The movie ‘Wicked’ (2024), a live-action adaptation of the popular Broadway musical, was unveiled for the first time in the world in Korea on the 20th. According to the integrated movie theater ticket network, as of 7 a.m. on this day, the reservation rate for ‘Wicked’ was 39.4%, and the number of reserved audiences was about 138,000. Wicked is a prequel novel that expands the worldview of the novel published in 1900. Based on this, the musical Wicked, created in 2003, gained global popularity starting on Broadway. It revolves around the friendship between Glinda and Elphaba, two witches who are different in every way.
Delicious food from the mountains and seas to enjoy with your eyes and ears…synergy explosion
The movie contains the first act of the musical with a long running time of 160 minutes. As a long time was spent, aspects of the original work were thoroughly and faithfully researched, and the narrative was supplemented by adding various character settings and behind-the-scenes stories that could not be included in the musical. As a result, the musical’s Seonggeun story has become smoother, but it can feel a bit boring.
Nevertheless, the vivid music and gorgeous visuals take away any break from being boring. In particular, the actors’ passionate singing shines in the musical scenes, which account for about 70% of the total. It is said that the actors, including the two female leads ‘Glinda’ (Ariana Grande) and ‘Elphaba’ (Cynthia Erivo), performed the singing scenes live at the filming site. This creates a lively feeling as if listening to a live concert rather than a movie.
As a former musical actor, Erivo stood out not only for his wide vocal range and singing ability, but also for his deep emotional expression. The character he plays, Elphaba, was born with green skin and was not loved even by her father, but she has outstanding magical abilities. Erivo captured Elphaba’s complex inner self in three dimensions through solo numbers such as ‘The Wizard And I’ and ‘I’m Not That Girl.’ The ending’s ‘Defying Gravity’ shows explosive high notes and singing ability.
Pop star Grande’s transformation was truly amazing. He previously mentioned in an interview, “I changed my singing style to an opera style for the role of Glinda.” Thanks to this, he was not far behind in the frequent duet scenes with Cynthia. In the number ‘Popular’, which maximizes Glinda’s loveliness, the unique sweet tone, ballet choreography, and gorgeous costumes and set design were combined to create the movie’s signature scene.
The ending is decorated with overwhelming direction.
The ensemble scenes in which multiple cast members appear together showed the greatest effect of film adaptation. The physical limitations of the musical stage were overcome through cinematic techniques such as wide and colorful camera angles, computer graphics (CG), and special effects. A representative example is the scene where Elphaba and Glinda visit ‘Emerald City’. To the cheerful and fast tempo number ‘One Short Day’, the mysterious cityscape of the Emerald City, its magnificent architecture and dancing crowds quickly change. The spectacular choreography and explosive colorful costumes that you cannot take your eyes off maximize the fun of watching.
The biggest feature of this movie is that it ends with a climax. This is the scene where he sings ‘Defying Gravity’ at the end of Act 1 of the musical. In this scene, Elphaba rejects the Wizard of Oz and decides to follow her own path. This scene, in which the artist flies on a broomstick while reciting the lyrics, “Everyone has the freedom to fly,” is a highlight that condenses all the elements of the work, including music, stage, and story.
In musical stages, lifts are used to create the flying effect, while in movies, all elements such as music, sound, visuals, and directing are used to achieve the peak. In the scene where Elphaba powerfully goes up and down in the sky on a broomstick, the camera angle is adjusted to Elphaba’s gaze, giving the audience the feeling that they are also levitating in the air. It ends with Cynthia Erivo’s explosive high notes and overwhelming direction, foreshadowing Part 2. Part 2 will be released in the second half of next year.
The movie also borrowed lines and roles from the Korean version of the musical. It is interpreted that the intention is to target local musical fans. Musical singers Jeong Seon-ah and Park Hye-na, who are famous in the domestic musical industry for their leading roles in Wicked, were cast to dub the roles of Glinda and Elphaba, respectively, and key lines and comments were written in the Korean musical script.
Reporter Choi Da-eun max@hankyung.com
D questions to encourage further exploration and analysis of the topics covered in the article:
1. How did the adaptation of the musical “Wicked” from stage to film affect its reception and popularity?
2. What specific elements of the film version of “Wicked” stood out to you as being particularly memorable or impactful?
3. Discuss the challenges and opportunities in translating a musical to the big screen, particularly in terms of incorporating the singing and dancing performances.
4. What role does the story and characters of “Wicked” play in its enduring appeal, and how does the movie version expand upon or alter these aspects?
5. How do you think the casting and performances of the lead actors, including Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, contributed to the success of the film?
6. How important is the visual spectacle and technical elements, such as CGI and special effects, in making a successful film adaptation of a musical?
7. Explore the themes of friendship, acceptance, and individuality presented in “Wicked” and their relevance today.
8. In what ways does the ending of ”Wicked” capture the essence of the overall narrative and leave an impression on audiences?
9. Who do you think would be interested in watching “Wicked: The Movie,” and why?
10. How do you think the use of familiar elements from the Korean musical version of “Wicked” in the film version might resonate with local audiences?
