Prepare to be spellbound! Discover how "Wicked Part 1" pays homage to its devoted fanbase. From Easter eggs to stunning performances, we explore the magical elements that make this adaptation a true love letter to Wizomaniacs everywhere. Join us as we delve into the enchanting world of Oz and uncover the care and passion behind this cinematic masterpiece.
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00:00The camerawork, the lighting, and the choreography,
00:04it's unlimited creativity as long as it serves the story."
00:08Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're outlining why we couldn't be happier
00:13with everything that went into making Wicked Part 1 defy our expectations.
00:17If you're here, we assume, like us, you're huge wizomaniacs.
00:21However, if you haven't yet seen the film, we will be discussing some spoilers.
00:25It's the story of sisterhood and best friendship and the laughter and the love.
00:32As fans, we've been waiting for what feels like forever for a Wicked movie,
00:36and when it finally started coming together, we were beyond thrilled.
00:40The wonderful Wizard of Oz summons you to the Emerald City.
00:43Come with me.
00:44What?
00:44To meet the wizard.
00:45I couldn't possibly. This is your moment. I'm coming.
00:47But if we harp on the past for just a second, movie musicals can be a mixed bag.
00:52Then came Jon M. Chu, who had already impressed us with his stage
00:56to screen Magic and In the Heights.
00:58With him at the helm, we dared to hope.
01:00And when Wicked Part 1 hit theaters, it was clear.
01:04Chu and his team treated this project with the love and care only true fans could bring,
01:08keeping the heart of the story alive in every choice they made.
01:12I want people to see Wicked and experience it in a way they've never experienced it before.
01:18I want them to feel what I felt going into that theater for the first time.
01:22When Wicked debuted on Broadway, it didn't exactly charm the critics or sweep the Tonys,
01:27despite leading the pack in nominations. Yet for audiences, it was magic.
01:32Here was a story about friendship, identity, social injustice, and so much more.
01:38One's difference doesn't make them wrong or bad, it just makes them special.
01:43And I think that that's a bigger, wider idea that we can all share with the world.
01:48It was a story that flipped The Wizard of Oz on its head,
01:51giving us a fresh, sympathetic take on the Wicked Witch,
01:54and forcing us to rethink everything we thought we knew about good and evil.
01:58For so many of us, the characters felt like reflections of ourselves,
02:02their struggles like ours.
02:03Why is it you're always causing some sort of commotion?
02:06I don't cause commotions, I am one.
02:08Yet it still had just the right amount of fantasy to transport us somewhere over the
02:13rainbow where troubles melt like lemon drops.
02:15The movie honors the story that stayed with us like a handprint on our hearts for so long.
02:20At nearly three hours, Part One makes the most of its runtime to add more depth and richness.
02:25Expect the unexpected.
02:30The things that you think are impossible,
02:31the things that you've been dreaming about aren't impossible at all.
02:35What's amazing is how effortless it feels,
02:38there's no unnecessary padding, and those two hours and 40 minutes fly by.
02:43We have more time between songs to truly understand what motivates these characters,
02:47even giving us a lengthier exploration of Elphaba's childhood.
02:51The film also expands the world of Oz, diving into the political and social dynamics that
02:56shape these characters in ways that feel natural yet fresh.
02:59The best way to bring folks together is to give a real good enemy.
03:05The cinematic format brings new layers to the characters,
03:09especially Elphaba's journey of resilience and self-discovery.
03:12Even Glinda, the guh is silent, gets a fresh take,
03:16evolving beyond the Queen Bee trope and showing remarkable growth,
03:19with so much more to come in Part Two.
03:22She doesn't give a twink when anyone thinks.
03:24Something is not the same.
03:26Of course she does, she just pretends not to.
03:32Just think back to the first time you saw Wicked,
03:35the chills when the overture began,
03:37the jaw-dropping awe of defying gravity,
03:40or how you may have contributed to a global shortage of tissues after For Good.
03:44Not only did we have high hopes for how this story would be told,
03:47but we also cared deeply about how it would make us feel.
03:50🎵Because I knew you, because I knew you, I haven't changed for good🎵
04:01Luckily, that was exactly how Chu wanted to approach this reimagining.
04:06As he told Today,
04:07certain scenes and moments formed, quote,
04:09"...core memories for him,"
04:10and he made it his mission to honor the emotions
04:13he left the theater with when he first saw the show.
04:15I was a sophomore, I think, in college,
04:18and we watched it and it blew my mind.
04:20I remember thinking,
04:22some directors would be so lucky to make this into a movie one day.
04:24Splitting the film into two parts,
04:26even though the full stage production runs shorter than just Part One,
04:30was about dedicating the time needed to create something
04:32fans would recognize and cherish.
04:34Having superfan Ariana Grande on board didn't hurt either.
04:38She often stepped in as the voice of the fans,
04:40reminding everyone, quote,
04:42"...that's Bible. You can't remove that line."
04:44It seems the artichoke is steamed.
04:48And let's just gush for a second,
04:50but how exciting was it to hear
04:51some of the most iconic lines from the show in the movie?
04:54You pretend to be shallow and self-absorbed.
04:58Uh, excuse me, there is no pretense here.
05:01I happen to be genuinely self-absorbed and deeply shunned.
05:03It's clear that this was a project made by fans, for fans.
05:07The creative team had countless discussions
05:09about what absolutely had to be included,
05:11ensuring no essential detail was overlooked.
05:14Pink goes good with green.
05:16Goes well with green.
05:18So does.
05:19Then there's the soundtrack.
05:21Our beloved soundtrack.
05:23The songs that have carried us through so much
05:25were performed with the same heart and care
05:27as when we first heard them.
05:29Just you and I to find gravity
05:36From the carefree joy of dancing through life,
05:38to the playful charm of popular,
05:40and the grandeur of one short day,
05:42the cast went above and beyond,
05:44giving performances that went harder
05:46than anything we could have wished for.
05:48So I'll be back for good someday
05:50Make my life and make my way
05:52Before today will wander and end
05:54Oh
05:58Yes, the Wicked soundtrack holds
06:00such a special place in our hearts,
06:02and we can't imagine the story
06:03without every single one of those iconic songs.
06:06First off, thank goodness none of them were cut.
06:10And we're thrilled that,
06:11unlike some recent movie musicals,
06:13it fully embraces its identity as just that,
06:16a movie musical.
06:17Dancing through life, mindless and careless
06:21Make sure you're with us
06:24When you're dancing through life
06:28They also didn't try to modernize the sound
06:30for broader appeal, either.
06:32In fact, composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz
06:35briefly considered tweaking popular
06:37with a more rhythmic hip-hop feel,
06:39but Grande insisted on keeping it as is.
06:42She didn't want fans to feel like
06:43they were seeing her pop persona in Glinda's role,
06:46and honestly, we couldn't agree more.
06:50You're gonna be popular
06:52I'll show you what shoes to wear
06:54How to fix your hair
06:56Everything that really counts to be
06:59That said, if you thought you'd be melding along
07:01with every song from memory,
07:03you might have been caught off guard.
07:05The movie makes lyrical tweaks,
07:07subtle shifts in instrumentation,
07:08and even some changes in pacing.
07:11I'm a flying heart, flying gravity
07:16And soon I'll match them in real life
07:25But none of these adjustments take away
07:27from the songs we know and love.
07:29In fact, they give us even more to appreciate.
07:31Big ensemble numbers like What Is This Feeling
07:34and Dancing Through Life are absolutely breathtaking.
07:37Jonathan Bailey brings a genuine charm
07:39and deep charisma to the latter,
07:41making every second effortlessly captivating.
07:44So we're perfect together
07:47Born to be forever
07:50Dancing through life
07:53Practically every note Grande sings
07:55is absolutely dreamy too,
07:57even when paired with her impeccable comedic skills.
08:00As for Cynthia Erivo,
08:02well, she's gonna wreck you in the best way possible.
08:06He could be that boy
08:10I'm not that girl
08:18Her rendition of I'm Not That Girl
08:20is a masterclass in vulnerability and emotion.
08:22And defying gravity?
08:24Are there even any words?
08:26Tell them how I am defying gravity
08:32Let's not forget that the actors chose to sing live for this film.
08:36To the western sky
08:38Has someone told me
08:41Everyone deserves a chance to fly
08:45Imagine being in the studio
08:47as Erivo soared through such a vocally demanding song
08:50while literally flying.
08:51It's indescribable.
08:53Idina Menzel may have defined defying gravity
08:56as the original Elphaba,
08:57but Erivo makes it her own.
08:59Initially, she performed it, quote,
09:01by the book,
09:01but after some encouragement from Schwartz,
09:04she found her own connection to the song,
09:06and it shows.
09:07And he was like,
09:09And?
09:11Trust you with the story,
09:12so what's your, what's your war cry?
09:15Every note carries so much heart,
09:17creating a rendition that's both a loving homage
09:20and a fresh interpretation.
09:22It's everything we could have hoped for,
09:24right down to that iconic silhouette and the riff,
09:26leaving audiences floating out of the theater on pure joy.
09:34And now let's talk about the biggest musical change,
09:38One Short Day.
09:38If you only have, if you only have one short day
09:49The song starts a little differently from the stage version,
09:52but the essence and subtle nods to The Wizard of Oz
09:54are still fully intact.
09:56If you haven't seen part one yet,
09:58this is the time to skip ahead
09:59because major spoiler coming up.
10:01The Wizzomania section has been completely reimagined,
10:04expanding on how The Wizard became so idolized
10:07and the origins of the Grimmery.
10:09Is he the prophecy?
10:11There's one way we'll know if it's true
10:15Fetch the Grimmery
10:23This new take is longer, more detailed,
10:25and every bit as enchanting.
10:28The addition feels like a perfect fit,
10:30made even better by the casting of two absolute legends
10:33as Oz's wise ones.
10:35It's a stunning homage,
10:36seamlessly connecting the new material
10:38to the melody we know and love,
10:40with none other than Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel
10:42tying it all together.
10:44Who's the mage?
10:46Who's major?
10:47Itinerary is making all Oz merrier
10:50Who's the sage?
10:52Who's sagely?
10:53Sounding to say our posteriors
10:56Is there a better way to say,
10:58we see you fans,
10:59than packing the film with as many easter eggs as possible?
11:02Probably not.
11:03Actually, if you haven't seen the movie yet,
11:05you might want to skip this part too.
11:07Big spoilers incoming.
11:09Since we just mentioned the original Broadway cast,
11:11let's start there.
11:13Who didn't jump out of their seat
11:14when Menzel and Chenoweth made their cameos?
11:16We were the originals.
11:19Don't forget about us.
11:20It was us first.
11:21Or when Menzel delivered that iconic riff again.
11:24Oz which had been sad and blind
11:27Once more we'll sing our joyous
11:34In that same scene,
11:35Michael McCorry-Rose,
11:36who once understudied Fiero on Broadway,
11:39plays the narrator,
11:40while stage and screenwriter Winnie Holtzman
11:42and composer Stephen Schwartz show up as well.
11:45You can read it!
11:47He must be...
11:50a wizard!
11:51The wizard will see you now!
11:52And it doesn't stop there.
11:54Galinda's parents are portrayed by Adam James and Alice Fern,
11:58who played Elphaba on The West End.
12:00Everyone say hi.
12:01Hi honey.
12:02Sweetheart, you can take the girl out of shiz,
12:06but you can't take the shiz out of the girl.
12:08Oy vey, is that the truth?
12:10See if you can spot where Cary Ellis and Diane Pilkington,
12:12who played Elphaba and Glinda respectively on The West End,
12:15made their mark on the movie too.
12:17If you know your West End actors, this film really is a who's who of them.
12:21But the easter eggs don't end with familiar faces.
12:25I think people need direction.
12:26When this thing gets built, everybody is going to remember
12:29that if you just follow the road, it's going to lead you right to me.
12:35This film is packed with nods to both the Broadway show and The Wizard of Oz.
12:40You could rewatch it every day until part two drops and still find something new.
12:44It starts right away with hints of Ding Dong,
12:46The Witch is Dead in the opening number.
12:48She's gone!
12:50Good news, she's back!
12:57In fact, musical motifs are hidden practically everywhere.
13:01While we couldn't possibly name every easter egg here,
13:04we'll get you started with a few more.
13:06In The Wizard and I, Elphaba takes us somewhere over the rainbow,
13:10where bluebirds fly.
13:11We get to see the origins of the yellow brick road,
13:14and the ruby slippers have their moment too.
13:16You're gonna be popular, I'll show you what shoes to wear,
13:21how to fix your hair, everything that really counts to be.
13:26Then there are countless foreshadowing details for part two.
13:29The number of easter eggs tucked away in this movie will blow your socks off.
13:32Bonus points if they're stripy socks.
13:35In short, if you blink, you're bound to miss something.
13:38That was you who made all that happen.
13:40How did you do it?
13:42I don't know, I've never known.
13:43Unlike The Wizard's smoke and mirrors act,
13:46John M. Chu's magic in Wicked is anything but hot air.
13:49In today's Oz, a real sorcerer who possesses true magic has become all too rare.
13:55His vision was bold, and his commitment to making it real was unlimited.
14:00Instead of relying solely on CGI, Chu wanted to immerse audiences fully,
14:05making Oz feel tangible.
14:07And wow, did he deliver.
14:09All of this didn't just take production design,
14:12it took special effects, it took visual effects.
14:16It's pretty mind-blowing to think that it can go from drawings and ideas
14:20and a dream to sitting here today.
14:22But as they say, kind of, Oz wasn't built in a day.
14:25If you want to be inside that world, you gotta build it.
14:37It took a tremendous team effort from set design, costume, props,
14:42cinematography, and so much more to create this totally sensory experience
14:46that almost made it feel as if we were watching it live.
14:49Those breathtaking sets were indeed actually built.
14:52Sure, CGI plays a role, but only to enhance what's already been built,
14:56not to replace it.
14:58Men in green suits with visual effects will take out, pushing those boats.
15:01And once again, here's the joy of it.
15:04With CGI, that's what we should be doing, in my opinion.
15:08Everything is real, and we take out the people in green suits.
15:12So we take things out rather than add them.
15:14Production designer Nathan Crowley and his team went to extraordinary lengths
15:18to bring Oz to life,
15:19like planting nine million tulips to create Munchkinland's rainbow landscape.
15:23Yes, nine million tulips.
15:26The Emerald City is also just even more astounding when you know
15:30the set is actually real.
15:31Crowley explained his inspiration for the city, and it's absolutely phenomenal.
15:36We wish we could visit the set to really take in all the details.
15:40Doesn't it just make you want to be in the hoi polloi?
15:42Let's take a moment to appreciate the costumes, too.
15:45Designing outfits that feel fresh and modern
15:48while still paying homage to the Broadway show
15:50and the classic Wizard of Oz looks can't be an easy task,
15:53but costume designer Paul Taswell and his team nailed it.
15:57Every single costume in this movie is a piece of art.
16:01This is the reason I'm here,
16:03to create new iconic images of who these characters are.
16:07The iconic silhouettes of Billy Burke and Margaret Hamilton provided inspiration,
16:11but he brought them into the present with clever details and contemporary twists.
16:16The dressmaker for Galinda, he went about approaching it from the Fibonacci spiral
16:22and creating shapes using that as a springboard
16:27and then evolving that into the dress that we have now.
16:31The result is a costume design that's visually stunning
16:34and totally on point with the characters.
16:37Plus, there are plenty of Easter eggs hidden in the costumes for the fans to spot.
16:41Since this film has been such a long time coming,
16:44with countless names attached over the years and dreamcasts evolving in our heads,
16:48the final ensemble feels like pure serendipity.
16:51And Cynthia, I don't know what planet you came from,
16:55but we are so blessed to have you in the room every time we meet you,
16:59every time I get to talk to you.
17:02And there's utter disbelief.
17:04We would love for you to be our Elphaba.
17:07The stars aligned to deliver a cast we didn't realize we needed.
17:11And now, it's impossible to picture anyone else
17:13bringing these iconic roles to life on screen.
17:16Pink goes good with green.
17:17It goes well with green.
17:20It so does.
17:24Cynthia Erivo shines as Elphaba,
17:26bringing emotional depth and raw power to the role.
17:29How can you hire an actor that does their own stunts,
17:32amazing acting, sings, and then can integrate all three of those things together
17:37and land it over and over and over and over again?
17:41Fans familiar with her performance history already knew she could deliver,
17:45but her take on Elphaba is next level.
17:48Every note she sings feels personal,
17:50and her renditions of I'm Not That Girl and Defying Gravity
17:53are absolutely devastating, in the best way.
17:56So if you care to find me,
17:59look up to the western sky.
18:02Casting a Black woman from the LGBTQIA plus community
18:05in a role so deeply tied to themes of marginalization was inspired,
18:09adding even more resonance to the story.
18:12Why is it you're always causing some sort of commotion?
18:15I don't cause commotions, I am one.
18:18Some of us are just different.
18:20This choice builds on a history of thoughtful casting for Elphaba,
18:24with Idina Menzel, a Jewish actress originating the role on Broadway.
18:28Erivo's Defying Gravity doesn't just hold its own against Menzel's,
18:32it soars alongside it.
18:34I'm not afraid.
18:38It's the wizard who should be afraid of me.
18:43Ariana Grande-Butera had more to prove,
18:46with skeptics hesitant to see past her pop star persona,
18:49but she's a revelation as Galinda than Glinda.
18:53Her comedic timing is impeccable,
18:55her vocals flawless,
18:57and her love for the character radiates in every scene.
19:00Oh, hello.
19:04As promised, she truly takes care of Glinda,
19:06balancing her bubbly charm with her more heartfelt moments,
19:09leaving no doubt she was born to play this role.
19:14You're gonna be popular.
19:17I'll show you what shoes to wear,
19:19how to fix your hair,
19:20everything that really has to be.
19:23Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero?
19:25We'll give those of you who just swooned a moment to collect themselves,
19:28present company included.
19:29All in one.
19:30If he trips on this, he had to be so smooth on that.
19:33This guy, freaking amazing.
19:35I love this guy.
19:36He plays the deeply shallow and genuinely self-absorbed prince to perfection.
19:42Excuse me, there is no pretense here.
19:44I happen to be genuinely self-absorbed and deeply shallow.
19:46The way he shows that transformation into someone who realizes
19:49there's more to life than just having fun is incredible.
19:52His performance of Dancing Through Life is unforgettable,
19:56earning a place in our memory banks right alongside the first time we ever saw Wicked.
20:00You're perfect.
20:01You're perfect.
20:02So we're perfect together, born to be forever.
20:08Dancing Through Life!
20:11Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard are equally brilliant.
20:16They play their parts with such finesse that first-timers might never suspect
20:20the darkness lurking behind their facades.
20:22Now that their true colors are revealed,
20:24we can't wait for the fireworks they'll bring in Part 2.
20:28You have no real power.
20:31That's why I need you.
20:33Don't let her get away, this Wicked way.
20:38Ethan Slater's Bok is charmingly adorkable,
20:41while Bowen Yang and Bronwyn James as Fanny and Shenshen breathe life
20:44into characters omitted from the stage show,
20:46making their absence in the original feel like a missed opportunity.
20:50When and why did this change?
20:53From what I've read, the Great Drought.
20:55Precise.
20:56Okay, excuse me.
20:57Like, raise your hand.
20:58Little Elfie, Caris Mongole, and Little Nessa,
21:01Cecily Colette Taylor, an actual wheelchair user,
21:04are not only adorable but perfectly cast.
21:08And Peter Dinklage as Dr. Dillamond brings a gravitas
21:11that makes the plight of Oz's animals hit harder than ever.
21:14The animals are now being blamed for everything that goes wrong.
21:18Finally, we must rave about Marissa Bode as Nessa Rose.
21:22For the first time, Nessa is played by a wheelchair user,
21:26and Bode delivers a performance full of confidence and strength.
21:29I've done no choreography in my life, really.
21:32I'm so grateful that they hired a wheelchair dancer
21:36to help choreograph it,
21:37because I feel like nobody knows better, like, how to move throughout the space.
21:40She's amazing.
21:41So amazing.
21:42We can't wait to see more of her in Part 2.
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22:00When you look at this cast,
22:02you can tell how much thought and care was put into their choices.
22:05And it's all about identity, I think,
22:06and finding yourself and aligning what your belief system is with your actions.
22:11Wicked is a story about identity, belonging,
22:14and breaking down judgments based on appearances.
22:17Beyond their talent,
22:18this ensemble reflects the beauty of diversity and inclusion,
22:21proving how meaningful it is when audiences see themselves on screen.
22:26Anyone can watch this film and know that their futures are unlimited.
22:30There's a lot of people who love Wicked.
22:32There's a lot of people who need Wicked.
22:36It truly resonates with me,
22:37because it lands on the idea that the possibilities in any person are endless.
22:44In the end, this film gave us everything we hoped for, and more.
22:48It captured the magic, the emotions, and the joy of seeing the show live,
22:53proving that this was a labor of love from start to finish.
22:56Thrillifying doesn't even begin to cover it.
23:00Folks have come to expect that sort of thing.
23:03And you gotta give the people what they want.
23:07Congratulations for making it to the end.
23:09Swankify our comment section by telling us why you loved the film.
23:12I knew you'd understand.
23:15That makes me, that makes me so happy.
23:18Do you agree with our picks?
23:19Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo.
23:22And be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.
23:37you