ruby slippers, no pink bubble dress, Dorothy is only seen in shadow, and set designer Eugene Lee went for steampunk instead of whimsy.

But it seems that for the new Wicked movie, Warner Bros gave the filmmakers the rights to use the design elements from The Wizard of Oz. That is why in this new movie, there are so many visual Easter eggs that hearken back to the 1939 film: ruby slippers (which Glinda throws at Elphaba during 鈥淧opular鈥�), the swirling yellow brick road in Munchkinland, Glinda鈥檚 pink bubble gown, Elphaba riding a bike with a basket in the back (Ms. Gulch-style), and even a cameo of Dorothy and her crew, complete with her iconic braids and blue gingham.

Though it is a shame that even though Glinda invokes the Time Dragon Clock briefly at the top of the film, we do not see Lee鈥檚 iconic red-eyed dragon. For us Wicked stage show fans, we miss him most of all.

2. Young Elphaba

In the stage musical, Elphaba鈥檚 upbringing is only mentioned in passing, but in the Wicked film, we鈥檙e able to see what it was like for her to grow up in Munchkinland. In 鈥淣o One Mourns the Wicked,鈥� we see a scene of young Elphaba and young Nessarose, which establishes their sibling dynamic and the bullying Elphaba endures because of her skin color. And in the birthing sequence, keep your ears out for the voice of Olivier Award winner Sharon D. Clarke, who plays a midwife who is also a bear. And instead of saying 鈥淚t鈥檚 atrocious鈥� to describe Elphaba, the midwife says 鈥淚t鈥檚 uncanny,鈥� making Elphaba鈥檚 father鈥檚鈥淚t鈥檚 obscene!鈥� even crueler by comparison.

3. Song Changes

Speaking of changes to the lyrics, we can now confirm that aside from the "Wizomania" sequence, there are no new songs in Wicked, Part One. But there are some tweaks to various songs. Some small ones we spotted was the ending of 鈥淧opular,鈥� which features more 鈥渓a la鈥濃€檚 with three consecutive key changes; a different instrumentation to the beginning of 鈥淚鈥檓 Not That Girl鈥�; a longer introduction to 鈥淥ne Short Day,鈥� with a chorus singing 鈥淚f you only had鈥�.鈥�; and two more repeats of 鈥渦nlimited鈥� in 鈥淒efying Gravity.鈥�

The biggest song changes were the "Wizomania" sequence in 鈥淥ne Short Day鈥� (more on that below), and 鈥淪entimental Man,鈥� which now has a dream ballet sequence featuring a tap-dancing wizard and shadow puppets. For those of you who have always wanted 鈥淪entimental Man鈥� to be longer, your wish has been granted.

4. Wiz-n't He Wonderful?

In the Wicked musical, the Wizomania sequence is a show-within-a-show all about the Wizard of Oz, and performed during 鈥淥ne Short Day鈥� when Glinda and Elphaba go to the Emerald City for the first time. It鈥檚 just a single verse on the stage, and has a completely different tune and vaudeville-esque style compared to the rest of 鈥淥ne Short Day.鈥� It can feel a bit random if you鈥檙e listening to it on the album.

In the Wicked film, this sequence has been expanded into a full blown, song-within-a-song detailing the history of the Grimmerie and the Wizard. We have the full lyrics here. And as you鈥檙e watching this on the screen, watch out for cameos from composer-lyricist Schwartz, book writer and co-screenwriter Holzman, original stage stars Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel鈥攁nd Menzel鈥檚 Elphaba battle cry riff.

5. Elphaba at Shiz

The first time we see Elphaba in the stage show, she comes out on stage in her Shiz uniform. In the film, Elphaba isn鈥檛 a student and her father asks her to stay behind to be Nessarose鈥檚 caretaker. This provides a more streamlined explanation for why she becomes Glinda鈥檚 last-minute roommate. In the show, the two rooming together comes from an administrative error, which is a lot less exciting than what happens in the film. And it gives Elphaba the opportunity to wear a stunning black coat for her first look.

6. 鈥淪omething Baaaaad鈥�

In the world of Wicked, Animals can talk, are professors at Shiz University, and even play musical instruments. But history professor Doctor Dillamond warns Elphaba in the show that 鈥渟omething bad鈥� is happening in Oz, as Animals are slowly losing their ability to talk and live among humans as equals. This sets Elphaba on the path to becoming an Animal rights activist. The film expands on this conflict a bit more; instead of being set in a classroom, the song 鈥淪omething Bad鈥� is now in a meeting of talking Animals where a toucan, a snow leopard, a lamb, and other creatures are discussing whether or not they should run away.

The film also establishes that Doctor Dillamond鈥檚 favorite flowers are poppies, giving additional emotional significance to those flowers.

Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey Kevin Mazur

7. Elphaba and Fiyero's Meet Cute

In the musical, Fiyero and Elphaba meet when his rickshaw almost runs over Elphaba, with the Winkie prince remarking 鈥渕aybe the driver saw green and thought it meant go.鈥� In the year 2024, that kind of negging is no longer attractive. Fiyero鈥檚 entrance in the film is much more dashing, with the prince coming in on a talking horse and stumbling upon Elphaba while she鈥檚 walking in the woods. He apologizes while saying, 鈥淵ou must have blended in with the foliage" (after all, he does need a basis for character development). And Fiyero does immediately try to make up for it by offering her a ride. We don鈥檛 blame Elphaba for saying 鈥済et stuffed" (foreshadowing!), though she has much better self control than we do.

8. Nessarose By Any Other Name

A longer running time means more time to develop characters who will later be essential for the narrative. Besides Glinda, Nessarose is arguably the other most important person in Elphaba鈥檚 life. The relationship between the Wicked Witch and her sister is given more time in the Wicked film, including in the aforementioned flashback. Most notably, Nessarose is given more lines expressing her need to be independent, including not wanting anyone to push her wheelchair for her. And early in the film, Nessarose and Boq share a knowing glance as two people who are vertically challenged. As charmingly played by newcomer Marissa Bode, the first wheelchair user to play Nessarose, the character makes an impression in this first film that will no doubt pay dividends (and lead to some tears) in Wicked, Part Two.

Cynthia Erivo in *Wicked* Courtesy of Universal Pictures

9. Elphaba鈥檚 Additional Powers

The musical establishes that Elphaba鈥檚 main powers are her ability to move objects and people with her mind, and being able to read the spells in the Grimmerie. The film seems to have given our favorite witch additional powers, including being able to see the future (she has a vision of Doctor Dillamond in a cage) and flying on her own. That last one may be controversial, but in 鈥淭he Wizard and I,鈥� Elphaba jumps and is airborne for an unnaturally long time.

Then in 鈥淒efying Gravity,鈥� she gets a chance to fly on her own without having to be on the broom (she holds it at her side like she does on stage). It may be just a metaphor, and a reference to how Elphaba flies on Broadway (on a cherry picker). But considering how literal film is as a medium, until Wicked, Part Two is released, this writer will assume Cynthia Erivo鈥檚 Elphaba can fly like Superman.

10. Tell Them How She Is Defying Gravity

There are no major changes to the lyrics of 鈥淒efying Gravity鈥� but the movie sequence is much longer than the stage show; 鈥淒efying Gravity鈥� on the screen lasts 16 minutes versus the six minutes that鈥檚 on the stage. That鈥檚 because the film adds more drama in between the verses: Elphaba and Glinda try to escape the Emerald City in a hot air balloon, Elphaba鈥檚 father dies of a heart attack (which usually happens offstage), Nessarose looks distraught, and Fiyero leaves Shiz.

What other changes are in store? Join us back here next year for Wicked, Part Two!