I Read the 'Wicked' Novel & Watched the Broadway Musical So You Don't Have To

The biggest, best and worst differences between 'Wicked' the film, novel and Broadway show.

It’s Wicked week! In honor of the most radical film of 2024 being released on digital this week, I’ve got another major breakdown of the story of my favorite green revolutionary for you. When I love something as much as I love Wicked: Part One, I’ve got to know everything. Back in early November, after my first watch (and the hour-long convo I had with friends afterward in the parking lot of Universal Studios), I immediately went home and watched a bootleg recording of the Broadway musical on YouTube (just search for the code words “Slime Tutorial” and they’ll pop right up!) so I could see how the upcoming movie sequel Wicked: For Good will end. Once actress and activist Angelica Ross put me on to how wild the novel is that the musical and film are based on—Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire—I had to read that too.

After hours and hours (and hours! and hours!) of watching the film, the film commentary from Director Jon Chu and stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, the deleted scenes, the making-of documentary, and the Broadway musical; and after reading the novel (while listening to the audiobook—a lifesaver if you also have trouble staying focused while reading!), I’m here to break down the best (and worst) differences between the book, film and show, as a treat to thank my paid subscribers for your support! But don’t worry about spoilers for Part Two; I’ll only cover the parts of the book and the Broadway show that are featured in the film Wicked: Part One. Let’s get into it! (Watch a deleted scene from the film and find a link to the script below!)