Production of Wicked and Wicked: For Good
| Production of Wicked and Wicked: For Good | |
|---|---|
| File:Wicked Movie Logo.png Logo for the two-part adaptation | |
| Directed by | Jon M. Chu |
| Produced by | Marc Platt |
| Written by | Winnie Holzman |
| Based on | Wicked by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman |
| Music by | Stephen Schwartz |
| Cinematography | Alice Brooks |
Production companies | Universal Pictures Marc Platt Productions |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | est. US$200 million (combined) |
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Production of Wicked (2024) and Wicked: For Good (2025) details the creative development, filming, design, music, and post-production of the two-part live-action adaptation of the musical Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Development
In April 2022, Chu announced the project would be split into two films to preserve narrative integrity and musical breadth—especially to let “Defying Gravity” serve as a natural midpoint cliffhanger.[1] According to composer Stephen Schwartz, the split was necessary to avoid omitting key songs or characters.[1] Chu also cited influences like Hook (1991), Pleasantville, and The Truman Show for the films’ large-scale practical philosophy and thematic tone.[2]
Filming
Principal photography began on December 9, 2022, in the UK and neared completion by July 2023, before being paused due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. Filming resumed on January 24, 2024, and concluded January 26, 2024.[2] Vocals were recorded live on set (like in Les Misérables), with sound mixer Simon Hayes overseeing the process.[2]
Design and Technical Craft
Production Design & Sets
Production designer Nathan Crowley and set decorator Lee Sandales built immersive environments, including nine million tulips and a real Yellow Brick Road with mud, evoking Hook’s tangible scale.[2] NBC reports confirm jaw-dropping sets, including Munchkinland and Emerald City, emphasizing “built it, don’t just screen it”.[3]
Cinematography
Cinematographer Alice Brooks employed thousands of nuanced lighting cues to evoke Old-Hollywood yet modern emotion—like sunrises for Glinda and sunsets for Elphaba—and lighting that shifts through rainbow hues across scenes.[4]
Costume Design
Oscar-winning costume designer Paul Tazewell created rich, character-rooted costumes—combining couture craftsmanship with narrative symbolism—and emphasized timelessness over trends.[5] He garnered multiple awards in 2025, including from the Academy and BAFTA for his work on Wicked.
Makeup, Hair & Prosthetics
Makeup designer Frances Hannon crafted Elphaba’s green skin using custom neon-based formula, tested extensively across lighting setups with models—and embraced micro-braids and long nails for cultural resonance, per Cynthia Erivo’s request.[6] Hannon emphasized seeking a natural, timeless look rather than a stereotypical witch aesthetic.[7] Prosthetic work—like for the Wizard, Scarecrow, and Tin Man—was handled by Mark Coulier.[8]
Performance & Music Recording
Both Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande performed musical numbers live on set—even during physically demanding scenes like “Defying Gravity” with harnesses.[9] Erivo was actively involved in her character’s beauty features; she collaborated closely with Hannon during the process.[10]
Post-Production & Visual Effects
Post-production wrapped on September 19, 2024. ILM and Framestore crafted the visual effects, managed by Pablo Helman; one notable sequence was the Ozdust Ballroom, which required emotionally driven edits of ten-minute takes.[11] The film includes 2,200 VFX shots; Team Aspect created nostalgic main titles including a 1937 MGM-style Universal logo and “To be continued” cards.[11]
Release & Reception
Wicked premiered November 3, 2024 in Sydney and released in U.S. theaters on November 22. It earned 10 Academy Award nominations, winning Best Production Design and Costume Design.[1] The sequel, Wicked: For Good, is scheduled for November 21, 2025, has a trailer showcasing Glinda’s wedding, Dorothy’s arrival, and new songs by Stephen Schwartz.[12][13]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "'Wicked: For Good': What We Know So Far About the Movie's Second Act (Including Which Iconic Character Will Make Her Debut!)". People. 2025-06-06.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Wicked: For Good". Wikipedia. 2025.
- ↑ "How Do You Build a Real-Life Land of Oz?". NBC Insider. 2024-07-24.
- ↑ ""Wicked" Cinematographer Alice Brooks…". MotionPictures.org. November 2024.
- ↑ "How the World of Oz Got So Wonderful". Harper’s BAZAAR. 2024-11-18.
- ↑ "Cynthia Erivo Personally Requested Elphaba's Micro Braids". Teen Vogue. December 18, 2024.
- ↑ "Inside the making of Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba…". New York Post. 2024-11-29.
- ↑ "ON SET FRANCES HANNON + WICKED". On Makeup Magazine. Fall 2024.
- ↑ "15 'Wicked' Movie Behind The Scenes Stories". Ranker. January 22, 2025.
- ↑ "How Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo…". PopSugar. 2024-11-20.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Wicked (2024 film)". Wikipedia. 2025.
- ↑ "Wicked: For Good First Look…". Vanity Fair. 2025-06-04.
- ↑ "The first trailer for 'Wicked: For Good'…". Business Insider. Jun 5, 2025.
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