Top 10 Ways Wicked the Movie Differs from Wicked the Musical

While the students of Shiz University aren’t drastically different in the film, there are a few tweaks. Galinda’s friend Pfannee is gender-swapped, being played by Bowen Yang. More time is also dedicated to Boq, who’s even given a last name: Woodsman. We’re sure that’s not foreshadowing anything in the slightest! Most notably, Galinda makes good on her promise to make Elphaba popular. Not long after winning over the Ozdust Ballroom crowd, Elphaba is surprised to receive friendly hellos from her peers as she passes by. It’s a sign that Galinda isn’t Elphaba’s only friend. All of the students finally accept her. In the end, Elphaba sacrifices her chance to be with the Wizard, as well as her newfound social status.

The stage production didn’t shy away from references to 1939’s “The Wizard of Oz.” The film works in more Ozian Easter eggs as Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, Tinman, and Cowardly Lion head for the Emerald City. “Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead” can be briefly heard while children run through the flower fields. Speaking of flowers, Elphaba rescues the lion cub by putting her class to sleep with poppies. She proceeds to put the lion in a basket and bikes away with it, just as Miss Gulch did to Toto. The Yellow Brick Road’s origins are also laid out as the Wizard unveils the Oz of tomorrow. The Wizard isn’t sure what color to make the road, but with help from Galinda and Elphaba, he’s put on the right path.

Upon arriving at Shiz, Nessa and Elphaba meet Miss Coddle, played by Keala Settle. Miss Coddle wasn’t in the stage musical or Gregory Maguire’s books, being the most significant character created for the film. Living up to her name, the headmistress immediately coddles Nessa, becoming defensive with Elphaba. In the stage version, Elphaba clashes with Madame Morrible when she tries to wheel Nessa away. Miss Coddle fills in for Morrible during another scene where the students learn that Dr. Dillamond has been let go from Shiz. By turning Miss Coddle into an antagonistic figure, Morrible comes off as more affectionate toward Elphaba. This makes it all the more shocking when Elpbaba’s mentor shows her true colors and declares her wicked.

In the stage musical, Elphaba attends Shiz for the sole purpose of looking after Nessa. Elphaba doesn’t start off as a student in the movie. She’s only at Shiz to make sure Nessa is settled in at their father’s request. After seeing the power that she possesses, Madame Morrible pulls some strings to enroll Elphaba. Morrible also takes credit for Elphaba’s magic display in the school courtyard, keeping her powers under wraps. Like in the stage show, Morrible offers to personally tutor Elphaba. This time, though, we actually get to see their private lessons as Elphaba hones her powers, finding how they’re connected to her emotions. These scenes go a step further in establishing Morrible as a friend who is truly a foe.

Fiyero makes his debut in the stage musical riding on the back of a carriage. Bidding farewell to his driver Avaric, Fiyero quickly fits in with his new classmates, especially Galinda. Fiyero doesn’t see Elphaba for the first time until the dance at the Ozdust Ballroom. The film forms a connection between the two earlier on. Fiyero shows up to Shiz on horseback, meeting Elphaba before he encounters anyone else. Elphaba immediately thinks she has this shallow and self-absorbed prince all figured out. Fiyero is surprised that Elphaba doesn’t fall head over heels for him, but there’s a first time for everything. It’s a nice meet-cute hinting that these two opposites are made for one another, even if neither realizes it yet.

“Dancing Through Life” remains one of the musical’s most toe-tapping songs, but director Jon M. Chu gives the number his signature with a change of scenery. The song now commences at the Shiz library where the bookshelves rotate like a hampster wheel - or a “tornado wheel” as Chu prefers to describe it. And yes, this was a practical set! In the stage show and film, the number builds to a finale at the Ozdust Ballroom. Instead of a traditional ballroom, Chu envisions the Ozdust as a nightclub. It’s akin to a speakeasy where Animals play instruments. With Animals becoming second-class citizens in Oz, it makes sense that an underground lounge would be one of the few places they’d be permitted to perform.

Although we witness Elphaba’s birth in the stage version, the film explores her childhood in greater detail. She was essentially raised by her nanny Dulcibear, giving Elphaba further incentive to fight for Animal rights later in life. While the other kids in Munchkinland ridiculed her, Elphaba nonetheless formed a bond with her sister Nessa. As Nessa seeks a fresh start at Shiz, though, she grows further away from Elphaba. Elphaba and Nessa’s father, isn’t drastically different, still favoring one daughter over the other. However, the Munchkinland Governor is given more screen time, including an uncomfortable meeting with Boq. Given his fate at the end of the film, don’t expect to see much of Frexspar in the sequel.

During “The Wizard and I,” Elphaba mentions “a vision almost like a prophecy,” envisioning a celebration across Oz that’s all to do with her. Of course, Oz celebrating the Wicked Witch’s death isn’t what she had in mind. The stage musical never makes it clear if Elphaba is just daydreaming or if she can really see glimpses of the future. The film firmly establishes Elphaba’s prognostic power. Elphaba senses that something bad is indeed happening in Oz, receiving a vision of Dr. Dillamond being locked away in a cage. As she realizes what the Wizard is doing to Animals, Elphaba finds that her visions are becoming a reality. We expect Elphaba’s visions will factor into “Part 2” as a house comes crashing down into Oz.

Prejudice against Oz’s Animals is a key part of the musical’s political commentary. The film digs deeper into this theme, showing how Animals were once respected scholars at Shiz. Ever since the Wizard rose to power, the Animals have slowly been erased from history. Dr. Dillamond expresses his fears in the “Something Bad” number, which was a duet between him and Elphaba on stage. The movie’s rendition of the song adds several talking Animals who share Dr. Dillamond’s trepidation that they may lose their voices. With the Animal population dwindling, some are compelled to flee before it’s too late. While they aren’t on screen for long, the presence of the other Animals emphasizes that there’s a whole society being silenced. Not just a token goat.

Of all the musical numbers, “One Short Day” is expanded upon the most. A new section is added to Wiz-O-Mania, detailing the significance of the Grimmerie. This spell book is derived from the so-called “wise ones.” After the wise ones passed on, it was prophesied that someone else with the ability to read the Grimmerie would arrive in Oz. When the Wizard dropped in, that prophecy was seemingly fulfilled. In addition to expanding Oz’s lore, this sequence provides an opportunity for Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth to make cameos as Wiz-O-Mania Superstars. Michael McCorry Rose, who once understudied for Fiyero, also appears as a narrator along with writer Winnie Holzman. One short scene can certainly pack in a ton of information and talent.


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