BTS Video Of Ariana Grande Starrer Wicked Explores The Magical World Of Oz

After years of waiting, the famous Broadway musical Wicked is finally getting its big-screen adaptation, with a lot already happening behind the scenes. Nearly a decade after the musical film was announced, two superstar leads Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were also attached to the project. Additionally, director Jon M. Chu took over the grand feat of bringing the production to life. As the film’s production continues, Universal Pictures has dropped a behind-the-scene video, taking viewers into the magical world of Oz.

Erivo as Elphaba and Grande as Glinda can be seen in their respectable roles as they speak about the rich visual details and their own experiences. Besides, the video also offers a view of the crew’s extensive world-building as they extend hours of work to set up the large-scale sets, which include villages for Emerald City and Munchkinland, the Yellow Brick Road and even growing approximately 9 million tulips.

“We knew that we wanted Wicked to be immersive. What does it feel like to be in Oz? To feel it in your fingertips? If you want to be inside that world, you’ve got to build it,” Chu says as he takes viewers on a tour. At one point, the director also reveals ordering an actual 16-ton train for a scene where Elphaba and Glinda travel to meet the Wizard of Oz. “A lot of it is real, physical, tangible sets… to create this world in a way we’ve never seen it before,” said Grande about the production’s ability. The video clip also includes footage of co-stars Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh and Ethan Slater on the sets.

More On The Wicked Films

The beloved Broadway musical will be divided into two parts. While the first half, i.e. Wicked: Part One, will be released in November 2024, the second part is slated for release in November 2025. A prequel to The Wizard of Oz, it will tell the true story of the Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch. The musical will follow their journey from being roommates at Shiz University to unlikely friends.

“The film tells the untold story of the witches of Oz: Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power; and Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart,” the official synopsis read.