‘Wicked: The Soundtrack” Unveils Release Date And Song List
The soundtrack for the first part of Jon M. Chu’s musical hits shelves on November 22.
Wicked is one step closer to the big screen. The upcoming movie-musical soundtrack will officially be available on November 22, the day that the film itself will open in theaters. The soundtrack is available now for pre-order, and will be available on CD, double vinyl, double picture disc, and digital.
Based on the 1996 novel and 2003 musical, Wicked follows the stories of two witches from L. Frank Baum’s novel, and the famous 1939 movie adaptation of, The Wizard Of Oz. Ariana Grande stars as Glinda (the Good Witch) who was adolescent friends with Elphaba, the misunderstood woman who would go on to be known as the Wicked Witch Of The West, played here by Cynthia Erivo. Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey, Academy Award-winner Michelle Yeoh, and Game Of Thrones alum Peter Dinklage round out the cast. Jeff Goldblum is also featured as The Wizard. Jon M. Chu, known for his work in Crazy Rich Asians and In The Heights, directs.
Notably, both the film and the soundtrack cover the first act of the Broadway show, ending with the show-stopping “Defying Gravity.” Every song from the first act of the musical is here, including the vocal showcase “The Wizard And I” and the fun Grande solo “Popular.” Wicked: Part Two will be released in 2025.
The Broadway adaptation has been a smash hit since it opened over 20 years ago, and currently sits as the fourth-longest-running show in Broadway history. The show won three Tonys at the 2004 ceremony—for costume and scenic design, and for Idina Menzel’s performance as Elphaba—while its music received both Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations and won a Grammy for Best Musical Show Album. The show’s ongoing popularity has cemented it as a touchstone among musical theater fans, and the production has already been the subject of multiple tributes. In 2018, for the show’s 15th anniversary on the stage, Grande performed “The Wizard And I,” foreshadowing her future in the film, albeit in a different role. Now, it won’t be long before fans will hear her and the rest of the cast put their spin on a beloved score.
