The Fascinating Evolution of 'Wicked'

Plus what to read if you're a fan

The much-anticipated film version of Wicked comes out in a few weeks and we're over the rainbow about it! The movie is an adaptation of the hit Broadway musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, which is a loose adaptation of Gregory Maguire's novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which borrows story elements from the groundbreaking 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, which is, in turn, based on L. Frank Baum's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. So the new movie is an adaptation of an adaptation of an adaptation of an adaptation! At each juncture, the story has evolved, becoming something new. Ah, the wonders of reinvention!

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)

L. Frank Baum's original story centers on Dorothy Gale, a young girl from Kansas who, in the aftermath of a cyclone, finds herself in the magical Land of Oz with her dog Toto. Her house has landed on (and killed) the Wicked Witch of the East. After being celebrated for freeing the Munchkins from their evil leader, Dorothy embarks on a quest to find her way back home, which leads to her also vanquishing the Wicked Witch of the West.

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

MGM's 1939 film changed and further developed the originally minor character of the now green-skinned Wicked Witch of the West and her vendetta against Dorothy for killing The Wicked Witch of East (who has become her sister in this version) and taking ownership of the protective ruby slippers (silver in Baum's original).

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (1995)

Gregory Maguire's adaptation flips the script, creating a gritty origin story for The Wicked Witch of the West, here known as Elphaba, a name derived from L. Frank Baum's initials, L.F.B. In this iteration, set largely before Dorothy comes to Oz, Elphaba is a sympathetic, misunderstood figure who struggles for acceptance and love and becomes a resistance fighter against the corrupt rule of the Wizard. The novel explores the question of what makes someone or something "evil."

Wicked: The Musical (2003–2024)

The musical and new movie clean up some of the more adult-themed elements from Maguire's storyline, resulting in a more family-friendly product. (Many fans of the musical report being shocked by all the sexual content in the book.) The movie stars Cynthia Erivo in the role of the powerful, unloved Elphaba and Ariana Grande as the popular social climber Galinda (later Glinda). The two become roommates—and eventually friends—at Shiz University. While many of the elements of the story are the same, the focus here is more on the complex friendship between Elphaba and Galinda.

What to read if you're a fan of Wicked (or any of its predecessors) 

Wicked: The Grimmerie

Designed in the fashion of the ancient book of spells that Madame Morrible gives to Elphaba, this keepsake volume offers fans a behind-the-curtains peek at the musical and inside stories, with full-color photographs throughout. For a perfect complement, pick up the The Grimmerie Collectible Hardcover Journal.

Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, from Godspell to Wicked by Carol de Giere

This biography reveals how Schwartz's beloved musicals came to life. Wicked enthusiasts are treated to a revealing, in-depth account of the show's evolution from developmental workshops to the pre-Broadway tryout in San Francisco to sold-out productions around the world.

Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts

Hollywood, 1938: When Maud Gage Baum, already in her seventies, learned that MGM was adapting her late husband's masterpiece for the screen, she knew she needed to be involved. This richly imagined novel goes behind the scenes of the creation and adaptation of Baum's classic through the eyes of his intrepid wife.

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

In Garner County, girls are banished for their sixteenth year to release their magic into the wild so they can return purified and ready for marriage. But not all of them will make it home alive. This speculative YA thriller examines the complex and sometimes twisted relationships between girls and women.

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Like Wicked, this novel offers the backstory behind an iconic literary villain. Long before she became the infamous Queen of Hearts, Catherine was just a girl, determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land teeming with magic, madness, and monsters, fate had other plans.

Remember to Dream, Ebere by Cynthia Erivo

When Ebere's mother puts her to bed at night, she always says, "Remember to dream, Ebere." And dream, Ebere does! A message of hope and possibility, the Wicked star and EGOT winner's debut picture book is an ode to a child's imagination, a parent's love, and the big dreams shared by both.

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

This middle-grade fantasy series explores similar themes to Wicked. Sophie and Agatha attend the eponymous school, where children receive training to become fairytale heroes or villains. Although it seems that Sophie would be perfect for Good, and Agatha a shoe-in for Evil, the two soon find their fortunes reversed.

A Little Bit Wicked: Life, Love, and Faith in Stages by Kristen Chenoweth

At four foot eleven, the Tony Award-winning star who originated the role of Galinda on Broadway, is an immense talent in a petite but powerful package. Filled with wit and wisdom, her memoir offers inspirational anecdotes and advice for fans who want to follow their own dreams—over the rainbow and beyond. 

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

What if a power-hungry Dorothy found a way to return to Oz and seize control. The first in a dark YA series reimagines the saga from the perspective of Amy Gumm, another girl from Kansas who has been recruited by the Revolutionary order of the Wicked to take Dorothy down.

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon