When Wicked hits theaters this holiday season, it’s set to be a massive event. Directed by Jon M. Chu, the musical stars Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba. Adapted from the Tony and Grammy Award-winning Broadway hit, which is based on Gregory Maguire's Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, the film taps into a dedicated fanbase built over decades.

While other theatrical adaptations like West Side Story (2021) and The Color Purple (2023) found success, none have matched the cultural phenomenon that Wicked has become. Its popularity has only grown with anniversaries, merchandise, reunions, and its connection to The Wizard of Oz (1939).

Hollywood has long struggled to capture the magic of L. Frank Baum's Oz books, despite the iconic legacy of The Wizard of Oz film. Baum’s original book was a huge success, but most adaptations, including The Wiz (1978) and Return to Oz (1985), failed to find lasting success. It wasn’t until 2013’s Oz the Great and Powerful that Disney attempted to create a prequel, though it didn’t meet the blockbuster expectations.

The current Wicked adaptation benefits from a different approach. Maguire’s 1995 novel, which is darker, more political, and more mature than Baum’s original work, reimagines Oz for a contemporary audience. By addressing themes of power, prejudice, and personal growth, Wicked resonates with audiences who grew up with The Wiz and Return to Oz.

While Baum’s work was groundbreaking in its time, it no longer speaks to the complexities of the modern world. Wicked, with its more mature themes, offers a version of Oz that aligns better with current issues, making it relevant to today’s audiences. The musical’s success at the box office will likely reflect how this reimagined world resonates with the world we live in today.