How long is Wicked: Part 1? When does Wicked: Part 2 come out?

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As someone who has spent countless hours in theaters, both as a performer and an audience member, I must admit that my initial skepticism about the length of “Wicked: Part 1” was palpable. A two-hour, forty-minute movie based on the first act of a musical that typically runs under three hours feels like an exercise in patience, especially when one is accustomed to the fast-paced world of live theater.

The highly anticipated movie adaption of “Wicked,” titled simply as “Wicked: Part 1,” is now gracing the big screens. It’s doing splendidly at the box office and receiving rave reviews from both critics and audiences. However, if you haven’t heard yet, this film is split into two parts; it concludes Act I of the beloved musical. The second part, titled “Wicked Part 2,” is scheduled for release on November 21, 2025, a year after “Part 1” hits theaters.

Typically, I’d find it frustrating to have to wait a whole year for the end of a story that can be experienced in just a couple of hours on stage. The “Wicked” musical has been running in theaters globally since 2003 and lasts approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes, including an intermission. Therefore, it seems peculiar that the film “Wicked: Part 1,” which merely adapts the first act of the musical, runs for the same length of time – 2 hours and 40 minutes – all by itself.

In simpler terms, a few extra action sequences have been included in the film, such as a thrilling chase scene involving a hot air balloon near the end. However, removing these additional scenes wouldn’t significantly shorten the movie, as it would still be substantially longer than the first act of the stage performance. The film is generally very true to the original stage version, incorporating every song, line, and rhythm precisely. But why does the movie remain so extended?

As a film enthusiast, I haven’t caught the stage production of late, but it seems to me that the movie version allows for a more leisurely pacing and natural dialogue exchanges, mimicking everyday conversations more closely than the rapid-fire dialogue typical of plays. While the film adaptation of “Wicked: Part 1” still carries a theatrical flair, we, as viewers, may be less inclined to tolerate obvious theatrics on screen compared to a live performance.

To sum up, it doesn’t make a big difference in the end, as although “Wicked: Part 1” is quite lengthy, it doesn’t seem that way to watch. With “Part 2” arriving next Thanksgiving, we may be fortunate enough to enjoy an extraordinary two-part spectacle.

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2024-11-26 00:41