Universal has just unveiled the highly anticipated first trailer for the Broadway hit turned film, Wicked. With Ariana Grande portraying Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the trailer showcases the duo belting out iconic tunes like “Popular” and “Defying Gravity” in the official three-and-a-half-minute teaser.
The trailer offers theater enthusiasts a sneak peek into the prequel to The Wizard of Oz, exploring the events preceding Dorothy’s journey down the yellow brick road and Elphaba’s transformation into the infamous Wicked Witch of the West. Centered around the unlikely friendship turned rivalry between Elphaba and Glinda, viewers are treated to glimpses of their journey from classmates at Shiz University to their confrontation with the Wizard, played by Jeff Goldblum, in the Emerald City.
As tension brews with Oz’s plot to turn citizens against Elphaba, the trailer poses the pivotal question, “Are people born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?” Setting the stage for the film’s narrative, the teaser promises an exhilarating ride filled with magic and intrigue.
Directed by Jon M. Chu of Crazy Rich Asians fame, the star-studded cast also includes Michelle Yeoh as Shiz University headmaster Madame Morrible, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Ethan Slater as Boq, and Bowen Yang as Pfannee. The Wicked film adaptation will be released in two parts, with the first installment hitting theaters on November 27, 2024, followed by the sequel on December 25, 2025.
