Wicked Director Reveals The Change To The Musical He's Most Proud Of

Jon M. Chu, the director behind the highly anticipated Wicked films, has spoken candidly about the challenges and innovative ideas he brought to adapting the beloved Broadway musical for the big screen. Chu, best known for his work on Crazy Rich Asians and In The Heights, is no stranger to revamping extraordinary stories into cinematic experiences. Now, by bringing Wicked to life in two parts, Chu has been able to create unique opportunities to deepen the story and explore its characters in ways the stage production was not able to before.




In an interview with Screen Rant, Chu talked about the change he is most proud of in the adaptation process by refocusing the narrative on Elphaba, the misunderstood green girl destined to become the Wicked Witch of the West. The director explained that in the stage show, “Glinda opens the show and acts almost as the host for the night, and then she closes it at the end.” However, he said, ” This one, you don’t get that.” He then explained how the film takes a different approach by focusing more on Elphaba’s journey in the first part, setting the emotional groundwork for the powerful “Defying Gravity” finale. You can read his full explanation below:


There are micro adjustments across the board because, in order for one movie to feel satisfying and not just half a movie, we had to move backwards from what “Defying Gravity” would do. “Defying Gravity” couldn’t just be a closing number; it had to tie up what we were rooting for this whole time.

In a weird way, Glinda opens the show and is almost the host of the night, and then she closes it at the end. And this one, you don’t get that, so we really had to focus this around Elphaba in a weird way. We drop into a crime scene — not the narrator but the scene of the crime, and we’re going to come back to this — but it’s going to be about this person here.

Seeing her childhood was really helpful, and then also the perspective shift. In the stage show, you are sitting there, and you are on the side of the audience. You’ve walked into this theater, and this green girl drops in, and she’s the joke. In this movie, Cynthia was like, “I’m not the joke.” And you’re like, “You’re right.” In a movie, the audience has to buy into the musical world. We’re convincing the audience in those first 10 minutes that this is the way the world works, then the normal green girl walks in and is like, “Did I just walk into a freaking musical?”

Everyone sings, but in that moment in “The Wizard and I,” everything quiets down, and she starts to sing her little whispers. You’re like, “Oh my gosh, she can sing. She can sing better than any of these people.” To me, those little differences make us root for her in a way that reshift the whole balance of the show to allow “Defying Gravity” to be the thing that we want.



What This Means For Wicked

It’s Reshaping Elphaba’s Story

Chu’s changes reflect a deeper commitment to Elphaba’s journey, allowing audiences to connect with her character on a deeper, more personal level. By reframing her introduction and emphasizing her resilience, the filmmaker is shifting the perception of Elphaba from a joke to a hero worth rooting for. Moments like the dramatic number “The Wizard and I” are crucial in this narrative shift and serve to quiet the chaos, allowing Elphaba’s raw talent and humanity to take the spotlight. Thus, Chu is bringing forth a Wicked movie adaptation that not only pays homage to the iconic stage play but also expands the story in a film format.


Related

Elphaba’s Family Tree In Wicked Explained

Each member of Elphaba’s family tree in Wicked influences her overall character arc, shaping her transformation into the Wicked Witch of the West.

This gives the audience a more immersive experience by enabling a deeper exploration of the Wicked characters and a richer, more nuanced narrative that goes further into their motivations and complexities. According to Chu, Cynthia Erivo, who stars as Elphaba, played a key role in redefining the character’s introduction by asserting, “I’m not the joke.” This perspective allows viewers to root for Elphaba from the start, resulting in a greater emotional impact when she finally steps into her power and sings “Defying Gravity.”

Our Take On This New Wicked Perspective

It’s More Than An Adaptation

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba looking down with a blue night sky background in Wicked
Custom Image By Yailin Chacon


Chu’s Wicked is beyond a mere adaptation of the musical. It elevates its emotional core to a new medium. By focusing on Elphaba’s journey with her humanity and highlighting her resilience, the director allows the audience to experience her story with a renewed sense of empathy. Wicked is expected to be a profoundly emotional film thanks to the enhanced focus on Elphaba’s story. As fans eagerly go into cinemas to see Part One, it’s clear that Chu’s thoughtful adjustments will bring fresh and unforgettable energy to this iconic tale while they wait for Wicked Part 2, which is scheduled for next year.