Students anticipate the new Wicked sequel and talk about their expectations
With the release of the sequel to the famous Wicked movie adaptation, Wicked: For Good, on its way, students have been anticipating the movie by watching trailers, rewatching the musical, and discussing their expectations for the movie.
The buildup for this movie has students split–some are counting down the days, and some are more critical. Shobna Srijith (10), said, “I’m always excited for the music, because I feel like Ariana Grande is really good at doing comedic stuff, especially in song.”
Another student, Avish Zindal (12), is less enthusiastic. He said, “It is overhyped. Wicked was popular before it was a movie. But then once it became a movie, people only know it as a movie, and I feel like that’s what’s carrying it to this.”
When comparing it to the Broadway musical, some say that the musical had better aspects and that the movie didn’t capture the magic of Wicked as much. “Personally, I think live theatre is always better than movies. The magic is so much better live. You have to be on a stage, but that’s the beauty of it,” said Grace Zhao (10).
Still, not all students think it fell short. Zindal said, “I feel like they’ve done a pretty good job so far keeping it true to the musical, and it’ll probably continue. Of course, they ‘Hollywoodified’ some of it, but I’d say they’re doing better than other musical adaptations.”
An official poster of the upcoming movie, featuring the two main leads, Elphaba and Glinda (Photo Credit: Universal Pictures).
One aspect that drew the attention of students was the visual appeal of the movies. As seen in trailers and the first movies, the set and vibe of Wicked had an emphasis on color and spectacle, contrasting Glinda’s light pinks with Elphaba’s dark greens. “My first thought was the colors are already pretty—the green and the pink. They look really good together,” said Srijith.
Others also appreciated the technical part of the visuals, pointing out how the movie had the advantage of grander and more elaborate special effects. Zhao said, “I think the special effects will look more impressive, I guess. Because they have the capacity to do that.”
Another point students brought up was the influence of the cast, and how they did or didn’t give justice to the roles they played. Ariana Grande’s role was a notable topic for many students. Without her, the film would’ve been less popular with many people, especially those who are not huge musical fans. Olivia Chen (10) said, “I love Ariana Grande, and in my opinion, she really brought Glinda to life. I honestly might’ve not watched the movie if she wasn’t in it.”
On the other hand, some people have a completely different opinion on the actors in this movie and think there could have been better choices. Zindal says, “Ariana Grande can’t sing. I feel like when trying to go for Ariana Grande, they just sort of try to hop onto her fame.” While some students are drawn by Ariana Grande’s star power, others worry that it overpowers the story or the original essence of the musical, opening a new debate: do widely known actors add to the movie positively, or do they only lead to a celebrity-focused production instead of a strong adaptation?
Despite mixed reactions, the overall excitement for Wicked: For Good remains strong and clear. Whether for the music, the visuals, or the cast, Wicked: For Good is something students at AHS are eagerly waiting to watch.
Eagle Era 
Leave a comment