7 Similarities And Differences Between The ‘Wicked’ Musical and Book

As Wicked takes its turn as the most anticipated musical-to-film adaptation of the 21st century, it’s easy to forget that before Wicked was a musical, it was a book by Gregory Maguire.

Stephen Schwarz, who wrote the musical, picked and chose what he felt were the book’s best moments to adapt onto the stage. However, the pre-teen girls who loved Wicked were often too young to read the book simultaneously due to its mature themes, such as sex and complex political thrulines. 

While some Wicked fans may have read the book later in life, many have never touched it, hearing mixed reviews from musical lovers. But producers of the Wicked film, which has been split into at least two parts, shared that it would include aspects of the book that may not have been in the musical. So we’ve compiled seven of the differences and similarities between the Wicked musical and book to suss-out what might make the film’s final cut.

Similar: The Main Characters

While the book and musical are wildly different for the most part, both follow Elphaba and Glinda at their heart. In the musical, Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship is the most significant aspect and is at the center of every emotional turning point. In the book, however, a lot of other elements weigh of equal importance. But even still, Elphaba, Glinda, Nessarose, Fiyero, Madame Morrible, and of course, The Wizard, are all in play throughout the novel.

Different: The ‘Wizard of Oz’ Lore

In both versions of Wicked, the magic comes from how it ties into the original Wizard of Oz it was inspired by. However, the musical and book make different choices when it comes to things like if Elphaba really melts with water. The musical suggests that that’s just a ridiculous rumor, while the book proves it to be true. In the musical, Fiyero becomes the Scarecrow, while in the book, Elphaba is only reminded of Fiyero by a scarecrow. Boq exists in the book, but a munchkin man named Nick Chopper becomes the Tinman instead. Even how the Wizard makes decisions and how Elphaba found the flying monkeys is different. 

Similar: The Themes

At its heart, Wicked is a story defined by its thematic lessons—prioritizing friendship, embracing individuality, standing up for what you believe in, among others. These underlying messages exist in both versions of the story even though the book leans more on the politics of Oz and how those may mirror the politics of our modern world, while the musical is more focused on the relationship dynamics. However, the way society perceives those in power — whether celebrity or a political figurehead — is the crux of both the book and the musical.

Different: The Tone

As a musical, Wicked captures the extravagance and joy of musical theater. But the book is different. The book is incredibly dark with mature themes and descriptions, such as death, sex, drugs, and more. Affairs are rife and there are descriptions of child abuse. All of that sounds completely different from the musical, and luckily, it is! If the show leaned into the same darkness as the book, it would lose the magic that gave it its timeless legacy. The way Wicked transcends generations and has connected with people from all over the world is what makes it so universally revered. The book has a different, more niche following, and while many love it, its tone makes it a controversial pick.

Similar: Some Iconic Quotes

While the Wicked musical is still one of the most quotable musicals of all time—i.e. “You know black is this year’s pink” and “For the first time, I feel wicked”—the book actually did inspire some of the musical’s quotes. The Wizard says in both, “Where I’m from, we believe in all sorts of things that aren’t true… we call it history.” Another popular quote from both the book and musical is, “I know you don’t want to hear this but someone has to say it! You are out of control! I mean they’re just shoes… let it go!” And Elphaba says in both, “Okay let’s get this over with, no I’m not seasick, yes I’ve always been green, No I didn’t eat grass as a child.”

Different: Switching Perspectives

In the musical, the story, which follows Elphaba, is told mostly from Galinda’s perspective, although we do see scenes seemingly unknown to Galinda. However, the story is told from several different perspectives in the Wicked novel, bouncing between Elphaba, Galinda, Elphaba’s mother, Boq, and other characters who may not even exist in the Wicked musical. While this device adds texture and multiple unreliable narrators to an already complicated story, it would be nearly impossible to incorporate into a musical adaptation. In fact, by telling the story of Wicked with Galinda’s narration, we’re provided just a hint of what Gregory Maguire’s version laid out.

Similar: High Quality

Luckily, one of the biggest things the Wicked musical and book have in common is their high quality. Despite not winning the Tony Award for Best Musical, Wicked has outlasted its own legacy as one of the longest-running contemporary musicals, popularizing the contemporary genre and creating a generation of millennial women who can still sing every word to “What Is This Feeling?” The book, while less popular, still managed to capture the minds of many as a scathing analysis of political corruption through a layered fantasy origin story. Hopefully, the films live up to their predecessors.