Wicked can be considered one of the most popular musical releases of this year. The film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical gave it a unique twist by linking it to The Wizard of Oz. However, the director, Jon M. Chu, faced criticism over the color grading, which looked saturated compared to the Technicolor used in the OG films.
The controversy began after Universal Pictures released promotional images of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. However, Chu reassured critics, saying, “Don’t worry, we still have a year and a half to show you our colors! Trust me, there are plenty of colors in Oz.”
In an interview with Canadian outlet The Globe and Mail, journalist Radheyan Simonpillai recently questioned the director about ‘Wicked’ looking a bit disappointing. “I mean, there’s color everywhere. I think what we wanted to do was immerse people in Oz, to make it a real place,” Chu responded defensively.
He explained that he did not want it to appear like a dream sequence because Wicked has always been about real friendship and emotions. Otherwise, “what these two girls are going through won’t seem real,” he said.
Chu elaborated that his intention was to bring “dirt” to the film and remove the picturesque “matte painting” aesthetic. “I want to feel the wear and tear of it. And that means it’s not plastic,” he said. Wicked, which was released in theaters on November 22, revolves around the growing friendship between the witches Glinda (Grande) and Elphaba (Erivo).
“Elphaba, a young woman who is misunderstood because of her green skin, and Glinda, a popular girl, become friends at Shiz University in the land of Oz. “After an encounter with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads,” says the official synopsis.
The film stars an ensemble cast including Grande, Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Michelle Yeoh, Peter Dinklage, Bowen Yang, and many more.
