CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html><html lang="en"><head><meta charSet="utf-8"/><meta name="format-detection" content="telephone=no"/><link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" href="https://rss.onebauer.media/api/feed-aggregator?hostname=https://www.empireonline.com"/><link rel="preconnect" href="https://assets.onebauer.media"/><link rel="preconnect" href="https://images.bauerhosting.com"/><script src="https://browser.covatic.io/sdk/v1/bauer.js" type="text/javascript" async=""></script><link rel="preconnect" href="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net"/><link rel="preload" href="https://prebid.the-ozone-project.com/hw2/OZONEBAUP001/3500000499/current/ozpb.min.js"/><link rel="preload" href="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js"/><script> window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; </script><link rel="preconnect" href="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com"/><script id="vwoCode">window._vwo_code || (function() { var account_id=896182, version=2.1, settings_tolerance=2000, hide_element='body', hide_element_style = 'opacity:0 !important;filter:alpha(opacity=0) !important;background:none !important', /* DO NOT EDIT BELOW THIS LINE */ f=false,w=window,d=document,v=d.querySelector('#vwoCode'),cK='_vwo_'+account_id+'_settings',cc={};try{var c=JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('_vwo_'+account_id+'_config'));cc=c&&typeof c==='object'?c:{}}catch(e){}var stT=cc.stT==='session'?w.sessionStorage:w.localStorage;code={use_existing_jquery:function(){return typeof use_existing_jquery!=='undefined'?use_existing_jquery:undefined},library_tolerance:function(){return typeof library_tolerance!=='undefined'?library_tolerance:undefined},settings_tolerance:function(){return cc.sT||settings_tolerance},hide_element_style:function(){return'{'+(cc.hES||hide_element_style)+'}'},hide_element:function(){if(performance.getEntriesByName('first-contentful-paint')[0]){return''}return typeof cc.hE==='string'?cc.hE:hide_element},getVersion:function(){return version},finish:function(e){if(!f){f=true;var t=d.getElementById('_vis_opt_path_hides');if(t)t.parentNode.removeChild(t);if(e)(new Image).src='https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/ee.gif?a='+account_id+e}},finished:function(){return f},addScript:function(e){var t=d.createElement('script');t.type='text/javascript';if(e.src){t.src=e.src}else{t.text=e.text}d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(t)},load:function(e,t){var i=this.getSettings(),n=d.createElement('script'),r=this;t=t||{};if(i){n.textContent=i;d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(n);if(!w.VWO||VWO.caE){stT.removeItem(cK);r.load(e)}}else{var o=new XMLHttpRequest;o.open('GET',e,true);o.withCredentials=!t.dSC;o.responseType=t.responseType||'text';o.onload=function(){if(t.onloadCb){return t.onloadCb(o,e)}if(o.status===200){w._vwo_code.addScript({text:o.responseText})}else{w._vwo_code.finish('&e=loading_failure:'+e)}};o.onerror=function(){if(t.onerrorCb){return t.onerrorCb(e)}w._vwo_code.finish('&e=loading_failure:'+e)};o.send()}},getSettings:function(){try{var e=stT.getItem(cK);if(!e){return}e=JSON.parse(e);if(Date.now()>e.e){stT.removeItem(cK);return}return e.s}catch(e){return}},init:function(){if(d.URL.indexOf('__vwo_disable__')>-1)return;var e=this.settings_tolerance();w._vwo_settings_timer=setTimeout(function(){w._vwo_code.finish();stT.removeItem(cK)},e);var t;if(this.hide_element()!=='body'){t=d.createElement('style');var i=this.hide_element(),n=i?i+this.hide_element_style():'',r=d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0];t.setAttribute('id','_vis_opt_path_hides');v&&t.setAttribute('nonce',v.nonce);t.setAttribute('type','text/css');if(t.styleSheet)t.styleSheet.cssText=n;else t.appendChild(d.createTextNode(n));r.appendChild(t)}else{t=d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0];var n=d.createElement('div');n.style.cssText='z-index: 2147483647 !important;position: fixed !important;left: 0 !important;top: 0 !important;width: 100% !important;height: 100% !important;background: white !important;';n.setAttribute('id','_vis_opt_path_hides');n.classList.add('_vis_hide_layer');t.parentNode.insertBefore(n,t.nextSibling)}var o='https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/j.php?a='+account_id+'&u='+encodeURIComponent(d.URL)+'&vn='+version;if(w.location.search.indexOf('_vwo_xhr')!==-1){this.addScript({src:o})}else{this.load(o+'&x=true')}}};w._vwo_code=code;code.init();})();(function(){var i=window;function t(){if(i._vwo_code){var e=t.hidingStyle=document.getElementById('_vis_opt_path_hides')||t.hidingStyle;if(!i._vwo_code.finished()&&!_vwo_code.libExecuted&&(!i.VWO||!VWO.dNR)){if(!document.getElementById('_vis_opt_path_hides')){document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(e)}requestAnimationFrame(t)}}}t()})();</script><meta name="robots" content="max-image-preview:large"/><link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon" href="/assets/empire/favicon.ico"/><script>window.__gpp_addFrame=function(e){if(!window.frames[e])if(document.body){var t=document.createElement("iframe");t.style.cssText="display:none",t.name=e,document.body.appendChild(t)}else window.setTimeout(window.__gpp_addFrame,10,e)},window.__gpp_stub=function(){var e=arguments;if(__gpp.queue=__gpp.queue||[],__gpp.events=__gpp.events||[],!e.length||1==e.length&&"queue"==e[0])return __gpp.queue;if(1==e.length&&"events"==e[0])return __gpp.events;var t=e[0],p=e.length>1?e[1]:null,s=e.length>2?e[2]:null;if("ping"===t)p({gppVersion:"1.1",cmpStatus:"stub",cmpDisplayStatus:"hidden",signalStatus:"not ready",supportedAPIs:["2:tcfeuv2","5:tcfcav1","6:uspv1","7:usnatv1","8:uscav1","9:usvav1","10:uscov1","11:usutv1","12:usctv1"],cmpId:0,sectionList:[],applicableSections:[],gppString:"",parsedSections:{}},!0);else if("addEventListener"===t){"lastId"in __gpp||(__gpp.lastId=0),__gpp.lastId++;var n=__gpp.lastId;__gpp.events.push({id:n,callback:p,parameter:s}),p({eventName:"listenerRegistered",listenerId:n,data:!0,pingData:{gppVersion:"1.1",cmpStatus:"stub",cmpDisplayStatus:"hidden",signalStatus:"not ready",supportedAPIs:["2:tcfeuv2","5:tcfcav1","6:uspv1","7:usnatv1","8:uscav1","9:usvav1","10:uscov1","11:usutv1","12:usctv1"],cmpId:0,sectionList:[],applicableSections:[],gppString:"",parsedSections:{}}},!0)}else if("removeEventListener"===t){for(var a=!1,i=0;i<__gpp.events.length;i++)if(__gpp.events[i].id==s){__gpp.events.splice(i,1),a=!0;break}p({eventName:"listenerRemoved",listenerId:s,data:a,pingData:{gppVersion:"1.1",cmpStatus:"stub",cmpDisplayStatus:"hidden",signalStatus:"not ready",supportedAPIs:["2:tcfeuv2","5:tcfcav1","6:uspv1","7:usnatv1","8:uscav1","9:usvav1","10:uscov1","11:usutv1","12:usctv1"],cmpId:0,sectionList:[],applicableSections:[],gppString:"",parsedSections:{}}},!0)}else"hasSection"===t?p(!1,!0):"getSection"===t||"getField"===t?p(null,!0):__gpp.queue.push([].slice.apply(e))},window.__gpp_msghandler=function(e){var t="string"==typeof e.data;try{var p=t?JSON.parse(e.data):e.data}catch(e){p=null}if("object"==typeof p&&null!==p&&"__gppCall"in p){var s=p.__gppCall;window.__gpp(s.command,(function(p,n){var a={__gppReturn:{returnValue:p,success:n,callId:s.callId}};e.source.postMessage(t?JSON.stringify(a):a,"*")}),"parameter"in s?s.parameter:null,"version"in s?s.version:"1.1")}},"__gpp"in window&&"function"==typeof window.__gpp||(window.__gpp=window.__gpp_stub,window.addEventListener("message",window.__gpp_msghandler,!1),window.__gpp_addFrame("__gppLocator"));</script><script>function _typeof(t){return(_typeof="function"==typeof Symbol&&"symbol"==typeof Symbol.iterator?function(t){return typeof t}:function(t){return t&&"function"==typeof Symbol&&t.constructor===Symbol&&t!==Symbol.prototype?"symbol":typeof t})(t)}!function(){for(var t,e,o=[],n=window,r=n;r;){try{if(r.frames.__tcfapiLocator){t=r;break}}catch(t){}if(r===n.top)break;r=n.parent}t||(function t(){var e=n.document,o=!!n.frames.__tcfapiLocator;if(!o)if(e.body){var r=e.createElement("iframe");r.style.cssText="display:none",r.name="__tcfapiLocator",e.body.appendChild(r)}else setTimeout(t,5);return!o}(),n.__tcfapi=function(){for(var t=arguments.length,n=new Array(t),r=0;r<t;r++)n[r]=arguments[r];if(!n.length)return o;"setGdprApplies"===n[0]?n.length>3&&2===parseInt(n[1],10)&&"boolean"==typeof n[3]&&(e=n[3],"function"==typeof n[2]&&n[2]("set",!0)):"ping"===n[0]?"function"==typeof n[2]&&n[2]({gdprApplies:e,cmpLoaded:!1,cmpStatus:"stub"}):o.push(n)},n.addEventListener("message",(function(t){var e="string"==typeof t.data,o={};if(e)try{o=JSON.parse(t.data)}catch(t){}else o=t.data;var n="object"===_typeof(o)?o.__tcfapiCall:null;n&&window.__tcfapi(n.command,n.version,(function(o,r){var a={__tcfapiReturn:{returnValue:o,success:r,callId:n.callId}};t&&t.source&&t.source.postMessage&&t.source.postMessage(e?JSON.stringify(a):a,"*")}),n.parameter)}),!1))}(); (function () { var e = false; var c = window; var t = document; function r() { if (!c.frames["__uspapiLocator"]) { if (t.body) { var a = t.body; var e = t.createElement("iframe"); e.style.cssText = "display:none"; e.name = "__uspapiLocator"; a.appendChild(e) } else { setTimeout(r, 5) } } } r(); function p() { var a = arguments; __uspapi.a = __uspapi.a || []; if (!a.length) { return __uspapi.a } else if (a[0] === "ping") { a[2]({ gdprAppliesGlobally: e, cmpLoaded: false }, true) } else { __uspapi.a.push([].slice.apply(a)) } } function l(t) { var r = typeof t.data === "string"; try { var a = r ? JSON.parse(t.data) : t.data; if (a.__cmpCall) { var n = a.__cmpCall; c.__uspapi(n.command, n.parameter, function (a, e) { var c = { __cmpReturn: { returnValue: a, success: e, callId: n.callId } }; t.source.postMessage(r ? JSON.stringify(c) : c, "*") }) } } catch (a) { } } if (typeof __uspapi !== "function") { c.__uspapi = p; __uspapi.msgHandler = l; c.addEventListener("message", l, false) } })(); window._sp_queue = []; window._bauerConsent = window._bauerConsent || {}; window.addEventListener('adOnReady', (event) => { const eventDispatcher = event.detail.dispatcher if (eventDispatcher === 'ADVERT_PROVIDER') { window._bauerConsent.advertProviderReady = true } if (eventDispatcher === 'CMP_READY') { window._bauerConsent.cmpReady = true; } if (window._bauerConsent.advertProviderReady && window._bauerConsent.cmpReady){ var event = new CustomEvent("onConsentReady", {}); window.dispatchEvent(event); window._bauerConsent.onConsentFired = true; } else { setTimeout(() => { var event = new CustomEvent("adOnReady", {detail:{dispatcher: 'RETRY'}}); if (window._bauerConsent.onConsentFired){ window.dispatchEvent(event); } }, 100) } }); window._sp_ = { config: { ccpa: { includeGppApi: true }, gdpr: { }, events: { onMessageChoiceSelect: function() { console.log('[event] onMessageChoiceSelect', arguments); }, onMessageReady: function() { console.log('[event] onMessageReady', arguments); }, onMessageChoiceError: function() { console.log('[event] onMessageChoiceError', arguments); }, onPrivacyManagerAction: function() { console.log('[event] onPrivacyManagerAction', arguments); }, onPMCancel: function() { console.log('[event] onPMCancel', arguments); }, onMessageReceiveData: function() { console.log('[event] onMessageReceiveData', arguments); }, onSPPMObjectReady: function() { console.log('[event] onSPPMObjectReady', arguments); }, onConsentReady: function (messageType, consentUUID, consent, info) { console.log('[event] onConsentReady', arguments); var gdpr = window._bauerConsent.gdpr var ccpa = window._bauerConsent.ccpa var consentNotRequired = (ccpa && ccpa.applies === false) && (gdpr && gdpr.applies === false) if ((gdpr && gdpr.applies && consent !== '1---') || (ccpa && ccpa.applies && consent !=='1---' && consentUUID) || consentNotRequired) { window._bauerConsent.preferenceMade = true; var event = new CustomEvent("adOnReady", { detail: {dispatcher: 'CMP_READY'}}); window.dispatchEvent(event); if (window.OneSignal_Init) { window.OneSignal_Init(); } } }, onError: function() { console.log('[event] onError', arguments); } }, accountId: 296, baseEndpoint: "https://cmp.empireonline.com", propertyHref: "https://www.empireonline.com/", "targetingParams": { "tcfv2": "true" } } } function showPrivacyManager(sp_gdpr) { console.log("tcData.gdprApplies: " + sp_gdpr); if(sp_gdpr){ document.getElementById("eu-consent-ui").style.visibility="visible"; document.getElementById("us-consent-ui").style.visibility="hidden"; } else { __uspapi('getUSPData',1,function(uspData,success) { if(JSON.stringify(uspData).indexOf("---")===-1){ document.getElementById("eu-consent-ui").style.visibility="hidden"; document.getElementById("us-consent-ui").style.visibility="visible"; } }) } } window.__tcfapi('addEventListener', 2, function (tcData, success) { console.log('add event listener: '+tcData.listenerId); if (success) { if (tcData.eventStatus === 'tcloaded'||tcData.eventStatus === 'cmpuishown') { showPrivacyManager(tcData.gdprApplies) window.__tcfapi('removeEventListener', 2, function (success) { if(success) { console.log('removed event listener: '+tcData.listenerId); } }, tcData.listenerId); } } }); __tcfapi('getTCData',2,function(tcData){ window._bauerConsent = window._bauerConsent || {} if(tcData.gdprApplies){ window._bauerConsent.gdpr = { applies: true }; localStorage.setItem("consent_applies", "true"); } else { window._bauerConsent.gdpr = { applies: false }; __uspapi('getUSPData',1,function(uspData){ if(uspData.uspString.indexOf("1--")>-1){ window._bauerConsent.ccpa = { applies: false }; localStorage.setItem("consent_applies", "false"); } else { window._bauerConsent.ccpa = { applies: true }; localStorage.setItem("consent_applies", "true"); } }); } });</script><link rel="preload" href="https://cdn.permutive.app/02469357-27fd-49a7-9dbc-f0d94ae65faa-web.js"/><link rel="canonical" href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/wicked/"/><title>Wicked Review — 'A movie epic'</title><meta name="description" content="Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo lead Jon M. Chu's movie musical adaptation of the smash-hit stage show. Read the Empire review."/><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, height=device-height, initial-scale=1.0, minimum-scale=1.0"/><meta property="og:site_name" content="Empire"/><meta property="og:type" content="website"/><meta property="og:url" content="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/wicked/"/><meta property="og:description" content="Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo lead Jon M. Chu's movie musical adaptation of the smash-hit stage show. Read the Empire review."/><meta property="og:title" content="Wicked"/><meta property="og:image" content="https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-HERO.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=undefined&q=80"/><meta property="og:image:width" content="1600"/><meta property="og:image:height" content="900"/><meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg"/><meta name="twitter:title" content="Wicked Review — 'A movie epic'"/><meta name="twitter:description" content="Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo lead Jon M. Chu's movie musical adaptation of the smash-hit stage show. Read the Empire review."/><meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/><meta name="twitter:site" content="@empiremagazine"/><meta name="twitter:creator" content="@empiremagazine"/><meta name="twitter:image" content="https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-HERO.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=undefined&q=80"/><meta name="twitter:image:alt" content="Wicked"/><link rel="preload" as="image" imageSrcSet="https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-HERO.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=480&q=80 480w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-HERO.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=768&q=80 768w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-HERO.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=992&q=80 992w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-HERO.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1200&q=80 1200w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-HERO.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1440&q=80 1440w" imageSizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw,48vw" fetchpriority="high"/><meta name="next-head-count" content="38"/><link rel="preload" href="/_next/static/media/9bf67a161a796382-s.p.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin="anonymous" data-next-font="size-adjust"/><link rel="preload" href="/_next/static/media/3a8dc5763a8ae4b2-s.p.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin="anonymous" data-next-font="size-adjust"/><link rel="preload" href="/_next/static/media/4f05ba3a6752a328-s.p.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin="anonymous" data-next-font="size-adjust"/><link rel="preload" href="/_next/static/media/f7040064460a9b21-s.p.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin="anonymous" data-next-font="size-adjust"/><link rel="preload" href="/_next/static/media/4de1fea1a954a5b6-s.p.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin="anonymous" data-next-font="size-adjust"/><link rel="preload" href="/_next/static/css/931b42ab3bc43205.css" as="style"/><link rel="stylesheet" href="/_next/static/css/931b42ab3bc43205.css" data-n-g=""/><link rel="preload" href="/_next/static/css/124559e3955a86a4.css" as="style"/><link rel="stylesheet" href="/_next/static/css/124559e3955a86a4.css" data-n-p=""/><link rel="preload" href="/_next/static/css/9b9fb3fa13c23beb.css" as="style"/><link rel="stylesheet" href="/_next/static/css/9b9fb3fa13c23beb.css" data-n-p=""/><noscript data-n-css=""></noscript><script defer="" nomodule="" src="/_next/static/chunks/polyfills-c67a75d1b6f99dc8.js"></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/webpack-46399be4ef4af9c2.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/framework-5429a50ba5373c56.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/main-3d5967d6e62c9169.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/pages/_app-fbff4a03f18d2dce.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/b2e984c5-390635b3911803e5.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/449-4a0332a689d2c331.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/526-9c3f2bdd4ff89f4a.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/786-9945ccee911a54cf.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/647-92ab4588dfab7985.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/883-200aa5851f09eb61.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/642-6c0f8715952ab5b4.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/549-3df0efd3c486c2e2.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/pages/empire/%5Bsegment1%5D/reviews/%5Bsegment3%5D-05fffe6e61398a18.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/yPuMy9DBzwkaMrWYfYBTW/_buildManifest.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/yPuMy9DBzwkaMrWYfYBTW/_ssgManifest.js" defer=""></script><style id="__jsx-1908125997">html{--breadcrumbCurrentColor: #EB0000;--primaryColor: #EB0000;--primaryContrastColor: #FFFFFF;--primaryTextColor: #161616;--primaryFontFamily: '__Montserrat_1a8a8b', '__Montserrat_Fallback_1a8a8b';--secondaryFontFamily: '__Montserrat_1a8a8b', '__Montserrat_Fallback_1a8a8b';--navbarFontFamily: '__Montserrat_1a8a8b', '__Montserrat_Fallback_1a8a8b';--navbarBackgroundColor: #FFFFFF;--navbarNavigationLinkColor: #000000;--navbarNavigationLinkHoverColor: #EB0000;--navbarNavigationLinkArrowColor: #000000;--navbarSecondaryNavigationBackgroundColor: #FFFFFF;--navbarSecondaryNavigationLinkColor: #161616;--navbarHamburgerColor: #000000;--navbarFontWeight: 600;--navbarTextTransform: none;--navbarBoxShadow: 0 0 0.25rem 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--navbarLogoWidth: 6.1rem;--navbarLogoHeight: 1.7rem;--navbarLogoMarginVert: 1.1rem;--navbarLogoMarginHoriz: 2.4rem;--logoUrl: url(/assets/empire/logo.svg);--pullQuoteImageUrl: url(/assets/empire/pullquote.svg);--h1FontWeight: 600;--ratingColor: #000000;--ratingFullColor: #EB0000;--cardHighlightColor: #EB0000;--cardTitleFontWeight: 600;--montserratFontFamily: '__Montserrat_1a8a8b', '__Montserrat_Fallback_1a8a8b'; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;}</style></head><body class="empire"><div id="__next"><nav class="navbar_nav__ZiGBS" data-expand="false" data-test="desktop-nav-bar"><div class="navbar_nav__container__vqhdj"><div class="navbar_logo__IHwMr"><a href="/" data-test="nav-bar-logo-link" aria-label="Homepage"><div class="navbar_logo__image__z1k6u" data-test="nav-bar-logo"></div></a></div><div class="navbar_hamburger__cUWUC"><span class="navbar_hamburger__icon__pCK0C " data-test="mobile-nav-bar"><div class="navbar_hamburger__bar1__k8K1Q"></div><div class="navbar_hamburger__bar2__2vYjH"></div><div class="navbar_hamburger__bar3__F9p3U"></div><div class="navbar_hamburger__bar4__xKL4g"></div></span></div><div class="navbar_menu__eY41R"><ul class="navlist_navlist__S7g8U"><li class="navitem_navitem__DFvr_ " data-test="Movies"><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/" data-test="nav-bar-link-Movies" target="_self" rel="">Movies</a><div class="navitem_underline__z8G3A"></div><div class="navitem_sidelines__5aoEl"></div><div class="navitem_arrow__aPvL5 " data-test="mobile-nav-bar-dropdown-icon"><div class="navitem_arrow__icon__74k0E"></div></div><div class="navitem_nested-menu__c_99U navitem_nested-menu--collapse__aWIg_"><ul class="navlist_navlist__S7g8U"><li class="navitem_navitem__DFvr_ navitem_nested__qMJ4O" data-test="Reviews"><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/" data-test="nav-bar-link-Reviews" target="_self" rel="">Reviews</a><div class="navitem_underline__z8G3A"></div><div class="navitem_sidelines__5aoEl"></div></li><li class="navitem_navitem__DFvr_ navitem_nested__qMJ4O" data-test="News"><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/" data-test="nav-bar-link-News" target="_self" rel="">News</a><div class="navitem_underline__z8G3A"></div><div class="navitem_sidelines__5aoEl"></div></li><li class="navitem_navitem__DFvr_ navitem_nested__qMJ4O" data-test="Features"><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/" data-test="nav-bar-link-Features" target="_self" rel="">Features</a><div class="navitem_underline__z8G3A"></div><div class="navitem_sidelines__5aoEl"></div></li></ul></div></li><li class="navitem_navitem__DFvr_ " data-test="TV"><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/tv/" data-test="nav-bar-link-TV" target="_self" rel="">TV</a><div class="navitem_underline__z8G3A"></div><div class="navitem_sidelines__5aoEl"></div></li><li class="navitem_navitem__DFvr_ " data-test="Gaming"><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/gaming/" data-test="nav-bar-link-Gaming" target="_self" rel="">Gaming</a><div class="navitem_underline__z8G3A"></div><div class="navitem_sidelines__5aoEl"></div></li><li class="navitem_navitem__DFvr_ " data-test="Podcasts"><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/tags/empire-podcast/" data-test="nav-bar-link-Podcasts" target="_self" rel="">Podcasts</a><div class="navitem_underline__z8G3A"></div><div class="navitem_sidelines__5aoEl"></div></li><li class="navitem_navitem__DFvr_ " data-test="Empire VIP"><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/vip/" data-test="nav-bar-link-Empire VIP" target="_self" rel="">Empire VIP</a><div class="navitem_underline__z8G3A"></div><div class="navitem_sidelines__5aoEl"></div></li><li class="navitem_navitem__DFvr_ " data-test="Shopping"><a href="/shopping" data-test="nav-bar-link-Shopping" target="_self" rel="">Shopping</a><div class="navitem_underline__z8G3A"></div><div class="navitem_sidelines__5aoEl"></div></li><li class="navitem_navitem__DFvr_ " data-test="Empire Magazine"><a href="" data-test="nav-bar-link-Empire Magazine" target="_self" rel="">Empire Magazine</a><div class="navitem_underline__z8G3A"></div><div class="navitem_sidelines__5aoEl"></div><div class="navitem_arrow__aPvL5 " data-test="mobile-nav-bar-dropdown-icon"><div class="navitem_arrow__icon__74k0E"></div></div><div class="navitem_nested-menu__c_99U navitem_nested-menu--collapse__aWIg_"><ul class="navlist_navlist__S7g8U"><li class="navitem_navitem__DFvr_ navitem_nested__qMJ4O" data-test="Subscribe"><a href="https://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/empire-magazine?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=empireonline.com&utm_content=navigationsub&utm_campaign=bau_empire" data-test="nav-bar-link-Subscribe" target="_self" rel="">Subscribe</a><div class="navitem_underline__z8G3A"></div><div class="navitem_sidelines__5aoEl"></div></li><li class="navitem_navitem__DFvr_ navitem_nested__qMJ4O" data-test="Manage My Subscription"><a href="https://secure.greatmagazines.co.uk/Solo/Account/Login" data-test="nav-bar-link-Manage My Subscription" target="_blank" rel="">Manage My Subscription</a><div class="navitem_underline__z8G3A"></div><div class="navitem_sidelines__5aoEl"></div></li><li class="navitem_navitem__DFvr_ navitem_nested__qMJ4O" data-test="Newsletter"><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/sign-empire-newsletter/" data-test="nav-bar-link-Newsletter" target="_self" rel="">Newsletter</a><div class="navitem_underline__z8G3A"></div><div class="navitem_sidelines__5aoEl"></div></li></ul></div></li></ul></div></div></nav><div class="navbar_nav__placeholder__vfqA7"></div><div class="google-search-container"></div><main><div class="article_adContainer__qr_Hd article_adContainer--zero_margins__78jbh article_billboard__X_edx article_is-sticky__pm9El"><div class="advert_zero-line-height__g4B3M"><div id="inline-01" class="advert_advert__uye6C"></div></div></div><div class="advert_zero-line-height__g4B3M"><div id="overlay" class="advert_advert__uye6C"></div></div><div class="advert_zero-line-height__g4B3M"><div id="out-of-page" class="advert_advert__uye6C"></div></div><div class="advert_zero-line-height__g4B3M"><div id="in_image" class="advert_advert__uye6C"></div></div><div class="advert_zero-line-height__g4B3M"><div id="sticky_ad_bottom" class="advert_advert__uye6C"></div></div><article class="article_content__HfTvf"><ol class="breadcrumbs_breadcrumbs__2TlyB " data-test="breadcrumbs"><li class="breadcrumbs_breadcrumbs__item__oLecQ"><a href="/" class="breadcrumbs_breadcrumbs__link__p0UtB">Home<span class="breadcrumbs_breadcrumbs__separator__g5cfC">|</span></a></li><li class="breadcrumbs_breadcrumbs__item__oLecQ"><a href="/movies/" class="breadcrumbs_breadcrumbs__link__p0UtB">Movies<span class="breadcrumbs_breadcrumbs__separator__g5cfC">|</span></a></li><li class="breadcrumbs_breadcrumbs__item__oLecQ"><a href="/movies/reviews/" class="breadcrumbs_breadcrumbs__link__p0UtB">Reviews</a></li></ol><div class="article_review-content-header__Lvlwh"><h1 class="title_h1__SREzS undefined" data-test="title">Wicked Review</h1></div><div class="heroImage_hero-image__Z8I26 heroImage_is-review__HLl0d" data-test="hero-image"><img alt="Wicked" fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mO8/B8AAqsB1DKTUZgAAAAASUVORK5CYII='/%3E%3C/svg%3E")" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw,48vw" srcSet="https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-HERO.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=480&q=80 480w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-HERO.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=768&q=80 768w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-HERO.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=992&q=80 992w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-HERO.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1200&q=80 1200w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-HERO.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1440&q=80 1440w" src="https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-HERO.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1440&q=80"/></div><div class="entityLinks_entity-links-placeholder__TKcDw "><div class="entityLinks_entity-links__K4gII"><div class="entityLinks_entity-links-items__P1pk5" style="height:auto"><div class="entityLinks_entity-links-group__Rb0Ym">People:</div><div class="entityLinks_entity-link__2pb33"><a href="/people/jonathan-bailey/">Jonathan Bailey</a></div><div class="entityLinks_entity-link__2pb33"><a href="/people/cynthia-erivo/">Cynthia Erivo</a></div><div class="entityLinks_entity-link__2pb33"><a href="/people/ariana-grande/">Ariana Grande</a></div><div class="entityLinks_entity-link__2pb33"><a href="/people/jeff-goldblum/">Jeff Goldblum</a></div><div class="entityLinks_entity-link__2pb33"><a href="/people/michelle-yeoh/">Michelle Yeoh</a></div><div class="entityLinks_entity-link__2pb33"><a href="/people/peter-dinklage/">Peter Dinklage</a></div><div class="entityLinks_entity-link__2pb33"><a href="/people/jon-m-chu/">Jon M Chu</a></div></div></div></div><div class="nutshell_nutshell__UxfHW nutshell">The early story of Oz’s future Wicked Witch Of The West, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and her perky college roommate, Galinda (Ariana Grande). </div><div class="ratings_review-rating__GiuQm undefined"><div class="ratings_rating__not-full__KCaXq"><span class="ratings_rating__on__fcPxo"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24"><defs><linearGradient id="c8aj9du67ya"><stop offset="50%" class="ratings_rating-on-stop__QctxR"></stop><stop offset="50%" class="ratings_rating-off-stop__ZMrvK" stop-opacity="1"></stop></linearGradient></defs><path class="ratings_star__tS6_8" d="M12 17.27l6.18 3.728-1.636-7.03L22 9.244l-7.19-.618-2.81-6.627L9.19 8.625 2 9.243l5.454 4.726-1.635 7.029L12 17.27z" fill="url(#c8aj9du67ya)"></path><rect x="0" y="0" width="24" height="24" fill="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)"></rect></svg></span><span class="ratings_rating__on__fcPxo"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24"><defs><linearGradient id="pvkjrscp6sl"><stop offset="50%" class="ratings_rating-on-stop__QctxR"></stop><stop offset="50%" class="ratings_rating-off-stop__ZMrvK" stop-opacity="1"></stop></linearGradient></defs><path class="ratings_star__tS6_8" d="M12 17.27l6.18 3.728-1.636-7.03L22 9.244l-7.19-.618-2.81-6.627L9.19 8.625 2 9.243l5.454 4.726-1.635 7.029L12 17.27z" fill="url(#pvkjrscp6sl)"></path><rect x="0" y="0" width="24" height="24" fill="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)"></rect></svg></span><span class="ratings_rating__on__fcPxo"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24"><defs><linearGradient id="t6997t1oj9b"><stop offset="50%" class="ratings_rating-on-stop__QctxR"></stop><stop offset="50%" class="ratings_rating-off-stop__ZMrvK" stop-opacity="1"></stop></linearGradient></defs><path class="ratings_star__tS6_8" d="M12 17.27l6.18 3.728-1.636-7.03L22 9.244l-7.19-.618-2.81-6.627L9.19 8.625 2 9.243l5.454 4.726-1.635 7.029L12 17.27z" fill="url(#t6997t1oj9b)"></path><rect x="0" y="0" width="24" height="24" fill="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)"></rect></svg></span><span class="ratings_rating__on__fcPxo"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24"><defs><linearGradient id="pjethd5oxz"><stop offset="50%" class="ratings_rating-on-stop__QctxR"></stop><stop offset="50%" class="ratings_rating-off-stop__ZMrvK" stop-opacity="1"></stop></linearGradient></defs><path class="ratings_star__tS6_8" d="M12 17.27l6.18 3.728-1.636-7.03L22 9.244l-7.19-.618-2.81-6.627L9.19 8.625 2 9.243l5.454 4.726-1.635 7.029L12 17.27z" fill="url(#pjethd5oxz)"></path><rect x="0" y="0" width="24" height="24" fill="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)"></rect></svg></span><span class="ratings_rating__off__iQTW3"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24"><defs><linearGradient id="ca1bruiyo0q"><stop offset="50%" class="ratings_rating-on-stop__QctxR"></stop><stop offset="50%" class="ratings_rating-off-stop__ZMrvK" stop-opacity="1"></stop></linearGradient></defs><path class="ratings_star__tS6_8" d="M12 17.27l6.18 3.728-1.636-7.03L22 9.244l-7.19-.618-2.81-6.627L9.19 8.625 2 9.243l5.454 4.726-1.635 7.029L12 17.27z" fill="url(#ca1bruiyo0q)"></path><rect x="0" y="0" width="24" height="24" fill="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)"></rect></svg></span></div></div><hr class="article_hero-underline__zk7to"/><div class="authorDate_author__a0WHZ" data-test="author"><span class="authorDate_author__prefix__qkQQE">by </span><a class="authorDate_author__name__1Xkpl" href="/author/helen-ohara/" aria-label="Author page link" data-test="author-name">Helen O'Hara</a><span> | </span><div class="authorDate_author__date__VfIhT" data-test="author-date"><span class="authorDate_author__modifiedAt__5g4fD">Published on</span><time dateTime="2024-11-19T19:59:00.000+00:00">19th November 2024 at 7.59pm</time></div></div><div class="infoGrid_info-grid-container__V4DEa"><div class="infoGrid_info-grid-item__fz_Jj"><span>Original Title:</span><p>Wicked</p></div></div><div class="article_article-content__3auQJ false"><span class="content_content__i0P3p" data-test="content"> <p>It’s never easy to adapt a deeply loved story. The musical of <em>Wicked</em>, based on Gregory Maguire’s prequel novel to <em><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/wizard-oz-review/" target="_blank">The Wizard Of Oz</a></em>, has bred the sort of fandom that has strong feelings about particular trills in the original cast recording, but a film version must reach new audiences and win over the musical-resistant. Full marks for bravery, then, to director Jon M. Chu and stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who not only fill these big, ruby slippers but tap-tap gaily away in them.</p> </span><div class="inlineImage_image-container__aklxu block-item" data-test="inline-image-container"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mO8/B8AAqsB1DKTUZgAAAAASUVORK5CYII='/%3E%3C/svg%3E")" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw,(max-width: 992px) 66vw,50vw" srcSet="https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-BODY-1.jpg?auto=format&w=384&q=80 384w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-BODY-1.jpg?auto=format&w=480&q=80 480w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-BODY-1.jpg?auto=format&w=768&q=80 768w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-BODY-1.jpg?auto=format&w=992&q=80 992w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-BODY-1.jpg?auto=format&w=1200&q=80 1200w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-BODY-1.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80 1440w" src="https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-BODY-1.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80"/></div><span class="content_content__i0P3p" data-test="content"> <p>Chu uses every bell and whistle possible to turn the stage show into a movie epic. He takes the classic MGM Oz as his starting point, with gigantic sets and a massive cast of dancers. Then he adds VFX flourishes: talking animals, levitating courtyards and flying monkeys. The artificial glow of such heavy effects-work is largely an asset, contributing to the otherworldly air of Oz, even if none of it ever feels remotely real.</p> </span><div class="pullQuote_pullquote__ynq1g" data-test="pullquote"><div class="pullQuote_pullquote__icon__JGpkh"><span></span></div><div class="pullQuote_pullquote__content__gRuai"> <blockquote> <p>Thanks to a nice blend of comic moments and certified bangers, the (again, very long) running time passes pretty fast...</p> </blockquote> </div></div><span class="content_content__i0P3p" data-test="content"> <p>His best decision, however, was his casting. Cynthia Erivo is defiant as the devastatingly misunderstood Elphaba, channelling vulnerability and strength in a layered, complex role. Chu knows what he has, leaving the camera locked close on Erivo’s face and letting her do the emotional heavy lifting as a woman bullied for her skin colour but holding true to her beliefs. Impressively, Ariana Grande more than holds her own against that towering performance. Her Galinda is self-centred and monstrously entitled, but she is not quite <em>bad</em>. Grande shows that Galinda’s much-trumpeted image as a ‘nice’ person is the seed from which real goodness could grow, with Elphaba’s inspiration. She, in turn, helps foster Elphaba’s confidence and courage. And while it may seem superfluous to say, both are astonishingly gifted singers, not only in terms of pure voice, but in their vocal control and characterisation.</p> </span><span class="content_content__i0P3p" data-test="content"> <p>The supporting cast are solid but less well served, with Michelle Yeoh shining brightest as a magic teacher, Jeff Goldblum doing his thing as the Wizard and Peter Dinklage breaking out his accent again as a goat professor. Jonathan Bailey’s caddish Fiyero and Ethan Slater’s lovelorn Boq mostly establish a starting point for part two of this epic (this is nearly three hours long), but Bailey, in particular, is charming.</p> </span><div class="block-item"><div class="lazyLoad"></div></div><span class="content_content__i0P3p" data-test="content"> <p>Thanks to a nice blend of comic moments and certified bangers, the (again, very long) running time passes pretty fast, though there are moments when the dancing and singing feels relentless and where you might long for a soothing glimpse of the dull plains of Kansas. Still, despite coming to a pause rather than an ending (<em>Part Two</em> is still to come), it quite literally ends on a high note — an intensely powerful one at that. And there’s no defying ‘Defying Gravity’.</p> </span></div><div class="verdict_verdict__740B2">Chu amps up the colour and spectacle to extraordinary, almost overwhelming heights, but the real magic comes from Erivo and Grande as the frenemies at the story’s heart. </div><div class="entityLinks_entity-links-placeholder__TKcDw entityLinks_entity-links--desktop-hidden__hKuCX"><div class="entityLinks_entity-links__K4gII"><div class="entityLinks_entity-links-items__P1pk5" style="height:auto"><div class="entityLinks_entity-links-group__Rb0Ym">People:</div><div class="entityLinks_entity-link__2pb33"><a href="/people/jonathan-bailey/">Jonathan Bailey</a></div><div class="entityLinks_entity-link__2pb33"><a href="/people/cynthia-erivo/">Cynthia Erivo</a></div><div class="entityLinks_entity-link__2pb33"><a href="/people/ariana-grande/">Ariana Grande</a></div><div class="entityLinks_entity-link__2pb33"><a href="/people/jeff-goldblum/">Jeff Goldblum</a></div><div class="entityLinks_entity-link__2pb33"><a href="/people/michelle-yeoh/">Michelle Yeoh</a></div><div class="entityLinks_entity-link__2pb33"><a href="/people/peter-dinklage/">Peter Dinklage</a></div><div class="entityLinks_entity-link__2pb33"><a href="/people/jon-m-chu/">Jon M Chu</a></div></div></div></div><div class="cards_cards__ZKkyq undefined undefined"><h2 class="cards_category-title__zUlfM" data-test="Related Articles">Related Articles</h2><div class="cards_cards-container__HiYvz undefined" data-test="Related Articles"><div class="card_card__wu3u5 card_card-small__kUtcM "><div class="card_image-content__GDM2z"><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/wicked-proves-popular-as-movie-musical-soars-to-record-breaking-164-million-box-office-opening/"><div class="cardImage_image-container__3tS6b block-item undefined" data-test="inline-image-container"><img alt="Wicked" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mO8/B8AAqsB1DKTUZgAAAAASUVORK5CYII='/%3E%3C/svg%3E")" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw,(max-width: 1439px) 50vw,100vw" srcSet="https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-Box-Office.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=256&q=80 256w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-Box-Office.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=384&q=80 384w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-Box-Office.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=480&q=80 480w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-Box-Office.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=768&q=80 768w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-Box-Office.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=992&q=80 992w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-Box-Office.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1200&q=80 1200w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-Box-Office.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1440&q=80 1440w" src="https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Wicked-Box-Office.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1440&q=80"/></div></a></div><div class="card_body-content__1GzuL"><div class="card_body-content__top__khp0X"><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/wicked-proves-popular-as-movie-musical-soars-to-record-breaking-164-million-box-office-opening/" class="card_title__I1a3A"><span>Wicked Proves Popular As Movie Musical Soars To Record Breaking $164 Million Box Office Opening</span></a></div><div class="card_body-content__bottom__W_ezk"><p class="card_type-date__eaV7z"><a href="/movies/" class="card_type__F29Mk"><span>Movies</span></a><span> | </span><span><time dateTime="25 11 2024">25 11 2024</time></span></p></div></div></div><div class="card_card__wu3u5 card_card-small__kUtcM "><div class="card_image-content__GDM2z"><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/the-empire-film-podcast-644-steve-mcqueen-john-david-washington-amp-danielle-deadwyler-josh-cooley/"><div class="cardImage_image-container__3tS6b block-item undefined" data-test="inline-image-container"><img alt="Empire 644" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mO8/B8AAqsB1DKTUZgAAAAASUVORK5CYII='/%3E%3C/svg%3E")" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw,(max-width: 1439px) 50vw,100vw" srcSet="https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Empire-644.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=256&q=80 256w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Empire-644.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=384&q=80 384w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Empire-644.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=480&q=80 480w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Empire-644.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=768&q=80 768w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Empire-644.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=992&q=80 992w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Empire-644.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1200&q=80 1200w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Empire-644.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1440&q=80 1440w" src="https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/Empire-644.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1440&q=80"/></div></a></div><div class="card_body-content__1GzuL"><div class="card_body-content__top__khp0X"><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/the-empire-film-podcast-644-steve-mcqueen-john-david-washington-amp-danielle-deadwyler-josh-cooley/" class="card_title__I1a3A"><span>The Empire Film Podcast #644: Steve McQueen, John David Washington & Danielle Deadwyler, Josh Cooley</span></a></div><div class="card_body-content__bottom__W_ezk"><p class="card_type-date__eaV7z"><a href="/movies/" class="card_type__F29Mk"><span>Movies</span></a><span> | </span><span><time dateTime="23 11 2024">23 11 2024</time></span></p></div></div></div><div class="card_card__wu3u5 card_card-small__kUtcM "><div class="card_image-content__GDM2z"><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/cynthia-erivo-wicked-interview/"><div class="cardImage_image-container__3tS6b block-item undefined" data-test="inline-image-container"><img alt="Empire Focus – Cynthia Erivo" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mO8/B8AAqsB1DKTUZgAAAAASUVORK5CYII='/%3E%3C/svg%3E")" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw,(max-width: 1439px) 50vw,100vw" srcSet="https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/cynthia-erivo-header.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=256&q=80 256w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/cynthia-erivo-header.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=384&q=80 384w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/cynthia-erivo-header.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=480&q=80 480w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/cynthia-erivo-header.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=768&q=80 768w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/cynthia-erivo-header.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=992&q=80 992w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/cynthia-erivo-header.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1200&q=80 1200w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/cynthia-erivo-header.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1440&q=80 1440w" src="https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/11/cynthia-erivo-header.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1440&q=80"/></div><span class="card_icon__dusf9"><?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><svg width="40px" height="40px" viewBox="0 0 40 40" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><defs></defs><g id="Style-Guide" stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-128.000000, -2518.000000)" id="video-icon"><g transform="translate(128.000000, 2518.000000)"><rect id="Rectangle-2-Copy-11" fill="#222222" x="0" y="0" width="40" height="40"></rect><g id="Group-35" transform="translate(10.000000, 10.000000)" stroke="#FFFFFF"><g id="Group-8-Copy-3"><rect id="Rectangle-2-Copy-2" x="0.5" y="0.5" width="19" height="19"></rect></g><polygon id="Shape-Copy" fill="#FFFFFF" fill-rule="nonzero" points="7 6 7 14 13.2857143 10"></polygon></g></g></g></g></svg></span></a></div><div class="card_body-content__1GzuL"><div class="card_body-content__top__khp0X"><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/cynthia-erivo-wicked-interview/" class="card_title__I1a3A"><span>Cynthia Erivo: The Wicked Star On Defying Gravity – And Convention</span></a></div><div class="card_body-content__bottom__W_ezk"><p class="card_type-date__eaV7z"><a href="/movies/" class="card_type__F29Mk"><span>Movies</span></a><span> | </span><span><time dateTime="07 11 2024">07 11 2024</time></span></p></div></div></div><div class="card_card__wu3u5 card_card-small__kUtcM "><div class="card_image-content__GDM2z"><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/issue-preview-mickey-17-star-wars-skeleton-crew-dune-prophecy-mufasa-nightbitch/"><div class="cardImage_image-container__3tS6b block-item undefined" data-test="inline-image-container"><img alt="Mickey 17 – Empire December 2024 cover crop" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mO8/B8AAqsB1DKTUZgAAAAASUVORK5CYII='/%3E%3C/svg%3E")" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw,(max-width: 1439px) 50vw,100vw" srcSet="https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/10/empdec24-newsstand-cover-mickey-17-crop.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=256&q=80 256w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/10/empdec24-newsstand-cover-mickey-17-crop.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=384&q=80 384w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/10/empdec24-newsstand-cover-mickey-17-crop.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=480&q=80 480w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/10/empdec24-newsstand-cover-mickey-17-crop.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=768&q=80 768w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/10/empdec24-newsstand-cover-mickey-17-crop.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=992&q=80 992w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/10/empdec24-newsstand-cover-mickey-17-crop.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1200&q=80 1200w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/10/empdec24-newsstand-cover-mickey-17-crop.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1440&q=80 1440w" src="https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/10/empdec24-newsstand-cover-mickey-17-crop.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1440&q=80"/></div></a></div><div class="card_body-content__1GzuL"><div class="card_body-content__top__khp0X"><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/issue-preview-mickey-17-star-wars-skeleton-crew-dune-prophecy-mufasa-nightbitch/" class="card_title__I1a3A"><span>Empire Issue Preview: Mickey 17, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Dune: Prophecy, Mufasa, Nightbitch</span></a></div><div class="card_body-content__bottom__W_ezk"><p class="card_type-date__eaV7z"><a href="/movies/" class="card_type__F29Mk"><span>Movies</span></a><span> | </span><span><time dateTime="23 10 2024">23 10 2024</time></span></p></div></div></div><div class="card_card__wu3u5 card_card-small__kUtcM "><div class="card_image-content__GDM2z"><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/cynthia-erivo-musicals-pretending-they-arent-musicals-exclusive/"><div class="cardImage_image-container__3tS6b block-item undefined" data-test="inline-image-container"><img alt="Wicked" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mO8/B8AAqsB1DKTUZgAAAAASUVORK5CYII='/%3E%3C/svg%3E")" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw,(max-width: 1439px) 50vw,100vw" srcSet="https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/10/wicked.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=256&q=80 256w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/10/wicked.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=384&q=80 384w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/10/wicked.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=480&q=80 480w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/10/wicked.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=768&q=80 768w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/10/wicked.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=992&q=80 992w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/10/wicked.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1200&q=80 1200w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/10/wicked.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1440&q=80 1440w" src="https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/10/wicked.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1440&q=80"/></div><span class="card_icon__dusf9"><?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><svg width="40px" height="40px" viewBox="0 0 40 40" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><defs></defs><g id="Style-Guide" stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-128.000000, -2518.000000)" id="video-icon"><g transform="translate(128.000000, 2518.000000)"><rect id="Rectangle-2-Copy-11" fill="#222222" x="0" y="0" width="40" height="40"></rect><g id="Group-35" transform="translate(10.000000, 10.000000)" stroke="#FFFFFF"><g id="Group-8-Copy-3"><rect id="Rectangle-2-Copy-2" x="0.5" y="0.5" width="19" height="19"></rect></g><polygon id="Shape-Copy" fill="#FFFFFF" fill-rule="nonzero" points="7 6 7 14 13.2857143 10"></polygon></g></g></g></g></svg></span></a></div><div class="card_body-content__1GzuL"><div class="card_body-content__top__khp0X"><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/cynthia-erivo-musicals-pretending-they-arent-musicals-exclusive/" class="card_title__I1a3A"><span>Cynthia Erivo On Musicals Pretending They Aren’t Musicals: ‘We Don’t Give Audiences Enough Credit’</span></a></div><div class="card_body-content__bottom__W_ezk"><p class="card_type-date__eaV7z"><a href="/movies/" class="card_type__F29Mk"><span>Movies</span></a><span> | </span><span><time dateTime="23 10 2024">23 10 2024</time></span></p></div></div></div><div class="card_card__wu3u5 card_card-small__kUtcM "><div class="card_image-content__GDM2z"><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/wicked-trailer-ariana-grande-cynthia-erivo-oz/"><div class="cardImage_image-container__3tS6b block-item undefined" data-test="inline-image-container"><img alt="Wicked" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mO8/B8AAqsB1DKTUZgAAAAASUVORK5CYII='/%3E%3C/svg%3E")" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw,(max-width: 1439px) 50vw,100vw" srcSet="https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/05/wicked-main.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=256&q=80 256w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/05/wicked-main.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=384&q=80 384w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/05/wicked-main.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=480&q=80 480w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/05/wicked-main.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=768&q=80 768w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/05/wicked-main.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=992&q=80 992w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/05/wicked-main.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1200&q=80 1200w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/05/wicked-main.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1440&q=80 1440w" src="https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2024/05/wicked-main.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1440&q=80"/></div><span class="card_icon__dusf9"><?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><svg width="40px" height="40px" viewBox="0 0 40 40" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><defs></defs><g id="Style-Guide" stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-128.000000, -2518.000000)" id="video-icon"><g transform="translate(128.000000, 2518.000000)"><rect id="Rectangle-2-Copy-11" fill="#222222" x="0" y="0" width="40" height="40"></rect><g id="Group-35" transform="translate(10.000000, 10.000000)" stroke="#FFFFFF"><g id="Group-8-Copy-3"><rect id="Rectangle-2-Copy-2" x="0.5" y="0.5" width="19" height="19"></rect></g><polygon id="Shape-Copy" fill="#FFFFFF" fill-rule="nonzero" points="7 6 7 14 13.2857143 10"></polygon></g></g></g></g></svg></span></a></div><div class="card_body-content__1GzuL"><div class="card_body-content__top__khp0X"><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/wicked-trailer-ariana-grande-cynthia-erivo-oz/" class="card_title__I1a3A"><span>Wicked Trailer Sends Ariana Grande And Cynthia Erivo To Oz</span></a></div><div class="card_body-content__bottom__W_ezk"><p class="card_type-date__eaV7z"><a href="/movies/" class="card_type__F29Mk"><span>Movies</span></a><span> | </span><span><time dateTime="15 05 2024">15 05 2024</time></span></p></div></div></div><div class="card_card__wu3u5 card_card-small__kUtcM "><div class="card_image-content__GDM2z"><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/bridgertons-jonathan-bailey-to-be-wickeds-fiyero/"><div class="cardImage_image-container__3tS6b block-item undefined" data-test="inline-image-container"><img alt="Jonathan Bailey" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mO8/B8AAqsB1DKTUZgAAAAASUVORK5CYII='/%3E%3C/svg%3E")" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw,(max-width: 1439px) 50vw,100vw" srcSet="https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2022/09/jonathan-bailey.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=256&q=80 256w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2022/09/jonathan-bailey.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=384&q=80 384w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2022/09/jonathan-bailey.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=480&q=80 480w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2022/09/jonathan-bailey.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=768&q=80 768w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2022/09/jonathan-bailey.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=992&q=80 992w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2022/09/jonathan-bailey.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1200&q=80 1200w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2022/09/jonathan-bailey.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1440&q=80 1440w" src="https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2022/09/jonathan-bailey.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1440&q=80"/></div></a></div><div class="card_body-content__1GzuL"><div class="card_body-content__top__khp0X"><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/bridgertons-jonathan-bailey-to-be-wickeds-fiyero/" class="card_title__I1a3A"><span>Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey To Be Wicked’s Fiyero</span></a></div><div class="card_body-content__bottom__W_ezk"><p class="card_type-date__eaV7z"><a href="/movies/" class="card_type__F29Mk"><span>Movies</span></a><span> | </span><span><time dateTime="21 09 2022">21 09 2022</time></span></p></div></div></div><div class="card_card__wu3u5 card_card-small__kUtcM "><div class="card_image-content__GDM2z"><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/cynthia-erivo-and-ariana-grande-will-star-in-jon-m-chus-wicked-movie/"><div class="cardImage_image-container__3tS6b block-item undefined" data-test="inline-image-container"><img alt="wicked-movie-cynthia-erivo-ariana-grande" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mO8/B8AAqsB1DKTUZgAAAAASUVORK5CYII='/%3E%3C/svg%3E")" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw,(max-width: 1439px) 50vw,100vw" srcSet="https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/6185/2b49/8e6c/e14a/8683/7d2b/wicked-cynthia-ariana.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=256&q=80 256w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/6185/2b49/8e6c/e14a/8683/7d2b/wicked-cynthia-ariana.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=384&q=80 384w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/6185/2b49/8e6c/e14a/8683/7d2b/wicked-cynthia-ariana.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=480&q=80 480w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/6185/2b49/8e6c/e14a/8683/7d2b/wicked-cynthia-ariana.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=768&q=80 768w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/6185/2b49/8e6c/e14a/8683/7d2b/wicked-cynthia-ariana.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=992&q=80 992w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/6185/2b49/8e6c/e14a/8683/7d2b/wicked-cynthia-ariana.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1200&q=80 1200w, https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/6185/2b49/8e6c/e14a/8683/7d2b/wicked-cynthia-ariana.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1440&q=80 1440w" src="https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/6185/2b49/8e6c/e14a/8683/7d2b/wicked-cynthia-ariana.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1440&q=80"/></div></a></div><div class="card_body-content__1GzuL"><div class="card_body-content__top__khp0X"><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/cynthia-erivo-and-ariana-grande-will-star-in-jon-m-chus-wicked-movie/" class="card_title__I1a3A"><span>Cynthia Erivo And Ariana Grande Will Star In Jon M. Chu’s Wicked Movie</span></a></div><div class="card_body-content__bottom__W_ezk"><p class="card_type-date__eaV7z"><a href="/movies/" class="card_type__F29Mk"><span>Movies</span></a><span> | </span><span><time dateTime="05 11 2021">05 11 2021</time></span></p></div></div></div></div></div><div class="disclaimer_disclaimer__Os2Y_" data-test="disclaimer">Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - <a href="/about-us/" aria-label="Action link">read why you should trust us</a></div><div id="bibblio-related-content"></div></article></main><footer class="footer_footer__jF3T9"><ul class="footer__links"><li data-test="Legal Info"><a rel="noopener nofollow" target="" href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/legal-info/">Legal Info</a></li><li data-test="Privacy Policy"><a rel="noopener nofollow" target="" href="https://www.bauerdatapromise.co.uk/">Privacy Policy</a></li><li data-test="Your Ad Choices"><a rel="noopener nofollow" target="" href="https://static.bauercdn.com/cookiePolicy/policy.html">Your Ad Choices</a></li><li data-test="Subscription Complaints"><a rel="noopener nofollow" target="" href="https://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/complaints-procedure">Subscription Complaints</a></li><li data-test="Complaints"><a rel="noopener nofollow" target="" href="https://www.bauerlegal.co.uk/editorial-complaints-policy">Complaints</a></li><li data-test="Subscribe to Empire"><a rel="noopener nofollow" target="" href="https://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/empire-magazine?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=empireonline.com&utm_content=footersub&utm_campaign=bau_empire">Subscribe to Empire</a></li><li data-test="API"><a rel="noopener nofollow" target="" href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/tmdb-api/">API</a></li><li data-test="About Us"><a rel="noopener nofollow" target="" href="https://www.empireonline.com/about-us/">About Us</a></li><li data-test="Speak Up"><a rel="noopener nofollow" target="" href="https://www.bauerlegal.co.uk/speak-up">Speak Up</a></li><li data-test="privacy-settings" id="eu-consent-ui"><a class="empty-link" href="/">Privacy Settings</a></li><li data-test="do-not-sell-my-information" id="us-consent-ui"><a class="empty-link" href="/">Do not sell my information</a></li></ul><div class="social_social-icons__DI2IJ"><ul><li data-test="social-icon-facebook"><a href="//www.facebook.com/empiremagazine" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Facebook"><img alt="Facebook" loading="lazy" width="20" height="20" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" style="color:transparent" srcSet="/assets/facebook.svg 1x, /assets/facebook.svg 2x" src="/assets/facebook.svg"/></a></li><li data-test="social-icon-twitter"><a href="//twitter.com/empiremagazine" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Twitter"><img alt="Twitter" loading="lazy" width="20" height="20" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" style="color:transparent" srcSet="/assets/twitter.svg 1x, /assets/twitter.svg 2x" src="/assets/twitter.svg"/></a></li><li data-test="social-icon-pinterest"><a href="//www.pinterest.com/empiremagazine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Pinterest"><img alt="Pinterest" loading="lazy" width="20" height="20" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" style="color:transparent" srcSet="/assets/pinterest.svg 1x, /assets/pinterest.svg 2x" src="/assets/pinterest.svg"/></a></li></ul></div><div class="footer__banner"><p>© 1962-2024 Bauer Media Group</p><p>Bauer Consumer Media Ltd, Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited, Company number: 1394141; Registered office: Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing, Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern, 75 Hampstead Road, London NW1 2PL</p><p>All registered in England and Wales. VAT no 918 5617 01</p><p>H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No: 845898)</p></div></footer></div><script id="__NEXT_DATA__" type="application/json">{"props":{"pageProps":{"site":"empire","template":"review","queryData":{"getMenuByBrand":[{"__typename":"MenuItem","id":"55","name":"Movies","enabled":true,"url":"https://www.empireonline.com/movies/","pagePosition":"header","openNewTab":false,"externalLink":true,"menuPosition":1,"children":[{"__typename":"MenuItem","id":"57","name":"Reviews","enabled":true,"url":"https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/","pagePosition":"header","openNewTab":false,"externalLink":true,"menuPosition":2},{"__typename":"MenuItem","id":"56","name":"News","enabled":true,"url":"https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/","pagePosition":"header","openNewTab":false,"externalLink":true,"menuPosition":3},{"__typename":"MenuItem","id":"58","name":"Features","enabled":true,"url":"https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/","pagePosition":"header","openNewTab":false,"externalLink":true,"menuPosition":4}],"publication":{"__typename":"Publication","id":"empire","name":"empire","furl":"empire"}},{"__typename":"MenuItem","id":"60","name":"TV","enabled":true,"url":"https://www.empireonline.com/tv/","pagePosition":"header","openNewTab":false,"externalLink":true,"menuPosition":5,"children":[],"publication":{"__typename":"Publication","id":"empire","name":"empire","furl":"empire"}},{"__typename":"MenuItem","id":"59","name":"Gaming","enabled":true,"url":"https://www.empireonline.com/gaming/","pagePosition":"header","openNewTab":false,"externalLink":true,"menuPosition":6,"children":[],"publication":{"__typename":"Publication","id":"empire","name":"empire","furl":"empire"}},{"__typename":"MenuItem","id":"61","name":"Podcasts","enabled":true,"url":"https://www.empireonline.com/tags/empire-podcast/","pagePosition":"header","openNewTab":false,"externalLink":true,"menuPosition":7,"children":[],"publication":{"__typename":"Publication","id":"empire","name":"empire","furl":"empire"}},{"__typename":"MenuItem","id":"73","name":"Empire VIP","enabled":true,"url":"https://www.empireonline.com/vip/","pagePosition":"header","openNewTab":false,"externalLink":true,"menuPosition":8,"children":[],"publication":{"__typename":"Publication","id":"empire","name":"empire","furl":"empire"}},{"__typename":"MenuItem","id":"71","name":"Shopping","enabled":true,"url":"/shopping","pagePosition":"header","openNewTab":false,"externalLink":true,"menuPosition":9,"children":[],"publication":{"__typename":"Publication","id":"empire","name":"empire","furl":"empire"}},{"__typename":"MenuItem","id":"63","name":"Empire Magazine","enabled":true,"url":"","pagePosition":"header","openNewTab":false,"externalLink":true,"menuPosition":10,"children":[{"__typename":"MenuItem","id":"197811","name":"Subscribe","enabled":true,"url":"https://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/empire-magazine?utm_medium=referral\u0026utm_source=empireonline.com\u0026utm_content=navigationsub\u0026utm_campaign=bau_empire","pagePosition":"header","openNewTab":false,"externalLink":true,"menuPosition":11},{"__typename":"MenuItem","id":"197813","name":"Manage My Subscription","enabled":true,"url":"https://secure.greatmagazines.co.uk/Solo/Account/Login","pagePosition":"header","openNewTab":true,"externalLink":true,"menuPosition":12},{"__typename":"MenuItem","id":"72","name":"Newsletter","enabled":true,"url":"https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/sign-empire-newsletter/","pagePosition":"header","openNewTab":false,"externalLink":true,"menuPosition":13}],"publication":{"__typename":"Publication","id":"empire","name":"empire","furl":"empire"}},{"__typename":"MenuItem","id":"65","name":"Legal Info","enabled":true,"url":"https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/legal-info/","pagePosition":"footer","openNewTab":false,"externalLink":true,"menuPosition":1,"children":[],"publication":{"__typename":"Publication","id":"empire","name":"empire","furl":"empire"}},{"__typename":"MenuItem","id":"66","name":"Privacy Policy","enabled":true,"url":"https://www.bauerdatapromise.co.uk/","pagePosition":"footer","openNewTab":false,"externalLink":true,"menuPosition":2,"children":[],"publication":{"__typename":"Publication","id":"empire","name":"empire","furl":"empire"}},{"__typename":"MenuItem","id":"67","name":"Your Ad Choices","enabled":true,"url":"https://static.bauercdn.com/cookiePolicy/policy.html","pagePosition":"footer","openNewTab":false,"externalLink":true,"menuPosition":3,"children":[],"publication":{"__typename":"Publication","id":"empire","name":"empire","furl":"empire"}},{"__typename":"MenuItem","id":"225519","name":"Subscription Complaints","enabled":true,"url":"https://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/complaints-procedure","pagePosition":"footer","openNewTab":false,"externalLink":true,"menuPosition":4,"children":[],"publication":{"__typename":"Publication","id":"empire","name":"empire","furl":"empire"}},{"__typename":"MenuItem","id":"218465","name":"Complaints","enabled":true,"url":"https://www.bauerlegal.co.uk/editorial-complaints-policy","pagePosition":"footer","openNewTab":false,"externalLink":true,"menuPosition":5,"children":[],"publication":{"__typename":"Publication","id":"empire","name":"empire","furl":"empire"}},{"__typename":"MenuItem","id":"68","name":"Subscribe to Empire","enabled":true,"url":"https://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/empire-magazine?utm_medium=referral\u0026utm_source=empireonline.com\u0026utm_content=footersub\u0026utm_campaign=bau_empire","pagePosition":"footer","openNewTab":false,"externalLink":true,"menuPosition":6,"children":[],"publication":{"__typename":"Publication","id":"empire","name":"empire","furl":"empire"}},{"__typename":"MenuItem","id":"69","name":"API","enabled":true,"url":"https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/tmdb-api/","pagePosition":"footer","openNewTab":false,"externalLink":true,"menuPosition":7,"children":[],"publication":{"__typename":"Publication","id":"empire","name":"empire","furl":"empire"}},{"__typename":"MenuItem","id":"70","name":"About Us","enabled":true,"url":"https://www.empireonline.com/about-us/","pagePosition":"footer","openNewTab":false,"externalLink":true,"menuPosition":8,"children":[],"publication":{"__typename":"Publication","id":"empire","name":"empire","furl":"empire"}},{"__typename":"MenuItem","id":"218466","name":"Speak Up","enabled":true,"url":"https://www.bauerlegal.co.uk/speak-up","pagePosition":"footer","openNewTab":false,"externalLink":true,"menuPosition":9,"children":[],"publication":{"__typename":"Publication","id":"empire","name":"empire","furl":"empire"}}],"getMetaTemplate":{"__typename":"Meta","meta_description":"Read the Empire Movie review of %%title%%. %%verdict-condensed%% ","meta_title":"%%title%% Review | Movie - Empire"},"getReviewByFurl":{"__typename":"Review","id":"229289","publicationDate":1732046340000,"lastModifiedAt":1732046298000,"furl":"wicked","title":"Wicked","subtitle":"","isAdvertorial":false,"isWordpressSite":true,"sourceUrl":"","sourceText":"","seo":{"__typename":"Seo","index":"index","follow":"follow"},"author":{"__typename":"Author","id":"227735","fullname":"Helen O'Hara","furl":"helen-ohara","urlOverride":null,"published":{"__typename":"Published","state":"published"}},"author_custom":"","categories":[{"__typename":"Category","id":"12","name":"Reviews","furl":"reviews","parent":{"__typename":"Category","id":"9","name":"Movies","furl":"movies"}}],"sponsor":null,"_layout":[{"__typename":"LayoutItem","content":{"__typename":"Content","text":"It’s never easy to adapt a deeply loved story. The musical of _Wicked_, based on Gregory Maguire’s prequel novel to _:a[The Wizard Of Oz]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/wizard-oz-review/' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'}_, has bred the sort of fandom that has strong feelings about particular trills in the original cast recording, but a film version must reach new audiences and win over the musical-resistant. Full marks for bravery, then, to director Jon M. Chu and stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who not only fill these big, ruby slippers but tap-tap gaily away in them.","items":null,"url":null,"provider":null,"image":null,"title":null,"caption":null,"altText":null,"credits":null,"price":null,"amazonId":null,"amazonAward":null,"description":null,"actionLink":null,"actionText":null,"coverImage":null,"template":null,"images":null},"handles":null,"type":"content"},{"__typename":"LayoutItem","content":{"__typename":"Content","text":null,"items":null,"url":null,"provider":null,"image":{"__typename":"Image","fileName":"Wicked-BODY-1.jpg","path":"empire/2024/11","width":1600,"height":900},"title":"Wicked-BODY-1","caption":"","altText":null,"credits":"","price":null,"amazonId":null,"amazonAward":null,"description":null,"actionLink":null,"actionText":null,"coverImage":null,"template":null,"images":null},"handles":[],"type":"images"},{"__typename":"LayoutItem","content":{"__typename":"Content","text":"Chu uses every bell and whistle possible to turn the stage show into a movie epic. He takes the classic MGM Oz as his starting point, with gigantic sets and a massive cast of dancers. Then he adds VFX flourishes: talking animals, levitating courtyards and flying monkeys. The artificial glow of such heavy effects-work is largely an asset, contributing to the otherworldly air of Oz, even if none of it ever feels remotely real.","items":null,"url":null,"provider":null,"image":null,"title":null,"caption":null,"altText":null,"credits":null,"price":null,"amazonId":null,"amazonAward":null,"description":null,"actionLink":null,"actionText":null,"coverImage":null,"template":null,"images":null},"handles":null,"type":"content"},{"__typename":"LayoutItem","content":{"__typename":"Content","text":"\u003e Thanks to a nice blend of comic moments and certified bangers, the (again, very long) running time passes pretty fast...","items":null,"url":null,"provider":null,"image":null,"title":null,"caption":null,"altText":null,"credits":null,"price":null,"amazonId":null,"amazonAward":null,"description":null,"actionLink":null,"actionText":null,"coverImage":null,"template":null,"images":null},"handles":null,"type":"pullQuotes"},{"__typename":"LayoutItem","content":{"__typename":"Content","text":"His best decision, however, was his casting. Cynthia Erivo is defiant as the devastatingly misunderstood Elphaba, channelling vulnerability and strength in a layered, complex role. Chu knows what he has, leaving the camera locked close on Erivo’s face and letting her do the emotional heavy lifting as a woman bullied for her skin colour but holding true to her beliefs. Impressively, Ariana Grande more than holds her own against that towering performance. Her Galinda is self-centred and monstrously entitled, but she is not quite _bad_. Grande shows that Galinda’s much-trumpeted image as a ‘nice’ person is the seed from which real goodness could grow, with Elphaba’s inspiration. She, in turn, helps foster Elphaba’s confidence and courage. And while it may seem superfluous to say, both are astonishingly gifted singers, not only in terms of pure voice, but in their vocal control and characterisation.","items":null,"url":null,"provider":null,"image":null,"title":null,"caption":null,"altText":null,"credits":null,"price":null,"amazonId":null,"amazonAward":null,"description":null,"actionLink":null,"actionText":null,"coverImage":null,"template":null,"images":null},"handles":null,"type":"content"},{"__typename":"LayoutItem","content":{"__typename":"Content","text":"The supporting cast are solid but less well served, with Michelle Yeoh shining brightest as a magic teacher, Jeff Goldblum doing his thing as the Wizard and Peter Dinklage breaking out his accent again as a goat professor. Jonathan Bailey’s caddish Fiyero and Ethan Slater’s lovelorn Boq mostly establish a starting point for part two of this epic (this is nearly three hours long), but Bailey, in particular, is charming.","items":null,"url":null,"provider":null,"image":null,"title":null,"caption":null,"altText":null,"credits":null,"price":null,"amazonId":null,"amazonAward":null,"description":null,"actionLink":null,"actionText":null,"coverImage":null,"template":null,"images":null},"handles":null,"type":"content"},{"__typename":"LayoutItem","content":{"__typename":"Content","text":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5omDWGdDmJ8","items":null,"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5omDWGdDmJ8","provider":"youtube","image":null,"title":null,"caption":null,"altText":null,"credits":null,"price":null,"amazonId":null,"amazonAward":null,"description":null,"actionLink":null,"actionText":null,"coverImage":null,"template":null,"images":null},"handles":null,"type":"embeds"},{"__typename":"LayoutItem","content":{"__typename":"Content","text":"Thanks to a nice blend of comic moments and certified bangers, the (again, very long) running time passes pretty fast, though there are moments when the dancing and singing feels relentless and where you might long for a soothing glimpse of the dull plains of Kansas. Still, despite coming to a pause rather than an ending (_Part Two_ is still to come), it quite literally ends on a high note — an intensely powerful one at that. And there’s no defying ‘Defying Gravity’.","items":null,"url":null,"provider":null,"image":null,"title":null,"caption":null,"altText":null,"credits":null,"price":null,"amazonId":null,"amazonAward":null,"description":null,"actionLink":null,"actionText":null,"coverImage":null,"template":null,"images":null},"handles":null,"type":"content"}],"excerpt":"It’s never easy to adapt a deeply loved story. The musical of Wicked, based...","heroImage":[{"__typename":"ImageMeta","id":"229290","altText":"Wicked","credits":"","caption":"","image":{"__typename":"Image","fileName":"Wicked-HERO.jpg","name":"Wicked-HERO.jpg","width":1600,"height":900,"path":"empire/2024/11"}}],"metaTitle":"Wicked Review — 'A movie epic'","metaDescription":"Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo lead Jon M. Chu's movie musical adaptation of the smash-hit stage show. Read the Empire review.","hasAmazonProduct":false,"hasAmazonLinkOnPage":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasProduct":false,"campaign_name":null,"display_ads_gam":true,"display_skimlinks":true,"display_inimage_ads":true,"pageTemplate":"review","hasVideo":true,"pictureCount":2,"heroImageSize":"full","film":[{"__typename":"Movie","title":"Wicked","originalTitle":"Wicked","certificate":"","running_time":"","website":"","releaseDate":0,"tmdbId":"","furl":"wicked-2"}],"tv":null,"game":[],"people":[{"__typename":"Person","name":"Jonathan Bailey","furl":"jonathan-bailey"},{"__typename":"Person","name":"Cynthia Erivo","furl":"cynthia-erivo"},{"__typename":"Person","name":"Ariana Grande","furl":"ariana-grande"},{"__typename":"Person","name":"Jeff Goldblum","furl":"jeff-goldblum"},{"__typename":"Person","name":"Michelle Yeoh","furl":"michelle-yeoh"},{"__typename":"Person","name":"Peter Dinklage","furl":"peter-dinklage"},{"__typename":"Person","name":"Jon M Chu","furl":"jon-m-chu"}],"verdict":"Chu amps up the colour and spectacle to extraordinary, almost overwhelming heights, but the real magic comes from Erivo and Grande as the frenemies at the story’s heart. ","rating":"4","nutshell":"The early story of Oz’s future Wicked Witch Of The West, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and her perky college roommate, Galinda (Ariana Grande). ","relatedArticles":[{"__typename":"Article","id":"229467","title":"Wicked Proves Popular As Movie Musical Soars To Record Breaking $164 Million Box Office Opening","furl":"wicked-proves-popular-as-movie-musical-soars-to-record-breaking-164-million-box-office-opening","rating":null,"urlOverride":null,"publicationDate":1732527970000,"heroImage":[{"__typename":"ImageMeta","image":{"__typename":"Image","name":"Wicked-Box-Office.jpg","fileName":"Wicked-Box-Office.jpg","mimeType":"image/jpeg","path":"empire/2024/11"},"altText":"Wicked"}],"categories":[{"__typename":"Category","name":"News","furl":"news","parent":{"__typename":"Category","name":"Movies","furl":"movies"}}],"hasGallery":false,"hasVideo":false,"contentPyramid":null,"lastUpdatedBy":"Jordan King","imageCredits":["NotSet"],"locales":[],"introDropdown":{"__typename":"IntroDropdown","dropdown_heading":"","intro_text":"","expanded_text":""},"reviewer":null},{"__typename":"Article","id":"229464","title":"The Empire Film Podcast #644: Steve McQueen, John David Washington \u0026 Danielle Deadwyler, Josh Cooley","furl":"the-empire-film-podcast-644-steve-mcqueen-john-david-washington-amp-danielle-deadwyler-josh-cooley","rating":null,"urlOverride":null,"publicationDate":1732361358000,"heroImage":[{"__typename":"ImageMeta","image":{"__typename":"Image","name":"Empire-644.jpg","fileName":"Empire-644.jpg","mimeType":"image/jpeg","path":"empire/2024/11"},"altText":"Empire 644"}],"categories":[{"__typename":"Category","name":"News","furl":"news","parent":{"__typename":"Category","name":"Movies","furl":"movies"}}],"hasGallery":false,"hasVideo":false,"contentPyramid":null,"lastUpdatedBy":"Jordan King","imageCredits":["NotSet"],"locales":[],"introDropdown":{"__typename":"IntroDropdown","dropdown_heading":"","intro_text":"","expanded_text":""},"reviewer":null},{"__typename":"Article","id":"228838","title":"Cynthia Erivo: The Wicked Star On Defying Gravity – And Convention","furl":"cynthia-erivo-wicked-interview","rating":null,"urlOverride":null,"publicationDate":1730995168000,"heroImage":[{"__typename":"ImageMeta","image":{"__typename":"Image","name":"cynthia-erivo-header.jpg","fileName":"cynthia-erivo-header.jpg","mimeType":"image/jpeg","path":"empire/2024/11"},"altText":"Empire Focus – Cynthia Erivo"}],"categories":[{"__typename":"Category","name":"Features","furl":"features","parent":{"__typename":"Category","name":"Movies","furl":"movies"}}],"hasGallery":false,"hasVideo":true,"contentPyramid":null,"lastUpdatedBy":"795","imageCredits":["NotSet","Empire/Mark Seliger"],"locales":[],"introDropdown":{"__typename":"IntroDropdown","dropdown_heading":"","intro_text":"","expanded_text":""},"reviewer":null},{"__typename":"Article","id":"228417","title":"Empire Issue Preview: Mickey 17, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Dune: Prophecy, Mufasa, Nightbitch","furl":"issue-preview-mickey-17-star-wars-skeleton-crew-dune-prophecy-mufasa-nightbitch","rating":null,"urlOverride":null,"publicationDate":1729687325000,"heroImage":[{"__typename":"ImageMeta","image":{"__typename":"Image","name":"empdec24-newsstand-cover-mickey-17-crop.jpg","fileName":"empdec24-newsstand-cover-mickey-17-crop.jpg","mimeType":"image/jpeg","path":"empire/2024/10"},"altText":"Mickey 17 – Empire December 2024 cover crop"}],"categories":[{"__typename":"Category","name":"News","furl":"news","parent":{"__typename":"Category","name":"Movies","furl":"movies"}}],"hasGallery":false,"hasVideo":false,"contentPyramid":null,"lastUpdatedBy":"James Dyer","imageCredits":["NotSet"],"locales":[],"introDropdown":{"__typename":"IntroDropdown","dropdown_heading":"","intro_text":"","expanded_text":""},"reviewer":null},{"__typename":"Article","id":"228432","title":"Cynthia Erivo On Musicals Pretending They Aren’t Musicals: ‘We Don’t Give Audiences Enough Credit’","furl":"cynthia-erivo-musicals-pretending-they-arent-musicals-exclusive","rating":null,"urlOverride":null,"publicationDate":1729695933000,"heroImage":[{"__typename":"ImageMeta","image":{"__typename":"Image","name":"wicked.jpg","fileName":"wicked.jpg","mimeType":"image/jpeg","path":"empire/2024/10"},"altText":"Wicked"}],"categories":[{"__typename":"Category","name":"News","furl":"news","parent":{"__typename":"Category","name":"Movies","furl":"movies"}}],"hasGallery":false,"hasVideo":true,"contentPyramid":null,"lastUpdatedBy":"795","imageCredits":["NotSet"],"locales":[],"introDropdown":{"__typename":"IntroDropdown","dropdown_heading":"","intro_text":"","expanded_text":""},"reviewer":null},{"__typename":"Article","id":"223008","title":"Wicked Trailer Sends Ariana Grande And Cynthia Erivo To Oz","furl":"wicked-trailer-ariana-grande-cynthia-erivo-oz","rating":null,"urlOverride":null,"publicationDate":1715791401000,"heroImage":[{"__typename":"ImageMeta","image":{"__typename":"Image","name":"wicked-main.jpg","fileName":"wicked-main.jpg","mimeType":"image/jpeg","path":"empire/2024/05"},"altText":"Wicked"}],"categories":[{"__typename":"Category","name":"News","furl":"news","parent":{"__typename":"Category","name":"Movies","furl":"movies"}}],"hasGallery":false,"hasVideo":true,"contentPyramid":null,"lastUpdatedBy":"795","imageCredits":["NotSet"],"locales":[],"introDropdown":null,"reviewer":null},{"__typename":"Article","id":"199661","title":"Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey To Be Wicked’s Fiyero","furl":"bridgertons-jonathan-bailey-to-be-wickeds-fiyero","rating":null,"urlOverride":null,"publicationDate":1663793800000,"heroImage":[{"__typename":"ImageMeta","image":{"__typename":"Image","name":"jonathan-bailey.jpg","fileName":"jonathan-bailey.jpg","mimeType":"image/jpeg","path":"empire/2022/09"},"altText":"Jonathan Bailey"}],"categories":[{"__typename":"Category","name":"News","furl":"news","parent":{"__typename":"Category","name":"Movies","furl":"movies"}}],"hasGallery":false,"hasVideo":false,"contentPyramid":null,"lastUpdatedBy":"798","imageCredits":["NotSet"],"locales":[],"introDropdown":null,"reviewer":null},{"__typename":"Article","id":"64618","title":"Cynthia Erivo And Ariana Grande Will Star In Jon M. Chu’s Wicked Movie","furl":"cynthia-erivo-and-ariana-grande-will-star-in-jon-m-chus-wicked-movie","rating":null,"urlOverride":null,"publicationDate":1636117336000,"heroImage":[{"__typename":"ImageMeta","image":{"__typename":"Image","name":"wicked-cynthia-ariana.jpg","fileName":"wicked-cynthia-ariana.jpg","mimeType":"image/jpeg","path":"legacy/media/6185/2b49/8e6c/e14a/8683/7d2b"},"altText":"wicked-movie-cynthia-erivo-ariana-grande"}],"categories":[{"__typename":"Category","name":"News","furl":"news","parent":{"__typename":"Category","name":"Movies","furl":"movies"}}],"hasGallery":false,"hasVideo":false,"contentPyramid":null,"lastUpdatedBy":null,"imageCredits":["NotSet"],"locales":[],"introDropdown":null,"reviewer":null}]}}},"__N_SSG":true},"page":"/empire/[segment1]/reviews/[segment3]","query":{"segment1":"movies","segment3":"wicked"},"buildId":"yPuMy9DBzwkaMrWYfYBTW","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"gsp":true,"locale":"en-GB","locales":["en-GB","en-US"],"defaultLocale":"en-GB","scriptLoader":[]}</script></body></html>