Wicked film adaptation features Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in lead roles

The film adaptation of "Wicked," directed by Jon M. Chu, features Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in lead roles. The movie explores the friendship between Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Galinda, who becomes Glinda the Good Witch, set against a backdrop of social unrest in Oz. While the film captures the essence of the original musical, it has been divided into two parts. The first part runs for two hours and 41 minutes, longer than the entire stage production, but it does not introduce new songs or significantly expand on the source material. The film's themes of discrimination and political resistance resonate with current social issues. Erivo's casting as Elphaba highlights these themes, but the adaptation leaves some character arcs underdeveloped, leading to a feeling of incompleteness despite its emotional moments.