Thanks to Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, we had a chance to review the “Wicked” Blu-Ray combo pack with our very own copy!
Below is our description and analysis of the product:
Be sure to pick up your copy starting 2/4/2025!
About Wicked – Ring in the New Year with the grand cinematic triumphWICKED.! After setting the record for the biggest opening for a movie based on a Broadway show ever and nominated for four Golden Globes® including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, the thrillifying, must-have musical adaptation will be available exclusively on digital platforms to purchase or rent in time to celebrate New Year’s Eve on December 31, 2024, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Having cast a captivating spell on film audiences around the world, the film has earned Certified Fresh and Verified Hot designations on Rotten Tomatoes and a wickedly stunning “A” CinemaScore. Experience the magic of the spellbinding film with a dazzling bonus Sing-Along version, a 40-minute journey through Oz that celebrates the film’s transformative on-screen magic, deleted & extended scenes and so much more only when you purchase from participating digital retailers nationwide, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu), Comcast Xfinity, Cox, and Microsoft Movies
& TV. WICKED will also debut on 4K UHD, Blu-ray™ and DVD on February 4, 2025.
WICKED, one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, arrives on your screen as a generation-defining cinematic sensation. The untold story of the witches of Oz,
WICKED stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, a misunderstood young woman who has yet to discover her true power, and Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman who has yet to discover her true heart. The two meet at Shiz University and forge an unlikely friendship –
before their lives take different paths following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Their extraordinary adventures will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. Wicked is an immersive, cultural celebration you’ll want to experience over and over again!
Based on the stage play with music and lyrics by the legendary Grammy and Oscar® winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, WICKED is expertly directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights). The film also stars Oscar® winner Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once, Crazy Rich Asians), Oliver Award winner and Emmy nominee Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton, Fellow Travelers), Tony nominee Ethan Slater
(Broadway’s SpongeBob SquarePants, Fosse/Verdon), Marissa Bode, Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes), and Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park, Independence Day).
EXCLUSIVE BONUS FEATURES WHEN YOU PURCHASE AT PARTICIPATING RETAILERS:
• SING ALONG – ALTERNATE FEATURE-LENGTH VERSION – Rejoicify, it’s your turn to sing your
way through Oz! Sing-along to all of your favorite Wicked songs as you join Elphaba and Glinda on their magical
journey.
• DELETED AND EXTENDED SCENES
o Pfannee & ShenShen Meet Glinda
▪ Reunited at Shiz University, Glinda, Pfannee, and ShenShen recall their past by performing a twirling routine together.
o Shiz Gazette Introduces Fiyero
▪ Excitement spreads across Shiz as word gets out that Prince Fiyero is on his way.
o Toss Toss
▪ Glinda teaches Elphaba the art of Toss Toss, with mixed results.
o Elphaba & Fiyero in the Forest
▪ The relationship between Elphaba and Fiyero takes a turn as they come to care for a lost lion cub.
o Elphaba’s Promise
▪ Elphaba makes a pledge to Glinda that they both hope will strengthen their friendship.
o Train Platform Farewell
▪ Glinda, Madame Morrible, and Governor Thropp gather to send Elphaba off to Emerald
City.
o Boq & Elphaba Talk
▪ Elphaba challenges Boq to face the truth about his feelings for Nessa Rose, but she has difficulty doing the same when it comes to Fiyero.
o Train Ride to Emerald City
▪ Glinda and Elphaba expand their world by taking a luxurious train ride to Emerald City.
o In the Emerald City
▪ The bustling streets of Emerald City take Glinda and Elphaba one step closer to finally
meeting the Wizard.
o Palace Monkeys Chase
▪ Elphaba and Glinda race through a maddening maze of winged monkeys determined to take them down.
• MAKING WICKED – Return to Oz for a fantastic behind-the-scenes journey with this expansive look
inside the characters, choreography, and creativity that make up the movie’s unforgettable world.
• WELCOME TO SHIZ – Unlimited imagination, couture fashion, and spectacular production design come together at Shiz University, providing a place for performers and viewers to be fully immersed in the fantasy. Designed from details in L. Frank Baum’s books, the uniforms, clever contraptions, and circular sets create a sprawling campus where magic feels like an everyday occurrence.
• A WICKED LEGACY –Take delight in the cast and filmmakers sharing personal memories of their first encounters with the original Broadway production, and how those lasting connections created emotional experiences while making the movie. Also highlighted are the iconic cameos that pay tribute to the cultural phenomenon that became one of the most popular musicals of all time.
• THE WONDERFUL WIZARD – Follow the yellow brick road to Emerald City for an in-depth look at the infamous Wizard of Oz. Inside the palace’s throne room, the Wizard himself, Jeff Goldblum, pulls back the curtain to peer at his character’s magic and mechanics with senior special effects technician Christopher Clarke, who details how the Wizard’s massive robotic head comes to life.
• FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR JON M. CHU
• FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH STARS CYNTHIA ERIVO AND ARIANA GRANDE
HNS Review: “Wicked” is one of the most popular films of the year! Bolstered by strong performances, catchy musical numbers, and strong costume design, the film is sure to please fans of the musical and new viewers alike. There’s an undeniable craft to the film, creating some outstanding visuals while also enhancing the production design with practical effects. Jon M. Chu does a great job at bringing the first act of the stage play to the big screen while making it effective as a feature length film. Although the runtime is a bit long, this is a wonderful adaptation that is worth checking out!
About the Product: The packaging of the Blu-ray is very creative. The film’s font has a shiny transition between the green and pink beneath the two leading characters. It also has the background enhanced by a glistening feature that really helps the color pop. Viewers have the option of popping in the disk on their blu-ray players at home or watching via the digital code. This makes it easier to watch anywhere at any time.
About the Special Features:
Extras:
Deleted Scenes – This is a collection of scenes where I understand the need to cut them. Most didn’t enhance the central story taking place, feeling awkward or extending the already long runtime. It’s fun to see where they had certain scenes going in an alternative version though. The two scenes that could have been helpful to the story were Elphaba’s Promise and the Train Platform Farewell. These both added some unseen character development to both Elphaba and Glinda.
Making Wicked – I’m sure this will be the section that fans enjoy sinking their teeth into. It details the many different aspects of the film that had to be thought out, planned, and executed. Translating the characters to the big screen from the stage adaptation was a challenging process but it seems like the cast worked closely with director Jon M. Chu to make sure their interpretation would be successful. Making the musical sequences as memorable as the play was also a challenge. But due to the passion everyone had for the source material, it’s clear that making their version of the music and dance choreography successful was top of mind. The set pieces and design of the world of Oz was fascinating to observe. I enjoyed seeing how the creative team came up with ideas to make the world more immersive. The set was largely created with practical effects, which helped the cast and audience alike feel more connected to this world. I’m sure this was a difficult film to create but the payoff was well worth it.
Welcome to Shiz – Director Jon M. Chu wanted his cast to feel like they were on an actual campus at a university that would educate Ozians. So they had an entire set built to help immerse the cast and crew in the environment. Most of the set in the film is not created with CGI, but rather hand crafted set pieces. Whether it be classrooms, the library, or the clothing the characters wear, each was crafted to make the film feel as close to the broadway show as possible. It seems like the cast and crew had a blast creating this set and making the film within it.
A WICKED Legacy – Most of the cast and crew were inspired to work on the film due to their passion for the story. Bringing it to life in their own way and explaining what the show meant to them was cool to see because it makes the filmmaking process more personal.
The Wonderful Wizard – This section details how the Wizard’s character was brought to life. When I saw the film I immediately thought the wizard’s robotic head was incredible. It was a new take but kept the classic intimidation method. The animatronics behind the construction were impressive, so getting to see how the special effects team created it was neat.
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