Certainly, Isn't Malevolence Supposedly Limited in Duration?
The buzz surrounding the upcoming holiday sensation, Wicked, has been intense, with its vibrant marketing campaign. However, what the trailers cleverly veil is a crucial detail: when the movie hits theaters on November 22, it's only the first half of the story. Dubbed as "Part One," it's not labeled as such, but a sequel, titled "Part Two," is slated for release a year later.
Given this information, one would inevitably anticipate a more manageable film length, especially since it's based on the beloved Broadway musical that runs under three hours. But apparently, that's not the case.
upbeat, colorful marketing for the sure-fire holiday hit
Tickets for Wicked are yet unreleased, but the film has found its way onto ticketing site, Fandango,which lists its run time as two hours and 40 minutes. AMC Theaters and Moviefone both concur, although the latter mentions a shorter run time of two hours and 22 minutes.
hits theaters on November 22, it’s only half the story. This is merely “Part One,” though it’s not being called that, with “Part Two” coming a year later. Knowing that, one would probably
Despite anticipating an extension, a runtime almost identical to the stage show is quite unexpected - almost double the length of the original story. While movie adaptations of musicals often delve deeper into characters and worlds, featuring additional songs, it's uncommon to approach complete doubling of the story length.
expect the film version to be a more manageable length, especially since it’s based on a long-running, super-popular Broadway musical that itself runs under three hours. But, apparently, that’s not the case.
Some viewers might assume the film's length is the full story and may be disappointed if they don't receive a conclusion during its initial release. However, this could offer a unique opportunity for the film to be that good, leaving viewers yearning for the continuation.
Fandango, which lists its run time as two hours and 40 minutes. The
Directed by Jon M. Chu, based on the musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman, the movie boasts an impressive cast, including Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Keala Settle, and Peter Dinklage.
AMC Theaters page says the same—though, of note,
Enrichment Insights:
Moviefone says two hours and 22 minutes. io9 has reached out to Universal to see what the correct runtime is and we will update this post if/when we hear back.
- The movie adaptation of Wicked has a running time of 160 minutes (2 hours and 40 minutes) [3]. This significantly exceeds the length of the Broadway musical, which typically runs for about 2 hours and 45 minutes including intermission, but the stage version is more compact in its storytelling and pacing.
Several factors contribute to the extended length of the film:
give or take, runs two hours and 45 minutes with an intermission. So somehow this movie version—even if it’s two hours and 22 minutes— has basically doubled the length of the story.
- Expanded Storytelling: The film adaptation includes more detailed backstories and character development, which are not fully explored in the stage version. This includes scenes like the train ride to Emerald City and more detailed interactions between characters [2][3].Marvel,
- Visual and Cinematic Elements: The movie incorporates elaborate set designs, costumes, and visual effects, which require more time to unfold on screen compared to the stage production. These elements enhance the cinematic experience but add to the overall runtime [3].Star Wars, and
- Pacing and Tone: The film's pacing is designed to accommodate a cinematic audience, which may differ from the faster-paced, more energetic environment of live theater. This can result in a longer runtime as scenes are allowed to breathe and emotional moments are given more time to resonate [4].Star Trek releases, what’s next for the
- Adaptation Challenges: Translating a stage musical to film often involves expanding scenes and adding new content to fill the larger canvas of the screen, which can increase the runtime [2].DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of
- The second part of the film, Wicked: For Good, is expected to maintain a similar runtime, potentially making the entire epic around five hours long when both parts are combined [2].Doctor Who.
- The upcoming movie adaptation of 'Wicked' on Fandango is listed with a run time of two hours and 40 minutes.
- Despite being labeled as just "Part One," the movie on Moviefone is indicated to have a shorter run time of two hours and 22 minutes.
- The extended runtime of the 'Wicked' movie on AMC Theaters' page is attributed to expanded storytelling, visual and cinematic elements, pacing and tone adjustments, and adaptation challenges.
- The second part of the 'Wicked' story, titled "Part Two: For Good," is expected to have a similar runtime, potentially making the combined movies around five hours long.
