New “Wicked” spot sheds light on the origins of the Wicked Witch of the West

New "Wicked" spot sheds light on the origins of the Wicked Witch of the West

As a seasoned gamer and musical enthusiast with a penchant for unconventional narratives, I can confidently say that the upcoming movie adaptation of Wicked has piqued my interest to an unprecedented degree. Having grown up with the classic tale of Oz, I’ve always been intrigued by the backstory of the Wicked Witch of the West – a character often reduced to a mere caricature in pop culture.


It’s perfectly normal if you haven’t seen “Wicked” yet. Although it has been a stage production for many years, the upcoming November 2024 film adaptation will mark its debut on the big screen as the musical by Winnie Holtzman and Stephen Schwartz. However, with its growing popularity, it’s becoming harder not to hear about it. For those who wish to learn more before catching the movie, the latest Elphaba trailer is a great starting point.

“Before she was wicked…”

The film starts with a shot of the iconic yellow brick road leading towards Munchkinland, where the Wicked Witch of the West and her sister were born to a local ruler. However, at the beginning of the story, Elphaba, our main character, is being symbolically burned. As Michelle Yeoh’s Madame Morrible declares, “Residents of Oz, she is wicked. This witch is evil.” While an instrumental rendition of “No one mourns the wicked” plays, we see Glinda the Good Witch alongside this embodiment of malevolence. The trailer then uses different terms to describe her.

Each shot exhibits neither pure goodness nor wickedness. Elphaba displays kindness by saving a timid young lion, which eventually shapes the Cowardly Lion’s character in the future.

In a playful manner, Elphaba bursts out laughing, surprising her roommate during the song “What is this feeling.” Here, they express their profound dislike for one another, and this instance showcases an event that, while amusing, might not reflect well on Elphaba.

As a gamer immersed in the magical world of “The Wizard of Oz”, I can attest to the awe-inspiring sight of the winged monkeys – once ordinary creatures turned airborne by the Wicked Witch’s enchantment. However, this transformation comes at a price, as they endure pain and are forced into her service.

In a similar vein to how Dorothy Gale might act in the future, Elphaba challenges the Wizard, standing up to his showmanship and confronting him directly when they meet face-to-face. To her, he appears as nothing more than a mere mortal, devoid of any substantial power.

Admirable” could be a paraphrase for “Good” in this context. The character demonstrates this trait through her determination, as she grips her broom and proclaims that “Someone must take action.” She then swiftly leaps into motion on the broom, just moments before the title appears.

This trailer shows Elphaba to be set apart from society while finding ways to improve it. Of course she can be considered to be evil or should we say, “Wicked.”

Wicked comes to theaters on November 22.

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2024-10-08 20:32

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