Jon M. Chu, the director behind Wicked: For Good, has publicly addressed the decision to split the beloved musical into two separate films, a choice that initially sparked concern among dedicated fans.
Addressing the Backlash
When Chu first announced the two-part adaptation in April 2022, the reaction from the Wicked fandom was one of apprehension. Fans were worried that stretching the story would negatively impact the final product. This concern persisted even after the first film, Wicked, released in 2024 to widespread critical acclaim. The divisive nature of the musical's second act left many unsure if it could successfully stand alone as a feature film.
Now that Wicked: For Good has been released, critical reception has been decidedly mixed. While the powerful performances and spectacular set pieces have earned praise, a significant number of critics and viewers have pointed to issues with pacing, arguing that a single, consolidated film would have been a stronger choice.
The Studio Debate and Creative Vision
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Jon M. Chu revealed that the structure of the adaptation was a point of lengthy debate at Universal Pictures. The studio drafted scripts for both a single film and a two-part series, and there was even a proposal for one movie with a built-in interval. Despite the options, Chu remained steadfast in his belief that two films were necessary.
He defended his creative choice, stating, "If we were asking people to believe in the stakes, the emotional stakes, the real-life stakes of these two women, then we needed the time to understand what was at stake." He elaborated, asking, "What was their childhood like? What were they being taught, and what was shattered in front of them?"
This rationale led to the inclusion of crucial flashback sequences. The first film delves into young Elphaba's past, while Wicked: For Good explores the childhood of Glinda, providing the deeper context Chu felt was essential.
Comparing the Runtimes
The original stage musical runs for approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including a standard 15-minute interval. In contrast, the combined runtime of the two films is substantially longer. The first movie, Wicked, has a duration of 2 hours and 40 minutes, and the sequel, Wicked: For Good, runs for 2 hours and 17 minutes.
Back in 2022, when he announced the split, Chu penned a detailed statement. He wrote that during pre-production, it became "impossible to wrestle the story of 'Wicked' into a single film without doing some real damage to it." He explained that cutting songs or trimming characters felt like "fatal compromises to the source material." The decision to create two films was, therefore, to give the story a "bigger canvas" and tell it "as it was meant to be told while bringing even more depth and surprise to the journeys for these beloved characters."
