Interview With "Wicked: For Good" Director Jon M. Chu

The Success of Wicked Part One

• 💡 The first Wicked film's success was unexpected, reaching beyond musical fans to a broader movie audience.
• 🎯 Director Jon M. Chu aimed for audiences to be swept up in emotion, making them forget it was a musical.
• 🔑 Musicals offer unique access to emotions through melody, subversive lyrics, and movement that reveals character.

Crafting Wicked: For Good

• 🧠 The core mantra for both films was "it's about the girls," focusing on Elphaba and Glinda's journey.
• 🎬 Wicked: For Good (Movie Two) adopts a more nuanced, adult tone, exploring consequences and questioning authority.
• 🚀 The director felt freed by the first film's success to deepen character arcs and avoid re-establishing musical conventions.

Filming Process and Creative Freedom

• 🛠️ Both films were a huge bet, shot simultaneously, requiring meticulous planning for 20 musical numbers, sets, and choreography.
• ✨ Despite extensive planning, the team maintained freedom for on-set improvisation, like the impactful "closet scene" which emerged from rehearsals.
• 🎥 This approach allowed for an intimate audience view of characters, extending emotional moments beyond stage limitations.

Navigating The Wizard of Oz Elements

• 🔍 The production deliberately avoided showing Dorothy's face to keep the focus on Elphaba and Glinda, respecting various Wizard of Oz interpretations.
• ⚠️ Legal restrictions influenced the portrayal of classic elements, preventing the use of ruby slippers or gingham patterns.
• 🧩 The film added scenes to show Elphaba's transition into "wickedness," referencing L. Frank Baum's books and Denlow drawings for public domain material.

Themes of Growth and Forgiveness

• 🌱 Glinda's arc in Movie Two involves popping her bubble and engaging with a world she previously avoided.
• 💖 The film explores forgiveness and grace, acknowledging that "we are all wicked, we all are good" and grow through decisions and mistakes.
• 🤝 The iconic "whisper" image emphasizes the consistency and mystery of friendship, not romance, as a central theme.

Filmmaker's Personal Journey

• 🔥 The project was a high-risk, high-reward endeavor, demanding trust in instincts and a "shameless wide-open heart" approach.
• ✅ Jon M. Chu expressed pride in the accomplishment of the team, feeling they had put their mark on the world of Oz.
• 🌟 The experience taught him to trust his instincts as a filmmaker and person, regardless of external validation.