Latest news with #WickedWitchoftheWest
San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
‘Wicked: For Good' trailer promises an epic, tearful conclusion to cultural phenomenon
The first trailer for 'Wicked: For Good' has been released to the public, and the stakes are high from the start. 'Elphaba Thropp, I know you're out here,' says Glinda the Good. 'Just come in before the monkeys spot you.' Ariane Grande's Glinda is then startled by the shadowy figure of Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba, who is well on her way to becoming the Wicked Witch of the West in Bay Area native John M. Chu's conclusion to the film adaptation of the Broadway musical based on 'The Wizard of Oz.' 'This movie takes us past the point where the girl in the blue gingham dress from Kansas drops in,' Chu told the crowd at CinemaCon, the annual industry trade show in Las Vegas, when the trailer first debuted in April. He meant, of course, Dorothy Gale, the character made famous by Judy Garland in the 1939 version of ' The Wizard of Oz.' She is also glimpsed in the trailer from behind, along with the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow. ' Wicked,' released last Thanksgiving, quickly became the highest-grossing Broadway musical adaptation of all time, earning more than $750 million at the global box office, and became a cultural phenomenon. The conclusion of the story, due in theaters on Nov. 21, might do even better. 'Wicked: For Good,' shot at the same time as 'Wicked,' picks up after Elphaba's stirring 'Defying Gravity' sequence, in which she escapes the clutches of Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) and the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and leaves Glinda behind. The consequences of that decision plays out in the trailer, which dropped Thursday, June 5. 'This is between us, the Wizard and I,' says Elphaba. Morrible and the Wizard send a military unit led by Prince Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) after Elphaba. But then the tone shifts, and as 'For Good' plays in the background, the special friendship between the two witches deepens — even as they grow apart. 'You're the only friend I've ever had,' Elphaba tells Glinda. 'And I've had so many friends,' Glinda says with a smile, 'but only one that mattered.' The friendship between Erivo and Grande forged during filming also deepened during a press tour to promote 'Wicked,' which was nominated for 10 Academy Awards including best picture, actress (Erivo) and supporting actress (Grande). It won Oscars for production design and costume design. Many thought Chu, who was born in Palo Alto and raised in Los Altos, was snubbed when he was not nominated for his direction. Looking at the epic potential in the 'Wicked: For Good' trailer, that perceived oversight might be corrected this time around.
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Wicked: For Good trailer released as fans celebrate Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo's return
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo return as the iconic Elphaba and Glinda with the second instalment of the epic movie series Wicked hitting cinemas in November this year Wicked fans, get ready - the long awaited trailer for the second movie instalment has finally landed. The first film left audiences in tears, as Cynthia Erivo's powerful performance of Defying Gravity marked a dramatic turning point. Her character, Elphaba, discovers her true powers and escapes the grip of the Wizard of Oz and his co-conspirator Madame Morrible, as she soars into the sky on her broom stick in a breathtaking finale. Now the newly released trailer for Wicked: For Good - which is set to hit cinemas on November 21 - is already sparking emotional reactions just hours after its release overnight, the Mirror reports. The trailer opens with the dramatic crack of a window and the chime of a clock, as Glinda, portrayed by Ariana Grande, pauses and appears to be searching for something or someone. "Elphaba Thropp I know you're out here," Glinda calls out as she rushes out onto a large balcony that closely resembles the one where the duo were last seen at the end of the first film. "Just come in before the monkeys spot you," she begs. She then turns around, startled by Elphaba emerging from the shadows. The vintage Universal Pictures logo follows - just as it does in the first film - paying homage to the original Wizard of Oz film released in 1939. The scene then shifts to Elphaba walking with determination, broomstick in hand, chanting a spell. She slams a poster down, which is a drawing of the 'wicked' witch with the word 'RUN' written underneath. Moments later she is shown working hard at work in a forest before the camera cuts again, this time to Munchkinland, where a poster warning people of the Wicked Witch of the West is displayed. The camera then shifts to Glinda the Good, shown standing before a mirror as she carefully places her crown on her head. In another scene, the flying monkeys make an appearance, seemingly under the command of Madame Morrible, who is seen casting a spell saying: "The Wicked Witch can't elude us forever..." She goes on, as the scene shifts to reveal Elphaba's love interest, Fiyero, who has now enlisted in the army following his time at Shiz University, as Madame Morrible says: "Not with Prince Fiyero and his squadron hot on her trail." The camera dramatically cuts once again as The Wizard of Oz is seen and Glinda can be heard singing: "No good deed goes unpunished, that's my new creed." Elphaba can be heard saying, "The wonderful Wizard of Oz, no one believed in you more than I did" as Elphaba is seen writing in the sky, "Our Wizard Lies". Meanwhile, Glinda issues a heartfelt warning to her once close friend, as she says: "Elphaba, they're coming for you." The tone of the trailer then shifts as Glinda begins to sing the lyrics to For Good, while Elphaba reflects on her memories from their days at Shiz - most notably a leaflet for Emerald City, symbolising the moment their paths changed after meeting the Wizard. Elphaba opens the leaflet, which has a note from her dear friend. "I hope you got what your heart desires, Glinda," the message reads. A tender flashback follows, showing the two sitting together in a field, with Glinda resting her head on Elphaba's shoulder. In the background, Glinda softly sings, "I know I am who I am today because I knew you." While the movie will start with the pair on opposite sides, it looks as if there is hope for them to become friends again as Glinda is seen telling Elphaba, "think of what we can do, together." The trailer continues with more of what is to come, including what appears to be Glynda and Fiyero's wedding before a message to Wicked fans appears on the screen. It reads: "Witness the epic conclusion". Elsewhere, The Wizard, Elphaba and Glinda are seen reuniting in a surprising moment, as the trio appear to be dancing together - suggesting a possible reconciliation - before the words "And be changed for good" appear on screen. Glinda and Elphaba continue to sing For The Better together only to be interrupted by the Wizards chilling command: "Bring me the broom of the Wicked Witch of the West." The trailer also features brief appearances by The Cowardly Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow along with a glimpse of Dorothy as the trio can be seen speaking to The Wizard. Meanwhile, Fiyero appears to be caught in a moment of conflict, torn between Elphaba and the Wizard as he hesitates with a gun in hand - forced to choose a side. He throws a broom towards Elphaba, who responds with "For a while there I thought you have changed." The scene then shifts to a quiet exchange between Elphaba and Fiyero, now emotionally close, as he gently replies: "I have changed." A series of cuts show Glinda and Elphaba before Elphaba turns to her friend and says: "It's time for both of us to fly," before she jets up into the sky. In a deeply emotional moment, Elphaba confides in Glinda, "You're the only friend I ever had." And Glinda replies: "And I've had so many friends," before Elphaba giggles and the pair share a sweet hug and hold hands before Glinda continues: "But only one that mattered." The trailer continues with Elphaba summoning her hat and broomsticks, declaring: "I'm off to see the Wizard," before taking off, surrounded by flying monkeys. Fans were quick to express their excitement for the movie release on social media. As soon as the trailer was posted one fan wrote: "I will absolutely be changed for good!!! I'm so excitedddd". Another added:"I can't wait to SOB," as a third simply stated: "Wicked has brought Cinema back to its full glory." And another expressed: "Why am I crying".
Spectator
06-05-2025
- General
- Spectator
King Charles's reign has begun poorly
Today marks the second anniversary of King Charles's coronation, but celebrations are likely to be rather limited this time around. In truth, it is hard to call the past two years a particular success for the Royal Family. The king has suffered from cancer, for which his debilitating (and, it has to be said, ageing) treatment is still ongoing, as has his daughter-in-law. His younger brother has continued to bring shame upon the institution of the monarchy, most notably through shady financial dealings that have invited interest in his relationships with rumoured Chinese spies. His younger son has sold his birthright from his Montecito mansion, and complained vociferously about the privations that he has endured while counting the millions he made by betraying his family. The less said about Harry's wife, a woman who makes the Wicked Witch of the West seem kind-hearted and self-deprecating, the better. The coronation itself was a strange, not wholly happy affair.
Asharq Al-Awsat
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
When Did Disney Villains Stop Being So Villainous? New Show Suggests They May Just Be Misunderstood
Cruella de Vil wanted to turn Dalmatian puppies into fur coats, Captain Hook tried to bomb Peter Pan and Maleficent issued a curse of early death for Aurora. But wait, maybe these Disney villains were just misunderstood? That's the premise of a new musical show at Walt Disney World that has some people wondering: When did Disney's villains stop wanting to be so ... villainous? The live show, "Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After," debuts May 27 at Disney's Hollywood Studios park at the Orlando, Florida, resort. In the show, the three baddies of old-school Disney movies plead their cases before an audience that they are the most misunderstood villains of them all. "We wanted to tell a story that's a little different than what's been told before: Which one of them has been treated the most unfairly ever after?" Mark Renfrow, a creative director of the show, said in a promotional video. That hook - the narrative kind, not the captain - is scratching some Disney observers the wrong way. "I think it's wonderful when you still have stories where villains are purely villainous," said Benjamin Murphy, a professor of philosophy and religious studies at Florida State University's campus in Panama. "When you have villains reveling in their evil, it can be amusing and satisfying." Disney has some precedent for putting villains in a sympathetic light, or at least explaining how they got to be so evil. The 2021 film, "Cruella," for instance, presents a backstory for the dog-hater played by actor Emma Stone that blames her villainy on her birth mother never wanting her. Other veins of pop culture have rethought villains too, perhaps none more famously than the book, theatrical musical and movie versions of "Wicked," the reinterpretation of the Wicked Witch of the West character from "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." The blockbuster success of "Wicked, " which was based on the 1995 novel "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West," sparked the trend of rethinking villains in popular entertainment, Murphy said. "With trends like that, the formula is repeated and repeated until it's very predictable: Take a villain and make them sympathetic," he said. The centuries-old fairy tales upon which several Disney movies are based historically were meant to teach children a lesson, whether it was not to get close to wolves (Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Little Pigs) or trust strange, old women in the woods (Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel). But they often made marginalized people into villains - older women, people of color or those on the lower socioeconomic scale, said Rebecca Rowe, an assistant professor of children's literature at Texas A&M University-Commerce. The trend toward making villains more sympathetic started in the late 1980s and 1990s as children's media took off. There was a desire to present villains in a manner that was more complicated and less black and white, as there was an overall cultural push toward emphasizing acceptance, she said. "The problem is everyone has swung so hard into that message, that we have kind of lost the villainous villains," Rowe said. "There is value in the villainous villains. There are people who just do evil things. Sometimes there is a reason for it, but sometimes not. Just because there is a reason doesn't mean it negates the harm." Whether it's good for children to identify with villains is complicated. There is a chance they adopt the villains' traits if it's what they identify with, but then some scholars believe it's not a bad thing for children to empathize with characters who often are part of marginalized communities, Rowe said. The Disney villains also tend to appeal to adults more than children. They also appreciate the villains' campiness, with some "Disney princesses" gladly graduating into "evil queens." Erik Paul, an Orlando resident who has had a year-round pass to Disney World for the past decade, isn't particularly fond of the villains, but understands why Disney would want to frame them in a more sympathetic light in a show dedicated just to them. "I know friends who go to Hollywood Studios mainly to see the villain-related activities," Paul said. "Maybe that's why people like the villains because they feel misunderstood as well, and they feel a kinship to the villains."
Washington Post
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
When did Disney villains stop being so villainous? New show suggests they may just be misunderstood
ORLANDO, Fla. — Cruella de Vil wanted to turn Dalmatian puppies into fur coats, Captain Hook tried to bomb Peter Pan and Maleficent issued a curse of early death for Aurora. But wait, maybe these Disney villains were just misunderstood? That's the premise of a new musical show at Walt Disney World that has some people wondering when did Disney's villains stop wanting to be so ... villainous? The live show, 'Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After,' debuts May 27 at the Disney's Hollywood Studios park at the Orlando, Florida resort. In the show, the three baddies of old-school Disney movies plead their cases before an audience that they are the most misunderstand villain of them all. 'We wanted to tell a story that's a little different than what's been told before: which one of them has been treated the most unfairly ever after,' Mark Renfrow, a creative director of the show, said in a promotional video . That hook — the narrative kind, not the captain — is scratching some Disney observers the wrong way. 'I think it's wonderful when you still have stories where villains are purely villainous,' said Benjamin Murphy, a professor of philosophy and religious studies at Florida State University's campus in Panama. 'When you have villains reveling in their evil, it can be amusing and satisfying.' Disney has some precedent for putting villains in a sympathetic light, or at least explaining how they got to be so evil. The 2021 film, 'Cruella,' for instance, presents a backstory for the dog-hater played by actress Emma Stone that blames her villainy on her mother never wanting her. Other veins of pop culture have rethought villains too, perhaps none more famously than the book, theatrical musical and movie versions of 'Wicked,' the reinterpretation of the Wicked Witch of the West character from 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.' The blockbuster success of 'Wicked," which was based on the 1995 novel 'Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,' sparked the trend of rethinking villains in popular entertainment, Murphy said. 'With trends like that, the formula is repeated and repeated until it's very predictable: take a villain and make them sympathetic,' he said. The centuries-old fairy tales upon which several Disney movies are based historically were meant to teach children a lesson, whether it was not to get close to wolves (Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Little Pigs) or trust strange, old women in the woods (Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel). But they often made marginalized people into villains — older women, people of color or those on the lower socio-economic scale, said Rebecca Rowe, an assistant professor of children's literature at Texas A&M University-Commerce. The trend toward making villains more sympathetic started in the late 1980s and 1990s as children's media took off. There was a desire to present villains in a manner that was more complicated and less black and white, as there was an overall cultural push toward emphasizing acceptance, she said. 'The problem is everyone has swung so hard into that message, that we have kind of lost the villainous villains,' Rowe said. 'There is value in the villainous villains. There are people who just do evil things. Sometimes there is a reason for it, but sometimes not. Just because there is a reason doesn't mean it negates the harm.' Whether it's good for children to identify with villains is complicated. There is a chance they adopt the villains' traits if it's what they identify with, but then some scholars believe it's not a bad thing for children to empathize with characters who often are part of marginalized communities, Rowe said. The Disney villains also tend to appeal to adults more than children, as well as members of the LGBTQ+ community who have felt marginalized in the past, with some 'Disney princesses' gladly graduating into 'evil queens.' Erik Paul, an Orlando resident who has had a year-round pass to Disney World for the past decade, isn't particularly fond of the villains, but he understands why Disney would want to frame them in a more sympathetic light in a show dedicated just to them. 'I know friends who go to Hollywood Studios mainly to see the villain-related activities,' Paul said. 'Maybe that's why people like the villains because they feel misunderstood as well, and they feel a kinship to the villains.' ___ Follow Mike Schneider, author of 'Mickey and the Teamsters,' on the social platform Bluesky: @ .
