10 Changes the Wicked Movie Made to the Broadway Musical

Fellow Ozians, let us be glad, because after much anticipation (and marketing tie-ins) the Wicked movie is finally released—or at least the first part. And that means we can tell you all about the changes director Jon M. Chu, book writer Winnie Holzman (joined by Dana Fox for the film's screenplay) and composer Stephen Schwartz made to the film adaptation of the hit stage show. This new Wicked movie is actually only part one of a two-part film, running at two hours and 45 minutes. But wait a minute, you might think—how can Wicked, Part One be longer than the entirety of the stage musical?

Well luckily, we have many Grimmerie scholars here at Playbill who have seen the movie and can pinpoint the changes (and additions) that were made to separate it from the stage musical.

There are more changes, big and small, than can fit into one article. And we’ve previously written about the film's expanded orchestrations and the changes in costuming. Below, we’ve chosen 10 big story and song changes from Wicked, Part One, which were surprising enough that it made us feel like we were watching the musical again for the first time.

Beware of flying ~~monkeys~~ spoilers.

Jon M. Chu, Cynthia Erivo, and Ariana Grande Courtesy of Universal Pictures

1. Ozian Designs

If you’re a fan of the Wicked stage show, its steampunk aesthetic (and the moving Time Dragon Clock) is near and dear to your heart. The reason that Wicked on stage has such a different look than The Wizard of Oz film is because the musical’s creative team were not allowed, legally, to reference any visual element from The Wizard of Oz when they were making the musical. They only had rights Gregory Maguire's Wicked novel and the ability to use elements from L. Frank Baum’s public domain Oz—that’s why there’s no ruby slippers, no pink bubble dress, Dorothy is only seen in shadow, and set designer Eugene Lee went for steampunk instead of whimsy.

But it seems that for the new Wicked movie, Warner Bros gave the filmmakers the rights to use the design elements from The Wizard of Oz. That is why in this new movie, there are so many visual Easter eggs that hearken back to the 1939 film: ruby slippers (which Glinda throws at Elphaba during “Popular”), the swirling yellow brick road in Munchkinland, Glinda’s pink bubble gown, Elphaba riding a bike with a basket in the back (Ms. Gulch-style), and even a cameo of Dorothy and her crew, complete with her iconic braids and blue gingham.

Though it is a shame that even though Glinda invokes the Time Dragon Clock briefly at the top of the film, we do not see Lee’s iconic red-eyed dragon. For us Wicked stage show fans, we miss him most of all.

2. Young Elphaba

In the stage musical, Elphaba’s upbringing is only mentioned in passing, but in the Wicked film, we’re able to see what it was like for her to grow up in Munchkinland. In “No One Mourns the Wicked,” we see a scene of young Elphaba and young Nessarose, which establishes their sibling dynamic and the bullying Elphaba endures because of her skin color. And in the birthing sequence, keep your ears out for the voice of Olivier Award winner Sharon D. Clarke, who plays a midwife who is also a bear. And instead of saying “It’s atrocious” to describe Elphaba, the midwife says “It’s uncanny,” making Elphaba’s father’s “It’s obscene!” even crueler by comparison.

3. Song Changes

Speaking of changes to the lyrics, we can now confirm that aside from the "Wizomania" sequence, there are no new songs in Wicked, Part One. But there are some tweaks to various songs. Some small ones we spotted was the ending of “Popular,” which features more “la la”’s with three consecutive key changes; a different instrumentation to the beginning of “I’m Not That Girl”; a longer introduction to “One Short Day,” with a chorus singing “If you only had….”; and two more repeats of “unlimited” in “Defying Gravity.”

The biggest song changes were the "Wizomania" sequence in “One Short Day” (more on that below), and “Sentimental Man,” which now has a dream ballet sequence featuring a tap-dancing wizard and shadow puppets. For those of you who have always wanted “Sentimental Man” to be longer, your wish has been granted.

4. Wiz-n't He Wonderful?

In the Wicked musical, the Wizomania sequence is a show-within-a-show all about the Wizard of Oz, and performed during “One Short Day” when Glinda and Elphaba go to the Emerald City for the first time. It’s just a single verse on the stage, and has a completely different tune and vaudeville-esque style compared to the rest of “One Short Day.” It can feel a bit random if you’re listening to it on the album.

In the Wicked film, this sequence has been expanded into a full blown, song-within-a-song detailing the history of the Grimmerie and the Wizard. We have the full lyrics here. And as you’re watching this on the screen, watch out for cameos from composer-lyricist Schwartz, book writer and co-screenwriter Holzman, original stage stars Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel—and Menzel’s Elphaba battle cry riff.

5. Elphaba at Shiz

The first time we see Elphaba in the stage show, she comes out on stage in her Shiz uniform. In the film, Elphaba isn’t a student and her father asks her to stay behind to be Nessarose’s caretaker. This provides a more streamlined explanation for why she becomes Glinda’s last-minute roommate. In the show, the two rooming together comes from an administrative error, which is a lot less exciting than what happens in the film. And it gives Elphaba the opportunity to wear a stunning black coat for her first look.

6. “Something Baaaaad”

In the world of Wicked, Animals can talk, are professors at Shiz University, and even play musical instruments. But history professor Doctor Dillamond warns Elphaba in the show that “something bad” is happening in Oz, as Animals are slowly losing their ability to talk and live among humans as equals. This sets Elphaba on the path to becoming an Animal rights activist. The film expands on this conflict a bit more; instead of being set in a classroom, the song “Something Bad” is now in a meeting of talking Animals where a toucan, a snow leopard, a lamb, and other creatures are discussing whether or not they should run away.

The film also establishes that Doctor Dillamond’s favorite flowers are poppies, giving additional emotional significance to those flowers.

Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey Kevin Mazur

7. Elphaba and Fiyero's Meet Cute

In the musical, Fiyero and Elphaba meet when his rickshaw almost runs over Elphaba, with the Winkie prince remarking “maybe the driver saw green and thought it meant go.” In the year 2024, that kind of negging is no longer attractive. Fiyero’s entrance in the film is much more dashing, with the prince coming in on a talking horse and stumbling upon Elphaba while she’s walking in the woods. He apologizes while saying, “You must have blended in with the foliage" (after all, he does need a basis for character development). And Fiyero does immediately try to make up for it by offering her a ride. We don’t blame Elphaba for saying “get stuffed" (foreshadowing!), though she has much better self control than we do.

8. Nessarose By Any Other Name

A longer running time means more time to develop characters who will later be essential for the narrative. Besides Glinda, Nessarose is arguably the other most important person in Elphaba’s life. The relationship between the Wicked Witch and her sister is given more time in the Wicked film, including in the aforementioned flashback. Most notably, Nessarose is given more lines expressing her need to be independent, including not wanting anyone to push her wheelchair for her. And early in the film, Nessarose and Boq share a knowing glance as two people who are vertically challenged. As charmingly played by newcomer Marissa Bode, the first wheelchair user to play Nessarose, the character makes an impression in this first film that will no doubt pay dividends (and lead to some tears) in Wicked, Part Two.

Cynthia Erivo in *Wicked* Courtesy of Universal Pictures

9. Elphaba’s Additional Powers

The musical establishes that Elphaba’s main powers are her ability to move objects and people with her mind, and being able to read the spells in the Grimmerie. The film seems to have given our favorite witch additional powers, including being able to see the future (she has a vision of Doctor Dillamond in a cage) and flying on her own. That last one may be controversial, but in “The Wizard and I,” Elphaba jumps and is airborne for an unnaturally long time.

Then in “Defying Gravity,” she gets a chance to fly on her own without having to be on the broom (she holds it at her side like she does on stage). It may be just a metaphor, and a reference to how Elphaba flies on Broadway (on a cherry picker). But considering how literal film is as a medium, until Wicked, Part Two is released, this writer will assume Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba can fly like Superman.

10. Tell Them How She Is Defying Gravity

There are no major changes to the lyrics of “Defying Gravity” but the movie sequence is much longer than the stage show; “Defying Gravity” on the screen lasts 16 minutes versus the six minutes that’s on the stage. That’s because the film adds more drama in between the verses: Elphaba and Glinda try to escape the Emerald City in a hot air balloon, Elphaba’s father dies of a heart attack (which usually happens offstage), Nessarose looks distraught, and Fiyero leaves Shiz.

What other changes are in store? Join us back here next year for Wicked, Part Two!