Wicked director explains Wizard of Oz changes

As a seasoned gamer with a penchant for both movies and the magical realm of Oz, I must say that my initial excitement for “Wicked” has been slightly tainted by the director’s explanation regarding the differences between the film and the 1939 classic.

As a devoted fan, I can share that the visionary director of “Wicked,” Jon M Chu, has shed light on why certain aspects of the “Wizard of Oz” prequel may not align perfectly with our cherished memories of the original tale.

The movie explores the backstories of various characters from Dorothy Gale’s famous trip to Oz, which may seem confusing if you’re only familiar with the 1939 film.

In an exclusive chat with Variety, I shared my rationale behind the choice to deviate from the traditional ruby slippers and the iconic Yellow Brick Road, as seen in the Judy Garland classic. Rather than following the most recognizable depictions, we chose to remain faithful to the original script due to rights-related considerations.

Wicked director explains Wizard of Oz changes

“We had boundaries of what we could reference or not,” he said.

In contrast, we don’t wear ruby slippers; instead, Nessa wears crystal slippers, as portrayed in L. Frank Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz”, Gregory Maguire’s “Wicked” book, and the stage production.

I believe the term ‘yellow brick road’ isn’t protected by copyright, but the distinctive shape of the road certainly is. Unfortunately, we couldn’t create a spiral; instead, we opted for a continuous circular design to emphasize that this isn’t the end of the road.

Concerning Dorothy, Chu discussed the possibility of her being featured in the sequel movie, since it’s based on the second part of the play.

Wicked director explains Wizard of Oz changes

In the program, Dorothy is present, he stated. It’s crucial for their paths to cross, but there’s a limit to how often you can hint at it.

I can’t confirm if she appears in Movie Two as a character, but I have this feeling that everyone should interpret Dorothy however they wish. However, there are scenes involving her and some overlap. So, let’s see how it unfolds in the sequel.

Wicked is out now in cinemas.

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2024-11-30 15:48

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