Well, Super Bowl LVIII has come and gone, leaving winners and losers in its wake. What might surprise you (as it certainly surprised me!) is who truly won the day: Wicked fans. I have been one myself since I first heard the cast recording almost fifteen years ago, and I have been eagerly awaiting a film adaptation for… about the same amount of time.
Since its announcement in 2016, this film has encountered its fair share of trials and tribulations. From major delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic to fans’ concerns about casting choices to… other drama, it’s safe to say there have been some unexpected hitches in Wicked’s production. However, this trailer put to rest any fears I may have had about the adaptation and replaced them with sheer excitement. The Wicked first look is amazing.
This is my Super Bowl. This is my Joker. I’m warning you all right now to stay away from me when this movie releases. I am going to be so annoying about it.
I’ve watched the teaser at least twelve times at this point, and it hasn’t failed to give me chills once. Between Cynthia Erivo’s angelic vocals, the stunning visuals (and I’m not just talking about the one-second clip of Jonathan Bailey), the costume design, the overall intensity… I have such high hopes. The chemistry between Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo looks so genuine; the cinematography looks so gorgeous; so far, it looks like any details the production team has made are… for the better.
I really haven’t felt excited about a movie like this in years.
On the subject of the movie being split into two parts… While I personally would have no problem sitting through five hours of Wicked fun, the decision to split the movie in half actually makes a lot of sense to me. Director Jon M. Chu has explained they tried to condense the story into one film, but the more details they tried to cut, the more it felt like a crime against the source material. I’m just happy it sounds like Wicked is in the hands of people who want to do the story justice. So, although I am devastated to have to wait an additional year to see Wicked through, I’m actually really excited to have double the content to look forward to.
In a sea of disappointing musical film adaptations, I am maintaining my optimism Wicked will stand out. If the whole movie is as captivating as the first look, it certainly will. Here’s to hoping!
