The first trailer for the 2024 film adaptation of the musical ‘Wicked’ was unveiled during the Super Bowl. While intended to hype up the upcoming two-part movie, the teaser instead divided audiences, especially over its visuals
After watching the trailer, viewers took to social media to express their disappointment, criticizing the computer-generated imagery (CGI), special effects, and color grading as excessively flamboyant. Some compared the visuals to those seen in recent MCU entries, with descriptions ranging from ‘CGI sludge‘ to comparisons with a ‘shonky Harry Potter spin-off’:
On Reddit, the criticism was with its humor:
“I thought this was a fake movie ad for like a pistachios commercial or something.”
Criticism wasn’t limited to the trailer’s visuals. Some pointed out that the trailer made the film appear bland and stripped of its edge, with special effects and lighting that did not live up to expectations set by other big-budget adaptations.
The Film Still Has Time To Fix These
Based on the stage musical by Winnie Holzman and Stephen Schwartz, which is itself an adaptation of Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, ‘Wicked‘ is about the backstory of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and her relationship with Glinda. It has a star-studded cast, including Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda.
Scheduled for release on November 27, 2024, with a sequel to follow in 2025, ‘Wicked’ has been in development for over eight years. It faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a pause in filming because of the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. However, there is still time for the production team to address the visual concerns raised by the trailer’s reception.
With months left until the premiere, the final verdict on ‘Wicked’ will ultimately depend on whether the film can go beyond its teaser’s reception.
