DEFYING ALL ODDZ
WE’RE OFF TO SEE THE WITCHES, THE WICKED OLD WITCHES OF OZ. BUT BEFORE WE’RE WHISKED BACK TO THAT MAGICAL LAND, WE SPEAK WITH DIRECTOR JON M CHU AND HIS CREATIVE TEAM ABOUT ALL THINGS
WICKED WORDS: HENRY CALVERT
Cynthia Erivo, Jon M Chu and Ariana Grande have a love-in.
ALL PICTURES © UNIVERSAL PICTURES, SOPHY HOLLAND, GILES KEYTE
I’M NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO OPEN IT…” SAYS JON M CHU as he brandishes one of the most sought after, iconic and highly valuable books of all time in his hands. The book in question? One of only 10,000 original first printings of L Frank Baum’s fabled The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz. The book that gave us wicked witches, cowardly lions and ruby slippers, a book that’s captured the imagination of the young and the young at heart.
But as much as SFX covets the precious item, we’re sitting with the director to discuss his own chapter in the ever-expanding legacy of Oz. Because this very book, since its release in 1900, has inspired not only one of the most beloved films of all time, a Muppet movie and a musical retelling starring Michael Jackson and Diana Ross, it’s also given us one of the most successful stage musicals ever and the basis of Chu’s upcoming film: Wicked.
Written by Winnie Holzman, with music by Stephen Schwartz, its backstory of the witches of Oz has been leaving audiences spellbound since 2003. Ornate costumes, a dazzling set and Grammy award-winning music all lent themselves to telling the tale of Elphaba and Glinda, two young girls who, from their time at university, learn to overcome their differences, become the best of friends and venture to Oz to meet the Wizard.
WIZOMANIAC
To say more plot-wise would be a hideoteous spoiler, but it’s fair to say that expanding on Ozian lore and giving the Wicked Witch of the West a sympathetic backstory was instantly appealing. Wicked has become a worldwide phenomenon: it’s been performed in 16 countries, won three Tonys and a Grammy, and made actors like Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth household names.
Oh, and it’s also turned over $5 billion in global sales, making it Universal’s most profitable project ever. Whether it be listening to the soundtrack or venturing to the West End to see it live, for everyone who has experienced Wicked, it tends to be a thrillifying moment.