1 of Wicked's Big Changes From The Wizard of Oz Movie Pays Homage to the Original Story (2024)

Wicked was released in theatres last week, and critics and fans agree on one thing - they love it. The movie, based on the musical, based on the book Wicked by Gregory Maguire, based on the movieThe Wizard of Oz, which is turn is based on the book by L. Frank Baum, is a smashing success.

Though, as with any adaption from stage to screen (with all the other steps in-between), director Jon M. Chu (In the Heights) decided to make some changes. However, some changes were not made for the sake of practicality but, seemingly, to honor the original story of The Wizard of Oz by Baum. One big change has been confirmed (via Entertainment Weekly) to be a nod to the novel, debunking speculation that it was made due to copyright concerns.

The World of Oz Has Gone Through More Than A Few Adaptions

Baum published the original Wizard of Oz in 1900. He passed away 19 years later, and in that time, wrote 14 novels set in the world of Oz. If he thought he’d have expanded all he could have the tales of Dorthy, The Wizard and her companions, he would be completely wrong.

From James Franco's prequel to crossovers with Disney characters - if it’s been thought of, it's been done. So why does Wicked stand out as the most successful adaption? Well, for one thing - it's a story that flips the script and gives depth to The Wicked Witch (who turns out isn’t so wicked after all). It also helped that the musical adaption was so successful, with catchy and powerful ballads such as "Defying Gravity" and "Popular."

Oz has been visited and re-visited more times than one could imagine possible, but Wicked has stood out for fleshing out the dimensions of these black-and-white characters. Gregory Maguire took Baum’s work and honored it by supposing a different point of view and, in so doing, telling a much deeper story.

Though without Baum’s original work, Wicked wouldn’t have a single leg to stand out - director John M. Chu knows this - and so in, once again, presenting a re-telling of the story of Oz he, like Maguire before him, pays homage to the creator of Oz.

Director Chu made more than a few small changes to Wicked to bring it to life on screen and to adapt it to a more modern audience. These changes included showing Elphaba’s childhood, extending the song "Defying Gravity," the meeting of Elphaba and Fiyero, and more.

Though one change fans of the original 1939 film will not see is Nessarose’s slippers. In the 1939 film, the red ruby slippers were chosen as they showed more vividly in technicolor. In Baum’s book, the slippers are silver as shown in the new Wicked movie. They were also silver in the original stage musical.

The Slippers Are Faithful to the Book

Some fans had speculated that the change had to do with copyright concerns. The original rights to the 1939 film are owned by Universal, but Wicked is produced by MGM. As such, it has been suggested that the omission of the ruby slippers is due to a lack of ownership of the rights. It is a trick thing in and of itself, as Maguire’s novel is based on the movie more so than the book. Though it's only a minor change, perhaps even one not intentionally made, director Chu's recognition that Wicked could not have a penny to its name without Baum putting pen to paper is a nice touch—regardless of the reasoning.

Wicked is in theaters now, with Part 2 releasing in November 2025.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

9

10

Wicked

PG

Adventure

Fantasy

Musical

The story of how a green-skinned woman framed by the Wizard of Oz becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. The first of a two-part feature film adaptation of the Broadway musical.

Director

Jon M. Chu

Release Date

November 22, 2024

Cast

Cynthia Erivo , Ariana Grande , Michelle Yeoh , Jeff Goldblum , Jonathan Bailey , Ethan Slater , Marissa Bode , Bowen Yang , Bronwyn James , Keala Settle , Peter Dinklage , Aaron Teoh , Grecia De la Paz , Colin Michael Carmichael , Adam James , Andy Nyman , Courtney Mae-Briggs , Sharon D. Clarke , Jenna Boyd

Writers

Gregory Maguire , Winnie Holzman , Dana Fox , L. Frank Baum

Runtime

160 Minutes

Main Genre

Musical

Studio(s)

Marc Platt Productions

Distributor(s)

Universal Pictures

Character(s)

Elphaba Thropp , Glinda Upland , Madame Morrible , The Wizard , Fiyero Tigelaar , Boq , Nessarose Thropp , Pfannee , ShenShen , Miss Coddle , Doctor Dillamond (voice) , Avaric Tenmeadows , Gilligan , Professor Nikidik , Glinda's Father , Governor Frexspar Thropp , Melena Thropp , The Midwife