Just one short day in the Emerald City, and Elphaba and Galinda already meet some special characters.
This post continues spoilers for Wicked.
Wicked, an adaptation of the popular Broadway musical of the same name, hit theaters on Friday, November 22, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as a pair of witches, who would one day become the Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch of the North, respectively. Part 2 of the saga will be released next year on November 21, 2025.
When Elphaba ( Erivo) and Galinda/Glinda (Grande), arrive in the Emerald City during the film’s first act they are greeted by hundreds of Ozian citizens. Two faces in the crowd are played by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who famously originated the respective roles of Elphaba and Galinda in the OG Broadway production.
In the scene, Menzel, 53, and Chenoweth, 56, portray performers and lead a troupe. They join in singing “One Short Day,” to retell the origin story of how Oz was founded and how the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) initially arrived in town. The filmed adaptation features an extended version of the song, in which Menzel and Chenoweth’s rival musicians try to outshine and outsing one another.
Wicked is adapted from Gregory Maguire’s novel of the same name, serving as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz. It charts the history of the Wicked Witch of the West (Elphaba) and the Good Witch of the North (Glinda) back when they were college roommates at the magical Shiz University.
The musical was first mounted in 2003, starring Menzel as the green-ifed witch and Chenoweth as the oh-so-popular Glinda.
“The love story is really between the two girls. It’s about their bond,” Chenoweth exclusively told Us Weekly in May. “It didn’t start out that way, the show, so Idina and I feel really blessed that we were a part of something that we’re able to really put a stamp down in this world of musical theater.”
Five months later, Chenoweth played coy about whether she and Menzel had secret roles in Jon M. Chu’s big-screen adaptation of Wicked.
“[I] cannot confirm or deny,” Chenoweth teased to Us in October. “I can do neither, but I can say that I know I speak for Idina and I both [when I say] … we’re both really happy for the girls. We can’t wait to see them take on these characters.”
Menzel and Chenoweth even joined Erivo, 37, and Grande, 31, for the Los Angeles premiere of the film earlier this month. They have also frequently praised the two actresses taking over their now-iconic roles.
“[Cynthia’s] been wonderful and I haven’t given her any advice because she doesn’t need any advice,” Menzel told The Hollywood Reporter at the 2024 Tony Awards in June. “I think she’s so incredibly talented. I’m just proud of it and proud that it’s going to reach an even wider audience. I know it’s in wonderful hands with her. She understands the character and everything the green girl’s about.”
Wicked Part 1 is now in theaters.
