Cinema came back fiercely with the domination of #Barbenheimer, Barbie (2023), directed by Greta Gerwig, and Oppenheimer (2023), directed by Christopher Nolan, at the box office. And this coming November, it’s the dawn of #Wickediator!  Wicked, Directed by Jon M. Chu, and Gladiator II directed by Ridley Scott, are set to be released on the same day, November 22nd. It’s the new battle of the ages! Who will soar at the box office? Only time will tell. 

The highly anticipated film adaptation of Wicked, the untold story of the witches of OZ, is setting out to be the next awe-inspiring cinematic musical spectacle. The film will be split into two parts and possibly be even more Popular! Some might even say it will Defy Gravity. Starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Ariana Grande as Glinda, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Ethan Slater as Boq, Marissa Bode as Nessarose, and Peter Dinklage as Dr. Dillamond.

If you’re like me, you’ve probably been waiting for this film since 2003 when the Broadway Musical adaptation of Gregory Maguire‘s novel Wicked, starring Idina Menzel as Elphaba and Kristen Chenoweth as Glinda, made its debut at the Gershwin Theatre. I genuinely love this musical and am counting down the days til the film’s release. On September 5th, 2024, Universal Pictures gave us a new sneak peek with the release of the second trailer, the US and International versions, and probably the best looks at the film and music yet! If you haven’t seen the latest trailers, here they are:

So, without further ado, let’s break down these two trailers.

All is Not What it Seems in OZ

Step into the colorful world of Oz, with stunning views of the expansive Munchkinland tulip fields and the glorious Emerald City! Watching both of these trailers, I was immediately swept away by the set design, costumes, and special effects.

Both trailers were exceptional. However, the international trailer outshines the US version. The US trailer mainly focused on Elphaba and Glinda’s ever-growing friendship and the turmoil Elphaba is facing at Shiz and in the Emerald City. The international trailer delved more into the harrowing political/social issues and maltreatment of speaking animals within Oz such as Dr. Dillamond (Peter Dinklage) and the lion cub. We only get a few glimpses of this within the US trailer.

The international trailer also delved more into Elphaba’s traumatic childhood, full of constant bullying and being made an outcast within and outside her family. This, in turn, fuels her desire to do what’s right and help others for good. This version did a great job telling the story about to unfold, even though it may have given away too much of the plot. 

The US trailer served its purpose regarding thrill factors but it didn’t really give us anything new. However, it did give us an almost complete look at the film’s expansive cast and musical soundtrack. After watching that trailer, I felt excitement and curiosity, with a dash of emotional unpreparedness. What can I say? I’m a big fan. I have been waiting for this since I first saw Wicked in 2007. As a dedicated fan, I have a lot of hopes for this project. So, it’s safe to say my expectations are pretty high. Which may or may not be a good thing. I was on the verge of tears watching this trailer, and I don’t think I am emotionally ready for this film.

OZ Never Looked So Good!

Visually, the film looks stunning! The film’s color isn’t as saturated as I was expecting, but perhaps it will pop more on the big screen. One thing is for certain, when it comes to this movie, Jon M. Chu isn’t holding back. From planting 9 million tulip bulbs to building a 16-ton train, a giant practical animatronic golden Wizard mask, and even building giant sets like the town of Munchkinland, the Emerald City, and Shiz University. Quite possibly one of the most intriguing set pieces is the library at Shiz University with rotating bookcase rings reminiscent of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Wicked is setting out to bring back the beauty of old Hollywood classic filmmaking and mix it with modern visual effects. 

Are you interested in learning more about the making of Wicked? If you haven’t already, check out the trailer below, in which Jon M. Chu takes us behind the scenes on set with the cast. It is truly wonderful to see how much hard work and dedication went into making this film!

The US trailer even included a special nod to the original film The Wizard of Oz (1939) Miss Gulch and The Wicked Witch of the West, played by Margaret Hamilton! If you missed it, there were two moments in particular. The first is a shot of Elphaba riding a bike with a basket on the back, referencing the iconic moment Miss Gulch is riding a similar bike in the tornado in the 1939 film. Additionally, around the 2:05 mark, if you listen closely, you hear an orchestral rendition of Miss Gulch‘s theme. A wonderfully surprising set of homages to the original film.

The Greatest Story Never Told

While these trailers do feature some imagery we’ve seen before in the original teasers and trailer such as moments from “Popular”, Shiz University, and the Wizard’s mask, we did receive an exciting new look at Fiyero and Elphaba’s first significant connection in the US trailer. While it may not be “As Long as You’re Mine” time (featured in the second Act), we did get a glimpse of Fiyero helping Elphaba save the lion cub being abused during a lecture at Shiz. I’ll never get over the look in Fiyero’s eyes as Elphaba lightly grasps his face in the palm of her hand. That man is falling hard! Jonathan Bailey really has perfected the longing look.

Not only that, but we also got a better look at Elphaba’s sister Nessarose and her infamous silver slippers. Marissa Bode, a disabled actress, is making a huge impact within the disability community. It warms my heart to know that she is able to empower others like her. How great will it be for them to see themselves on screen? I loved watching a promotional video in collaboration with Mattel in which she received her Barbie, fit with her extravagantly designed wheelchair, which is part of their collection of Barbie dolls for the film. You can see the collection here. 

We were also granted a better listen to “Defying Gravity,” a song by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. And what a treat it was to finally, really hear Cynthia’s take on the infamous track, as well as more stunning vocals from Ariana. The song already sounds amazing, except for the autotune (hopefully, that was just for the trailer). I have been eagerly waiting to hear this song, and it hasn’t disappointed me. Now, they just need to release a snippet of Jonathan Bailey’s (Fiyero) interpretation of “Dancing Through Life.” 

Another treat? Witnessing Elphaba and Glinda’s heartwarming friendship and their chemistry is undeniable. Seeing them interact more in the trailer had me in stitches. I care so deeply for these two characters and am eagerly counting down the days till the film’s release.

From what I gathered in the latest trailer, the first part will coincide with Act 1 of the Broadway production. In addition to Defying Gravity and Popular, part 1 will likely include performances of classics, like “The Wizard and I,” “Dancing Through Life,” and “No One Mourns the Wicked.” 

Possible Cameos? 

Please note this section does contain possible spoilers.

While nothing has been confirmed, I’m hoping the original Broadway cast trio, Idina Menzel (Elphaba), Kristin Chenoweth (Glinda), and Norbert Leo Butz (Fiyero) will make cameos in the film. Perhaps, Idina and Norbert will play Elphaba and Nessarose’s parents. 

I did catch a spoiler that Kristin will be making a cameo! From the looks of the image, she appears to be a wealthy member of the Emerald City. It should be known that production hasn’t officially announced this. But this isn’t the only cameo rumor. There is also a rumor swirling about the fact that there may be a cameo within the film of the original Glinda, portrayed by Billie Burke in The Wizard of Oz, who sadly passed away in 1970. See the post here. There is already a special nod to Billie’s Glinda in Ariana’s costume design, featuring similar elements from her soft pink sparkly gown to her towering silver crown, and even her wand. This leads me to wonder, is production planning to posthumously pay an additional ode to Billie Burke through digital resurrection? While I’m not always a fan of digitally resurrecting actors on screen, it would be special if production included an homage to the late actress.

With all of these rumored cameos, my head is spinning! So, does this mean Idina and/or Norbert also make cameos? Perhaps other Glindas and Elphabas from other Broadway productions?!? One can only hope!

Wicked in theaters November 22, 2024. Have you seen the latest trailers? What did you think? Let us know your thoughts on the latest trailer in the comments below.