‘Wicked’ announces digital release and bonus features

On By Littum

BTS: Cynthia and Ariana practice for their press tour
Photo: Universal/Wicked

No place is safe from the phenomenon known as Wizomania – not even your home. On December 31, Evil will be released into the cloud like so many flying monkeys, and become available for rent or purchase on the digital platforms you rent and buy on. This home release follows a record-breaking Broadway musical adaptation and will feature three extra hours of bonus material for fans who think the film, which is only “First part” of a two-film experience, could have been much longer. These bonus features serve a dual purpose as they also allow stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande to take a brief respite from producing their own bonus content via a grueling, surreal press tour. These extras include:

  • A home version of singal cuts
  • A commentary track with director John M. Chu
  • A commentary track with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande
  • Manufacturing Evil: a “behind the scenes journey (…) inside the characters, choreography and creativity that make up the film’s unforgettable world.”
  • Welcome to Shiz: a deep dive into the production design and costumes that helped build Shiz University.
  • ONE Evil Older: “The cast and filmmakers share personal memories of their first encounters with the original Broadway production and how those lasting connections created emotional experiences while making the film.” This extra also highlights cameos in the “One Short Day” sequence.
  • The Wonderful Wizard: “Inside the palace’s throne room, the wizard himself, Jeff Goldblum, pulls back the curtain to look at his character’s magic and mechanics with senior special effects technician Christopher Clarke, who describes how the wizard’s massive robotic head comes to life.”

This home streaming release is also packed with deleted and extended scenes, which Universal has already titled and described in full:

  • Pfannee & ShenShen meet Glinda: Reunited at Shiz University, Glinda, Pfannee and ShenShen reminisce about their past by performing a spinning routine together.
  • Shiz Gazette introduces Fiyero: Excitement spreads across Shiz when word comes that Prince Fiyero is on his way.
  • Throw Throw: Glinda teaches Elphaba the art of throwing the Toss, with mixed results.
  • Elphaba & Fiyero in the forest: The relationship between Elphaba and Fiyero takes a turn when they come to care for a lost lion cub.
  • Elphaba’s Promise: Elphaba makes a promise to Glinda that they both hope will strengthen their friendship.
  • Train platform goodbye: Glinda, Madame Morrible and Governor Thropp gather to send Elphaba to the Emerald City.
  • Boq & Elphaba Talk: Elphaba challenges Boq to face the truth about his feelings for Nessa Rose, but she has trouble doing the same when it comes to Fiyero.
  • Train ride to Emerald City: Glinda and Elphaba expand their world by taking a luxurious train ride to the Emerald City.
  • In the Emerald City: The bustling streets of the Emerald City take Glinda and Elphaba one step closer to finally meeting the wizard.
  • Palace Monkeys Chase: Elphaba and Glinda race through a crazy maze of winged monkeys, determined to take them down.

Of course, Ariana Grande and Bowen Yang “doing a twirl routine” is by far the most interesting of these deleted moments, although an extended version of Elphaba and Fiyero’s little forest moment is promising, because maybe they kiss? Extremely absent from this list is the teased deleted montage of Jonathan Bailey and Ethan Slater taking their shirts off. Maybe it will be an exclusive for the physical media heads when Evil will be released on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD on February 4, 2025.