Wicked (film franchise)

Wicked is an American media franchise started by the two-part musical fantasy film series directed by Jon M. Chu and written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, based on the 2003 stage musical by Stephen Schwartz and Holzman, which was loosely based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel, which itself is a reimagining of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its 1939 film from MGM (now owned by Warner Bros. Pictures along with the rest of MGM’s pre-May 1986 library under Turner Entertainment Co.). The films are respectively titled Wicked (titled onscreen as Wicked: Part I) and Wicked: For Good, the latter named after the penultimate number of the musical.

Set in the Land of Oz, both before and after Dorothy Gale's arrival from Kansas, the plot follows green-skinned Elphaba and her path to ultimately becoming the Wicked Witch of the West, alongside an unlikely friendship and later rivalry with a classmate who later becomes Glinda the Good. They both then must face the consequences of their actions as their destinies change all of Oz forever.

Produced by Universal Pictures and Marc Platt, who both produced the stage musical, the films star Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as Elphaba and Glinda respectively, with Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode (who makes her feature film acting debut in the first film), Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Keala Settle, Peter Dinklage and Sharon D. Clarke in supporting roles. With a combined budget of $300 million, it is one of the biggest and most ambitious film projects ever undertaken and the most expensive musical film adaptation ever made. The franchise began with the first film premiering at the State Theatre in Sydney, Australia, on November 3, 2024; the second film is scheduled to be released on November 21, 2025.

The film series has so far received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike for the performances of the cast, Chu's direction, the production values and faithfulness to the source material, all while becoming a pop culture phenomenon. The first film was a major financial success, having grossed $756 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing Oz film and the highest-grossing musical film adaptation of all time. The series has also earned numerous accolades, with the first film receiving 10 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, winning Best Costume Design and Best Production Design, as well as becoming the first fantasy film in history to win Best Film at the National Board of Review. The franchise also includes two television specials, merchandise, toys, books, an online community tie-in with Roblox, and theme park attractions at the Universal Destinations & Experiences.