Fans of the musical Wicked are eagerly diving into the new film adaptation, uncovering fresh insights into the cherished production.
The movie adaptation features Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as Glinda and Elphaba, the central characters from the Broadway hit. This musical, based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” serves as the foundation for the film.
Directed by Jon M. Chu, the Wicked film explores the backstory of the two powerful witches. Glinda and Elphaba, hailing from contrasting backgrounds, form an unexpected bond that profoundly impacts their destinies.
In their quest to learn more, fans have been delving into the story’s origins, with some recently discovering the significance behind Elphaba’s name.
The name Elphaba, with its enchanting sound, is linked to Oz mythology. Gregory Maguire disclosed that it was inspired by the initials of L. Frank Baum, the author of The Wizard of Oz.
In an interview, Maguire elaborated on how he developed the name by experimenting with Baum’s initials, ultimately creating a name that connects to the original source material.
“I invented the name by playing with the initials of the author, Lyman Frank Baum. I tried Lafaba, I tried Lafeyba. And then I tried Elphaba. As soon as I got Elphaba, I thought, oh, that’s it,” he told WGBH.
The newly released film adaptation of Wicked has garnered immense praise, achieving a 90 percent rating from critics and an impressive 97 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The talented cast features Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard of Oz, and Michelle Yeoh from Everything Everywhere All At Once as Madame Morrible, the headmistress of Shiz University.
Jonathan Bailey of Bridgerton fame plays Fiyero, a charming and laid-back prince, while Tony nominee Ethan Slater takes on the role of Boq, a well-meaning Munchkin student. Marissa Bode makes her cinematic debut as Nessarose, Elphaba’s younger sister.
Wicked opened with a massive $114 million in the U.S. and $164.2 million worldwide, marking it as the third-largest opening weekend of the year, trailing only Deadpool & Wolverine and Inside Out 2.
The sequel, Wicked: Part Two, will focus on the conflict between Glinda the Good and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and is set to hit theaters one year after the release of Part One.
The second part is slated for release on November 28, 2025.