Glinda (Ariana Grande) and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) in 'Wicked: For Good,' directed by Jon M. Chu. WARNER BROS
Le Monde's opinion – Why not
For those who may have missed the phenomenon, here is a reminder: Adapted from a hit Broadway musical that has run worldwide for the past 20 years, the Wicked saga has helped redefine the blockbuster. Like its model Barbie (Greta Gerwig, 2023), it is a sprawling universe, overflowing with emotions and values, shining thanks to its fan community and supported by a myriad of tie-in products and an unstoppable digital strategy. Released in 2024, the first installment grossed over €603 million worldwide.
But the film also relies on a formula as old as Hollywood itself: In difficult times, offer "escapism" to the masses – a break from reality that, for the length of a film, soothes and suspends the real world. On the entertainment front, the first Wicked delivered exactly that. Syrupy but funny, childish but skillful, it was an irresistible confection.
A prequel to The Wizard of Oz (Victor Fleming, 1939), Wicked recounts the budding friendship at Shiz University between Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), a young woman with green skin, and Glinda (Ariana Grande), a model student obsessed with bubblegum pink. Their sisterhood is soon tested by the authoritarian rise of the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum), who rules over the land of Oz.
