As we all wait in anticipation for the new _Wicked_ movie coming in November, it’s a good time to look back at the long history of _The Wizard of Oz_ story.
From L. Frank Baum’s original book to its incredibly famous film adaptation, to Gregory Maguire’s _Wicked_ book and the smash-hit Broadway musical, the land of Oz has appeared time and time again in books, on screen, and on stage.
The Wizard of Oz: The Book
In 1900, L. Frank Baum published the first Oz book: _The Wonderful Wizard of Oz_. This is the story you’re probably familiar with due to the movie’s plot. Supposedly, it is based on the bedtime stories Baum would tell his children.
And, yes, the adventures in Oz are actually a whole series of books. Dorothy (and other protagonists) explore the world of Oz in 14 books by Baum.
The Wizard of Oz: The Movie
After the success of Disney’s 1937 movie _Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs_, MGM realized the potential for a family-oriented fantasy movie. In January 1938, MGM bought the film rights for _The Wonderful Wizard of Oz_.
After a somewhat tumultuous production, the movie premiered in August of 1939. The now iconic music was written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. The movie didn’t initially do well at the box office, but now is a cultural icon and was one of the first 25 films selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.
The Wizard of Oz: The (Stage) Musical
Although there had been some adaptations of _The Wizard of Oz _that included the film’s music, none had truly lived up to the film version that so many love. A new version of the musical, created especially for the stage, premiered on the West End in 2011.
This musical follows the plot of the 1937 movie and uses its music by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. Musical composer juggernauts Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice wrote new, additional music for the show.
Wicked: The Book
Author Gregory Maguire wished to tell a tale without a black-and-white villain and looked to the famous _Wizard of Oz_ story for inspiration. Published in 1995, the edgy novel _Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West _is absolutely not a children’s book.
The book introduced the Wicked Witch of the West as Elphaba. _Wicked_ follows Elphaba’s life, from her birth until her death by Dorothy Gale. It explores themes of radicalization, social ostracism, terrorism, propaganda, and life purpose.
Wicked: The Musical
Composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz read Maguire’s novel and saw potential for a stage adaptation. The basic set-up is similar to the book (Elphaba and Galinda—later Glinda—are college roommates who discover how corrupt Oz and the Wizard are), but the musical takes many liberties. It’s also much more family-friendly than the book.
The Broadway production opened at the Gershwin Theatre in October of 2003. It has been playing there ever since, along with a plethora of tours and international productions. It is one of the longest-running and highest-grossing Broadway musicals ever.
Wicked: The Upcoming Films
In April 2022, it was announced that the story of _Wicked_ will be released as two films—essentially, each act of the musical will be its own movie. A _Wicked_ movie has been discussed since 2004, but substantial work on this film did not come to fruition until 2021.
This adaptation will be directed by Jon M. Chu. Elphaba will be played by Cynthia Erivo and Galinda/Glinda will be Ariana Grande. The supporting cast includes actors from both stage and screen, including Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Keala Settle, and Peter Dinklage.
What Wicked Movie-Goers Can Expect
_Wicked: Part One_ is scheduled for a theatrical release on November 22, 2024. _Wicked: Part Two_ is slated for November 26, 2025.
In June 2022, Stephen Schwartz confirmed that at least one new song would be written for the movies—although we don’t know which film is getting the confirmed new song. The films will add to the story that the musical fans know and love. Schwartz explained, “Even as a very long single movie, it required us cutting or omitting things that we wanted to include and that we think fans of the show and the story will appreciate. What we have discussed is that changes need to be ‘additive.’”
How Oz Differs Between Adaptations
The land of Oz is a magical fantasy setting no matter what story is being told. However, _Wicked_’s story is much darker in tone. The Wizard in the original version may be pathetic, but the Wizard in _Wicked_ is downright corrupt.
Interestingly, while Dorothy in the original version initially tries to escape where she is from, Elphaba tries to escape who she is. Dorothy is almost universally adored by all around her (except for the Wicked Witch), while Elphaba is shunned just because of the color of her green skin and the preconceived notions of who she must be. Dorothy is given potential while Elphaba is shut down. Although the protagonists and tone of the world of Oz differ greatly depending on the adaptation, both stories resonate with audiences.
The Legacy of Oz
The music of both _The Wizard of Oz_ and _Wicked_ feature a large number of songs which are now musical theater standards. From the classic “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” (_The Wizard of Oz_) to contemporary selections like “Defying Gravity” and “Popular” (_Wicked_), the songs that have been inspired by Oz have been plentiful and powerful—and that’s not even mentioning other notable adaptations of _The Wizard of Oz _story like _The Wiz_!
Whether your protagonist is Dorothy or Elphaba; whether in text, on screen, or stage; L. Frank Baum’s novel from 1900 has sparked several iconic pieces of media. It’s truly interesting to see how one story can inspire and be adapted in so many different ways.
