Debuted during the big sports event, the sneak-peek video takes viewers to the whimsical Land of Oz as envisioned by director Jon M. Chu based on Winnie Holzman and Stephen Schwartz's stage musical.
- Feb 12, 2024
AceShowbiz - The first teaser trailer of the "Wicked" movie is here for fans' viewing pleasure. Courtesy of Universal Pictures, the video was debuted during Super Bowl LVIII and made available online on Sunday, February 11.
It unfolds to a rendition of "Defying Gravity", a signature anthem from the stage musical. Ariana Grande's Glinda Upland is seen traveling on a boat before she meets Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba Thropp, who shocks Glinda with her appearance.
"You're green," Glinda exclaims, to which Elphana replies, "I am." Despite her strange look and the risk that she poses, Elphana, who later becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, seems to still have a close relationship with Glinda, who later becomes Glinda the Good.
"Don't be afraid," Glinda reassures Elphaba. "I'm not afraid," Elphaba responds, "It's the Wizard who should be afraid of me." The video also sees Michelle Yeoh's Madame Morrible sharing advice to someone, "Once you learn to harness your emotions, the sky is the limit."
The teaser gives a look at the whimsical Land of Oz and offers a glimpse of Jeff Goldblum as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Jonathan Bailey's Fiyero Tigelaar, a Winkie prince who meets Elphaba and Glinda at school, is also featured in the video.
According to the official synopsis, "Wicked" tells "the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo ("Harriet", Broadway's "The Color Purple") as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart."
"The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda's unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba's determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West."
The fantasy film also stars Tony nominee Ethan Slater (Broadway's "Spongebob Squarepants", "Fosse/Verdon") as Boq, an altruistic Munchkin student, and Marissa Bode in her feature-film debut as Nessarose, Elphaba's favored sister.
The cast of characters includes Pfannee and ShenShen, two conniving compatriots of Glinda played by Emmy nominee Bowen Yang ("Saturday Night Live") and Bronwyn James ("Harlots"), and a new character created for the film, Miss Coddle, played by Tony nominee Keala Settle ("The Greatest Showman").
"Wicked" is directed by Jon M. Chu based on the bestselling novel by Gregory Maguire and adapted for the screen by the stage production's book writer Winnie Holzman and by legendary Grammy and Oscar winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz. The first part of the two-part film will arrive in U.S. theaters on November 27.
