What's the real timeline of Wicked and The Wizard of Oz? Do viewers need to watch the original before the upcoming musical film adaptation? Here's what you need to know.
SPOILER WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for Wicked and The Wizard of Oz, so proceed with caution.
When is the Musical, Wicked, Set? Exploring the Timeline
With Wicked coming around the corner, fans, especially newcomers, might wonder whether they have to watch The Wizard of Oz to understand the story unfolding on the big screens. But here's the thing about the franchise timeline.
Wicked is a necessary prequel before the events of The Wizard of Oz happen.
Based on the novelist Gregory Maguire's story, The Wizard of Oz begins with Elphaba's birth and her years at school before flash-forwarding years later when the citizens of Oz identify her as 'Wicked.'
The Wizard of Oz, on the other hand, begins 12 years after the events of Wicked, where it's told between Elphaba's time at Shiz University and Dorothy Gale's arrival in Oz.
In this sense, fans and newcomers will get to enjoy the land of Oz in their own time, considering that Elphaba and Glinda were first and foremost friends before being mistaken for being on opposite sides.
How Does the Wicked Film Adaptation Differ From the Original Broadway Musical?
Apart from the obvious factors such as being limited to the stage, the Wicked film adaptation centers on Ariana Grande playing Glinda the 'Good Witch' while Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba the 'Green Witch', whereas the original Broadway cast had Idina Menzel as Elphaba and Kristin Chenoweth for Glinda.
Another factor is that the Wicked movie is split into two parts and expected to run for 2 hours and 40 minutes, over an hour longer than the Broadway musical's first act.
Of course, there's also the possible chance of changing some details to set the film adaptation apart from the original. More to expect once they premiere on the big screens.
READ NEXT: Why is Defying Gravity the Most Iconic Wicked Song? Exploring the Lyrics
Meanwhile, fans can expect Wicked Part 1 to premiere on the big screens on November 22, while Part 2 follows suit on November 21, 2025.
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