The big screen adaptation of Wicked has captivated audiences around the world, and for good reason. The huge musical number is bold, fun, magical and very emotional. The leads, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, have both been nominated for Golden Globes for their performances and the film has broken multiple box office records, which includes becoming one of the top 50 highest-grossing films of all time.

Wicked is still playing in cinemas at the moment but if you would rather watch the film at home or want a repeat watch with your friends on the sofa, then we have good news. The musical has been confirmed for a digital release early next year. On 3 January 2025, Wicked will be available to purchase digitally on select streaming services, including Prime Video.

With that, here’s everything you need to know about the Wicked live-action film.

What is the plot of Wicked?

A prequel to The Wizard Of Oz, Wicked tells the story of everything leading up to Dorothy’s arrival in Oz. In its original Broadway run, Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth portrayed frenemies Elphaba (who would become the Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda the Good Witch, in career-defining roles.

With famed songs like Popular and Defying Gravity, Wicked is one of Broadway’s most successful musicals of all time, with the original production winning three Tony awards and seven Drama Desk awards, while its original cast album received a Grammy award.

The Universal adaptation follows the beloved show pretty closely, with the film ending on Defying Gravity and Elphaba becoming the Wicked Witch of the West.

Who stars in Wicked?

Erivo stars as Elphaba, who later becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, while Grande plays her bestie, Glinda, who becomes Glinda the Good.

Both Erivo and Grande have some serious performance credentials, with Erivo nearly having achieved the prestigious EGOT status – having received a Tony, Grammy and daytime Emmy award for her role as Celie in the 2015-2017 revival of The Colour Purple. Grande, on the other hand, is of course best known for being a bestselling and award-winning musician, but has acted on Broadway in the musical 13 and in Adam McKay’s film Don’t Look Up.

Jonathan Bailey stars as Fiyero, who is at the crux of the love triangle that unfolds between Glinda and Elphaba, and if there’s one thing Bailey knows how to do well, it’s a fan-favourite romantic lead role.

Everything Everywhere All At Once star Michelle Yeoh takes to the screen as Madame Morrible, the headmistress of Crage Hall at Shiz University where Glinda and Elphaba first meet.

Broadway star Ethan Slater (The SpongeBob Musical) also stars as Boq, the Munchkin with an unrequited crush on Glinda.

Jeff Goldblum plays the (perhaps not-so wonderful) Wizard and Peter Dinklage has been confirmed as Dr Dillamond, the Goat who bleats his way through the song Something Bad.

Rounding out the cast are Marissa Bode (Narissa, Elphaba’s sister) and comedian Bowen Yang.

When will Wicked be released?

The first film landed in cinemas in November 2024 and will be released digitally on 3 January 2025.

We’ll have to wait another year for the second instalment, which is currently slated for release on 26 November 2025.

Images: Getty