Wicked (2024) Captivates With Themes Of Self-Discovery And Acceptance

 The long-awaited 2024 Wicked adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda has left audiences speechless with its touching storyline and beautiful melodies. 

Viewers follow Elphaba, a misunderstood and alienated young woman condemned by everyone she has known for as long as she can remember because she was born green. As Elphaba forms an unexpected bond with the popular and shallow yet profoundly beautiful Glinda, they both embark on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance.

From the very beginning, the movie poses the following question: “Are people born wicked, or is wickedness thrust upon them?”

As the story unfolds, it becomes abundantly clear that Elphaba was not born wicked. Although many believed her to be born despicable, her seemingly wicked actions were a response to their mockery and her own fear.

Through the help and understanding of friends like Glinda and Prince Fiyero, Elphaba learns to feel comfortable in her own skin. Although she once desired nothing more than to look normal, she declined the offer when it was provided to her.

After finding out who was behind the chaos and injustice in Oz, Elphaba took a stand. Knowing she would lose everything and be labeled wicked by the public eye, she stayed true to herself. In the climactic song Defying Gravity, she turns inward and discovers her true self.

The film, more than anything, displays themes of self-acceptance and discovery. While the colorful scenery and beautiful harmonies of Wicked are captivating, its underlying lessons are the most important. Messages like never judging a book by its cover, trusting in oneself, and understanding that people are not born wicked leap out at the audience from the silver screen.

To answer the question, wickedness is not an inherent curse. Despite everything, Elphaba embraced her greenness and wore it like armor. She was not a victim of her birth but a warrior whose eyes declared, “Yes, I’ve always been green.”

The movie’s vision is clear and executed flawlessly. From impeccable casting, to the soundtrack and the script. It’s clear that the creators wanted to bring the Broadway classic to the big screen and succeeded.

Despite the movie’s two-hour and forty-minute screen time, director Jon M. Chu states in a social media post that this is only part one of two.

Here’s what audiences can expect from Wicked: Part Two. The film will pick up where part one left off. 

According to Marc Platt in production notes, “the first [movie] tells how Elphaba becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, and the second tells how her best friend, Glinda, becomes authentically good,” as indicated in an article by Josh Weiss for NBC Insider.

Part two is set to release on November 21, 2025, about a year after the original movie’s premiere on November 22, 2024.