The highly anticipated movie Wicked, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, premiered on November 22nd. This dazzling film is an adaptation of the Broadway musical Wicked, which debuted in June 2003, with Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel in iconic roles. If you’re like me—someone who knew the basics of Wicked before watching, such as it being a prequel to The Wizard of Oz—you might have found the timeline a bit confusing. Wicked: Part I corresponds to Act One of the Broadway musical. Don’t worry—this article will explain how Wicked fits into The Wizard of Oz (spoiler-free, of course!).Â
Need to Know CharactersÂ
Elphaba is a misunderstood character whose struggles began in childhood due to society believing that her green skin was something to fear. She feels like an outsider in her community due to her skin, but truly, she is a compassionate, intelligent, and strong-willed person. Then, we have is Galinda, later known as Glinda, who is the pure opposite of her roommate. She’s shallow, bubbly and charismatic, but throughout the film we see through her shallow exterior to discover her true strength in valuing genuine relationships over the superficial ones she came in with. Â
Both characters long for the Prince, Fiyero, who is shallow at first, but we see that he is charming and brave, especially when he helps Elphaba rescue the baby lion. Fiyero becomes fast friends with Boq, who is kind, naive, and is also in love with Glinda, but turns to Nessarose, Elphaba’s younger sister, when he believes that Nessarose needs his love. Nessarose is seen as sweet, determined, and dependent on the people around her. Â
All of them attend Shiz University, where Elphaba and Glinda are personally taught by Madame Morrible. Morrible is revealed to be manipulative and power-hungry, traits she hides behind her charisma. She works with the great, all-powerful Wizard of Oz, who we learn is a manipulative fraud but hides it behind his charm and the ability to win people’s trust with grandiose promises.Â
ThemesÂ
Both Wicked and The Wizard of Oz explore themes of prejudice, friendship, and power. In Wicked, Elphaba’s story highlights the prejudice she faces for her green skin and misunderstood intentions, reframing her as a victim of societal bias rather than a villain. Similarly, The Wizard of Oz subtly addresses the fear of uniqueness through the Wicked Witch of the West, who was depicted as evil. The friendship between Elphaba and Glinda in Wicked adds depth to their rivalry in The Wizard of Oz, showcasing how relationships can break under societal pressures. Both stories question the nature of power and authority, with the Wizard representing illusion and manipulation, while Elphaba challenges the system, making the audience reconsider the definition of good and bad.Â
TimelineÂ
In the film, we are introduced to Shiz University and Oz. Shiz is where we are introduced to the characters and where the groundwork of Part I is truly laid out.
We learn of how Elphaba’s power strengthened from her childhood to young adulthood, and we see how Glinda’s ambition came to light. Shiz is the setting where Elphaba and Glinda meet and develop their friendship. As the film progresses, we are brought to the Emerald City, which we already were familiar with due to The Wizard of Oz. The Emerald City is where we see Elphaba and Glinda become the character we meet in The Wizard of Oz. The end of Part I sets up for a much more darker and dramatic events that occur in Part II. Â
Wicked: Part II is set to release on November 21, 2025, so get ready for a whirlwind of emotions!Â