Summary
The long-awaited movie adaptation of the musicalWickedhas managed to avoid one tricky pitfall that I believe could have ruined the entire film.Originally a stage production that was itself based on a book, theupcomingWickedmoviehas big ruby slippers to fill, especially in terms of doing the unique staging and set design of the musical justice.
TheWicked charactersexist inside a fantasy world that blends between the originalThe Wizard of Ozaesthetic with emerald-soaked steampunk, and this vibrant visual style is something theWickedmovie must capture to succeed. To create this wondrous landscape,theWickedmovie could have easily chosen to go down the CGI routeto explore its fantasy components. Almost the entireWickedmovie could have feasibly been filmed in front of a green wall, but I’m very glad that isn’t the case.
Every Wizard Of Oz Character Who Appears In Wicked
Wicked includes many characters from the original Wizard of Oz story, but their arcs are reframed to reveal more about the complex politics of Oz.
The Wicked Movie Is Relying Heavily On Practical Sets
Wicked Did Not Opt For The CGI Route
Behind-the-scenes footage ofWickedreveals how stunning the film will be. It is clear that theWickedmovie is mainly using grand, practical, physically built set designs to tell its story instead of CGI. Massive constructions were assembled, from giant forests and tulip fields to movable trains and the Emerald City. I am a big fan of theWickedstage production and particularly how, despite its fantasy elements, the musical still feels relatable. Using practical, tangible sets instead of CGI wherever possible helps to re-create this relatable feel onscreen and makes for an even more faithfulWickedadaptation.
What I find so incredible about theWickedmovie already is that all the locations are completely recognizable. The whole set looks like it exists in the real world somewhere, and that fidelity can only improve the actors' performances. The likes ofCynthia Erivo and Ariana Grandewould have been walking the actual streets of the Emerald City and the land of Oz - or as close as anyone can get - rather than performing on an empty sound stage draped in green cloth.
As advanced and seamless as modern CGI may be, the depth of a practical set can still be felt onscreen. For a movie likeWickedthat relies so heavily on world-building, I’m relieved Jon M. Chu is making full use of genuine sets.
Why A CGI-Heavy Wicked Movie Wouldn’t Work
The Wicked Movie Looks Similar To The Stage Show So Far
I’m not against movies using CGI, of course, but I do thinkCGI can easily become jarring when overused.Due to the constant changes and improvements in CGI, digital effects can also age a film far more quickly than practical effects do. The practical dinosaurs inJurassic Parkstill look phenomenal, for example, despite the movie releasing in 1993.
Because theWickedmusical’s world is brought oto life by physical sets and props, digitizing Oz for the movie would arguably have represented a step-down. Instead,theWickedmovie is continuing the practical ethos of its predecoessor but with bigger, more elaborateversionsto suit the movie’s increased scale. Rather than a potential CGI downgrade, therefore, theWickedmovie is improving upon the musicalby elevating, not digitally imitating, the visuals. I am certain some CGI will still be used - the flying monkeys, for example - but using it sparingly and only where necessary will make all the difference.
TheWickedset grew nine million tulips and built a 16-ton train to use in the film.
TheWickedpractical sets elevate my excitement for the film greatly. I want the film to stay true to the stage show, and computer-generating Oz would have been a huge red flag in terms of limiting how earthy the movie adaptation could be.Thankfully, theWickedmovie’s creative team appears to have reached the same conclusion, and is committed to making Oz feel as real as possible.
Wicked
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.
