Wicked: For Good director Jon M. Chu recently revealed that he made several changes in the upcoming film following the success of the first part last year.
Fans have been anticipating the release of the second movie, which will cover Act Two of the hit musical. It was notably shot back-to-back with the first film and had the same cast and crew involved. However, in the aftermath of the first movie's massive success, some fans have been wondering whether changes were made to For Good in response to the reactions to the first part.
What Changes Were Made to Wicked: For Good After the First Movie's Success?
Speaking with Deadline, Chu shared that he made changes to Wicked: For Good during post-production in response to the success of the first movie.
First, he added some dialogue in the "For Good" musical number and refined it to make it more impactful to the audience.
"We added a couple of pieces of dialogue at its beginning. So [Elphaba] says, 'Look at me, not through your eyes, through theirs.' That's new. She used to say, 'Look at me. I'm limited.' She says, 'Look at me,' and she pauses. We really wanted to refine the song," the director said.
Second, he included a scene that briefly explores Glinda's childhood and explains her personality and choice of colors. It was initially cut during the initial production, but he decided to finally film it as part of the reshoots.
"We had that scene in the script, and I knew we should have kept it, but we didn't shoot it at the time because we had a lot of other pressures," Chu explained.
Last but not least, Wicked: For Good will have a secret celebrity cameo through the voice of the Cowardly Lion. Chu did not reveal which actor he cast for the role, but shared that it took place during reshoots, and he approached the "celebrated" actor by sending a DM on social media.
"I was like, 'It's not a ton of lines, but maybe you have a little time. I know you're busy. I'll come to you.' He was like, 'Why the f*** not, let's go!' And then we went ahead and recorded the lines," the director recalled.
"Man, wait until the red carpet when the actor who gave us the Cowardly Lion's voice steps foot on it. It'll be wild."
What to Expect in Wicked: For Good
Following the massive success of the first movie last year, Wicked: For Good will serve as the epic, electrifying, emotional conclusion to the adaptation of the hit Broadway musical.
According to the official synopsis: "Elphaba, now demonized as The Wicked Witch of the West, lives in exile, hidden within the Ozian forest while continuing her fight for the freedom of Oz’s silenced Animals and desperately trying to expose the truth she knows about The Wizard."
"Glinda, meanwhile, has become the glamorous symbol of Goodness for all of Oz, living at the palace in Emerald City and reveling in the perks of fame and popularity. Under the instruction of Madame Morrible, Glinda is deployed to serve as an effervescent comfort to Oz, reassuring the masses that all is well under the rule of The Wizard."
"As an angry mob rises against the Wicked Witch, Glinda and Elphaba will need to come together one final time. With their singular friendship now the fulcrum of their futures, they will need to truly see each other, with honesty and empathy, if they are to change themselves, and all of Oz, for good."
The cast includes Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum. The film is set to release in theaters this November 21.
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