Thescreescore – Director Jon M. Chu is shedding light on the pivotal decision to incorporate two original songs into "Wicked: For Good," the highly anticipated sequel. These new musical numbers, one for Glinda and one for Elphaba, mark a departure from the beloved Broadway adaptation, and Chu explains why they are essential for exploring the characters’ inner landscapes.
Speaking at Deadline’s Contenders London event, Chu, a longtime admirer of "Wicked," emphasized his personal connection to the story, recalling his early exposure to the musical. He revealed a particular fondness for the second act, viewing it as the narrative’s emotional core.
Chu elucidated that the new songs serve to amplify the themes already present in the stage production, aiming to capture a similar emotional resonance on the big screen. He highlighted the desire to delve deeper into the individual experiences of Glinda and Elphaba, particularly the isolation and weight of their choices. "For me, what I think the second half needed was to know more about these individual women’s experiences," Chu stated. "How lonely is it when you make a choice like that and you have to stand up to power and you feel like you’re the only one doing it. That’s a very heavy, lonely experience… And what happens when you’re someone like Glinda who has this bubble of protection, where you don’t ever have to deal with the truth if you don’t want to. Are you able to pop your bubble of privilege? To me, those were the bigger questions of the Wicked saga."
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According to Chu, the inclusion of new songs wasn’t about grand spectacle, but about forging a stronger emotional connection with the audience. He felt that dialogue alone couldn’t fully capture the intricacies of Glinda and Elphaba’s internal struggles. "We needed more songs, because we needed more avenues into that mindset," Chu explained. "Musicals are great because it’s not about being bigger, it’s about going deeper into these characters and minds and what they’re going through. So we have new songs that allow us to witness how they go through these thoughts, and the audience can experience."
Cynthia Erivo, as Elphaba, will perform "No Place Like Home," while Ariana Grande, as Glinda, will sing "The Girl in the Bubble." These additions will be the first original songs added to the Wicked films that were not part of the original Broadway score.
"Wicked: For Good" continues the narrative from where "Wicked: Part One" concluded, adapting the second act of the original 2003 stage musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman. The film will explore the aftermath of Elphaba’s transformation into the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda’s ascent to power, examining how their friendship is affected by the tumultuous political landscape of Oz.
The second act sees Glinda and Elphaba grappling with both external conflicts in Oz and internal struggles concerning identity, loyalty, and justice. Chu sees the new songs as a vital tool in portraying the characters’ inner turmoil. By providing each lead with fresh musical moments, Chu aims to harmonize the screenplay and songs, allowing each witch to have a more complete voice as they confront impossible choices.
The anticipation for "Wicked: For Good" is already at fever pitch. Fandango has reported that the film has achieved the highest first-day ticket pre-sales of any movie slated for 2025, surpassing "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle," "Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl," and "Superman."
The first film, released just before Thanksgiving 2024, garnered $112.5 million in its debut and grossed $756.4 million globally, making "Wicked" the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation of all time.
"Wicked: For Good" is scheduled to hit theaters on November 21.
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