Originally published to X on April 11, 2024.

I got to see a 5-ish minute preview of @wickedmovie yesterday at CinemaCon. While I did scribble down some notes during the presentation, this article is going mostly on memory. Still, I’m sure someone will be interested in a rundown of what was seen … so here it goes.

I believe we start with a similar image to that of the Super Bowl commercial of Elphaba’s hat but over a foreboding puddle of water.

We then see establishing images of the land of Oz and students arriving at Shiz University.

“You’re green!” Galinda exclaims.

“I am,” Elphaba says sarcastically as if it’s the first time she’s noticed.

Madame Morrible welcomes students to Shiz University before telling Elphaba she can room with Galinda, much to the good witch’s chagrin.

We then hear a bit of Popular’s chorus as we see Elphaba and Galinda exploring their room.

“Oh, I saved you some space,” Galinda says, showing Elphaba her living quarters.

“Do you think this is fair?” Elphaba asks, looking at her small, dark space in the room.

“No,” Galinda answers, aloof to Elphaba’s meaning. “I was promised a private suite, but thanks for asking.”

There are more living quarters images and more Popular. We conclude with Elphaba startling Galinda with a scream at the end of What Is This Feeling. Elphaba cackles.

“Everyone take your seats,” asks Dr. Dillamond, more a CG goat than a goat man in this version, voiced by Peter Dinklage. “A real sorcerer who possesses magic has become rare.”

We see images of Elphaba performing magic, Morrible calls it remarkable.

“You made all that happen,” Galinda tells Elphaba, asking her how she did it.

“I don’t know, I never know,” Elphaba says.

On the Shiz campus, Morrible looks at Galinda and Elphaba directing one of them to come with her. Galinda believes she means her, but Morrible corrects her.

“Not you,” Morrible says to Galinda. “You.”

Elphaba turns, Galinda looking hurt.

We hear “No One Mourns The Wicked” as Morrible watches Elphaba’s magic. She tells her she’s the one the Wizard has been waiting for.

In the dorms, Galinda’s friends mock the iconic pointy hat. Galinda says it’s her granny’s hat, telling her friends, “I’d give it away, but I don’t hate anyone that much.”

Enter Elphaba. “You should join us tonight,” Galinda says to the green girl. “Don’t tell me you have nothing to wear,” she says, telling Elphaba she can wear the pointy hat.

We see images of the Ozdust Ballroom.

As Elphaba puts on the hat, Fiyero observes to Galinda that the green girl doesn’t care what anyone thinks.

“Of course she does,” Galinda replies. “She just pretends not to.”

Sometime later, Elphaba holds an invitation.

“The wonderful Wizard of Oz summons you to the Emerald City,” she reads.

As the train starts leaving toward Oz, Elphaba hangs out the door and reaches out to Galinda, asking her to come with her to meet the Wizard.

Within a comically short moment, she goes from worrying about stealing Elphaba’s moment to jumping on board.

“I’ll come,” she says.

We see a young Elphaba, played by a child actress, speaking about wanting to meet the Wizard.

In Oz, the creepy steampunk Wizard head greets the witches.

“I am Oz, the great and terrible,” the Wizard says.

We see images of flying monkeys and the Wizard’s headquarters.

We hear a different Elphaba battle cry before she proclaims calmly, “Something bad is happening in Oz.”

More images from Oz, as the Wizard tells Elphaba that the best way to bring folks together is to give them a real good bad guy.

More images of the Defying Gravity sequence.

“You have no power,” Elphaba tells the Wizard.

“That’s why I need you,” he replies.

Elphaba runs as Morrible tells the guards not to let her get away. She projects a warped, evil image of Elphaba.

“This wicked witch,” Morrible says.

In the attic, Galinda encourages Elphaba, who appears to be using her magic, “Don’t be afraid.”

“I’m not afraid; it’s the Wizard who should be afraid of me,”

Elphaba shatters through a window, and one more battle cry rings out.

Title card. See you at Thanksgiving.