Summary

• Wicked focuses on the Wicked Witch's origin story and complex friendships, while Oz the Great and Powerful centers on the rise of The Wizard of Oz.
• The Land of Oz in Wicked transitions into oppression, while in Oz the Great and Powerful, it expands with unique geography and creatures.
• Elphaba in Wicked is portrayed as morally ambiguous, unlike Evanora in Oz the Great and Powerful, who is depicted as pure evil.

The Wizard of Oz remains among the most wonderful cinematic stories in history. Although the landmark fantasy film is based on the book by Frank L. Baum, the 2003 hit Broadway Musical Wicked is based on the 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire. The story featured in Wicked differs from the original Baum tale and diverges from Oz the Great and Powerful, the 2013 Sam Raimi film that received mediocre reviews. In the simplest terms, while both are origin stories of sorts, Wicked focuses on the origin story of the Wicked Witch from the West, while Oz the Great Powerful concentrates on the so-called Wizard's rise to prominence.

With the first film in Jon M. Chu's two-part Wicked movie musical slated for release in November 2024, it's an opportune time to crystallize the difference between Wicked and Oz the Great and the Powerful as they relate to The Wizard of Oz's legacy. Apart from the obvious differences between one film being a musical and the other being an adventure, the narrative beats and rich characterizations in both origin stories are worth exploring in greater detail. Here are the main differences between Wicked and Oz the Great and Powerful.

What Is Wicked About?

In 2003, Gregory Maguire's revisionist novel Wicked: The Life and Times of The Wicked Witch of the West was adapted as a Broadway musical. The production became a massive hit, adapting Frank L. Baum's original Wizard of Oz novel as loose inspiration to tell the origin story of The Wicked Witch of the West. The new musical movie Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu, will be a big-screen adaptation of the Broadway sensation and focuses expressly on the Witch's backstory.

Wicked revolves around the complex relationship between best friends Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Galinda (Ariana Grande) in the Land of Oz, who later become known as The Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. As Elphaba and Galinda come of age and into their own, their friendship is tested when the two begin vying for the affection of the same lover. The story takes place before and after Dorothy Gale arrives in Oz from her Kansas farmland and goes on an adventure with the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion. Once Elphaba and Galinda grow apart due to their differing personalities and worldviews, the story shifts focus from the Wicked Witch's rise to power to her ultimate fall from grace.

What Is Oz the Great and Powerful About?

While Wicked is based on the novel of the same name by Gregory Maguire, Oz the Great and Powerful is loosely based on Frank L. Baum's collective Oz books. Instead of focusing on the rise and fall of The Wicked Witch of the West, the story concentrates on Oscar Diggs, a.k.a. Oz (James Franco), a stage magician and devious huckster from Kansas who rises to infamy as The Wizard of Oz.

While both movies are set in the Land of Oz, the story of Oz the Great and the Powerful is set 20 years before the events depicted in Baum's original 1900 novel. As such, it's viewed as a spiritual predecessor to the classic 1939 film adaptation. Meanwhile, Wicked takes place before and after Dorothy's journey and can be viewed as both a prequel and a sequel of sorts.

Oscar arrives in the Land of Oz after riding in a hot-air balloon. Upon his arrival, he uses his manipulative charms to convince the inhabitants of the magical land that he is a wizard capable of delivering peace and prosperity to the land. Oz draws the attraction of three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz), and Glinda (Michelle Williams). Oz first believes that Glinda is the Wicked Witch, but soon learns he is being tricked by the real Witch, Evanora. Unlike Wicked, the story does not feature the character of Elphaba, although it does emphasize Glinda's presence.

The Land of Oz and the Emerald City

Other differences between the fantasy movie prequel Wicked and Oz the Great and Powerful can be found in the Land of Oz itself. For instance, in Wicked, viewers are treated to the familiar sights and sounds of Oz that were introduced in the original 1939 movie. The Land of Oz features the Wicked Witch's ominous castle, colorful Munchkinland, and the verdant Emerald City.

However, Wicked also depicts the wonderful land of Oz as a place in a period of oppressive transition. The anthropomorphic animals who have long contributed to the land's prosperity are caged, muzzled, and disenfranchised. As the Wicked Witch rises to power, she plans to change the Land of Oz beyond all recognition of what made it so magical.

On the other hand, Oz the Great and Powerful depicts the early formation of the Land of Oz and expands the geography past Munchkinland, the Yellowbrick Road, and other iconic locations. Instead, the pre-developed Land of Oz features everything from a Chinatown adorned with talking porcelain dolls and terrifying Venus Flytrap creatures to sharp-fanged river sprites and an advanced race of intellectuals.

Indeed, both films depict The Land of Oz differently, partially due to the timeline of events featured in each story. Since Wicked serves as a prequel and a sequel, it has familiar landmarks associated with the original Wizard of Oz. Since Oz the Great and Powerful functions as a predecessor to the original, its portrayal of Oz is more foreign and unrecognizable.

Elphaba vs. Evanora

Another glaring difference between both movies relates to the depiction of Elphaba vs. Evanora. While both represent the Wicked Witch of the West replete with green skin, a broomstick, and a pointy black hat, each is represented differently. In Wicked, Elphaba is introduced with green skin but a heart of gold. In Oz the Great and Powerful, Evanora conceals her hideous visage by wearing a necklace that makes her appear as a young attractive woman. Below the beautiful facade, Evanora possesses a cold heart and a hot temper. As each story unfolds and Elphaba and Evanora evolve for the better and devolve for the worse, their appearances change in lockstep with their personal motives.

In Wicked, Elphaba grapples with the moral ambiguity of becoming the Wicked Witch of the West. The movie frames her character as a misunderstood pariah and makes her more sympathetic as a result. In contrast, Oz the Great and Powerful presents Evanora as wicked from the start, possessing coldhearted cruelty and an evil cackle who has very little redeeming value. In telling Elphaba's origin, rise, and fall, Wicked shows the character devolving from light to dark. In telling Oz's origin story, Evanora is pure unadulterated evil from beginning to end.

Oscar Diggs vs. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Just as a stark difference can be seen between Elphaba and Evanora, so too can a disparate portrayal of the Wizards be spotted in both movies. In Oz the Great and Powerful, Oscar Diggs' origin story portrays the character as a shameless con man willing to empower himself by any means necessary as he seizes control of the Land of Oz. Born without any magical powers to speak of, Oscar is an ordinary man who rises to power through his wits, ambitions, and ability to convince people of his leadership. Selfish, conniving, and out to exploit the inhabitants for his own gain, Oscar is also depicted as a brash womanizer with very few ethics.

Meanwhile, in Wicked, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is introduced as already ruling the magical kingdom with a kind heart and open mind. When the story begins, Elphaba idolizes the Wizard until she learns that he has ulterior motives for developing the land into a conformist society. When Elphaba realizes that The Wizard is also a deceiver who goes against his word, the characters become more aligned in both movies. The big difference is that Oscar desperately wants to control The Land of Oz, while The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is already well-established as the magical ruler of the kingdom when the story commences.

Dorothy Gale & The Flying Monkeys

One final difference between Wicked and Oz the Great and Powerful relates to Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland in her best movie) and the Flying Monkeys. In the Wicked musical, Dorothy's notorious arrival at The Land of Oz in a free-falling farmhouse incites the plot. However, it's important to note that Dorothy never appeared on stage or on-screen during the Broadway production of Wicked. Instead, as an origin story, Wicked gives the other main characters in The Wizard of Oz backstories, including The Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion. As Elphaba rises to power before her eventual downfall, Wicked also includes the origin of the Flying Monkeys. In the 2024 movie Wicked, Dorothy Gale will appear briefly in the movie.

Elphaba created the flying monkeys at the behest of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz to prove her spellcasting skills. Elphaba also creates The Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion in a misguided act of heroism. In Oz the Great and Powerful, there are two types of Flying Monkeys. One is named Finley (Zach Braff), who serves as a sidekick to Oscar. The other types of Flying Monkeys include the frightening killer baboons with wings, which differ from the original monkeys who terrorize the Land of Oz in the original 1939 film.

In Oz the Great and Powerful, Dorothy Gale is completely absent from the story, although her mother Annie (Michelle Williams) makes a brief appearance. The story takes place 16 years before Dorothy arrives in the Land of Oz, where Oscar is partially credited with creating The Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion. After scaring off a lion in the wild and declaring it a coward, Oscar goes to the Tinker Master (Bill Cobbs), urging him to create an army of metal men disguised as scarecrows. As such, the origin of each character differs between Wicked and Oz the Great and Powerful. Not just Elphaba and Evanora as the Wicked Witch, but also the main characters relating to Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz.

Rent Oz the Great and Powerful on Apple TV, stream The Wizard of Oz on Max.