Universal Pictures has revealed the first trailer for its upcoming film adaptation of the Broadway musical Wicked, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
The first-look trailer offers a generous preview of the Land of Oz, including shots of Glinda (Grande) and Elphaba’s (Erivo) first meeting, flying monkeys, endless fields of poppies, the grand Emerald City, Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard of Oz, and much more. Watch it below.
“Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, [Glinda and Elphaba’s] friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths,” reads the official logline. “Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.”
Directed by Jon M. Chu, the new Wicked will arrive in two parts, with the first set to premiere later this year on November 27th. The film was first announced well over a decade ago, and has experienced a number of delays over the years. Grande’s casting as Glinda the Good was first announced in 2021.
In addition to Grande, Erivo, and Goldblum, the cast will feature Michelle Yeoh, Bowen Yang, Grande’s new boo Ethan Slater, and more. The films will be produced by Marc Platt and David Stone. The screenplay was penned by Winnie Holzman and Stephen Schwartz, who both worked on the original theatrical production.
Leading up to the Super Bowl, the arrival of the trailer was teased by the Wicked Twitter page, which shared a photo of a football helmet with the show’s iconic image of Glinda and Elphaba and the caption, “What would Oz’s football teams be named?”
Meanwhile, Grande recently returned to releasing new music, sharing (many versions) of her new single, “yes, and?” Last month, she announced her seventh studio album, eternal sunshine, which is due out on March 8th via Republic.
What would Oz’s football teams be named? #WICKED pic.twitter.com/JbVy4cqS8F
— Wicked the Musical (@WICKED_Musical) February 11, 2024