Behind-the-scenes photos offer magical first look at ‘Wicked’ movie

While fans have roughly a year to wait to watch part one of the upcoming movie ‘Wicked’ based on the musical of the same name, fans have been given a first look at what to expect in newly released photos and videos.

The behind-the-scenes photos and videos, taken by drone, reveal the technicolor fantasy world of ‘Wicked’, with plenty of colorful thatched roofed buildings adorning the path of the famous yellow brick road.

The colorful land of the munchkins

The photos come to life once the sun makes an appearance, illuminating the rainbow colors that make up the world of ‘Wicked’, specifically, the world of the munchkins.

The film is currently being filmed in the village of Ivinghoe, near the town of Leighton Buzzard in Buckinghamshire, England.

Based on the stage musical of the same name, which is itself loosely based on Frank Baum’s novel ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’, the two-part movie will star singer Ariana Grande as Glinda the Good Witch and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the wicked witch of the west. Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh will play Madame Morrible.

The ‘Wicked’ set appeared to be under construction, with plenty of cranes setting up buildings, including a large still-under-construction building that could potentially be Emerald City.

According to the Daily Mail, a planning application to create the set was submitted last year, with construction beginning in November, although much of the set was pre-built by Sky Studio Elstree.

Filming dates are reportedly scheduled between Thursday, April 6 to Friday, August 4.

Grande shared in an Instagram post last week that filming was halfway done, adding: “i am so grateful, i don’t know what to do or say… to be here in Oz where everyday is a life changing one”

When will ‘Wicked: Part One’ be released?

‘Wicked: Part One’ was originally scheduled to be released in theaters on December 25, 2024, but last month, it was announced that it will now be released a month earlier on November 27, 2024.

The decision to move the movie was made to avoid competition with ‘Avatar 3′ and ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3′, both set to be released in late December 2024.

Originally meant to be one film, the decision was made to split ‘Wicked’ into two parts last April. ‘Wicked: Part Two’ is tentatively expected to be released on December 25, 2025.