Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty;Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures
NEED TO KNOW
Wicked: For Good, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as the witches of Oz, is in theaters Nov. 21
Several key scenes in 1939's Judy Garland movie The Wizard of Oz can serve as a helpful primer to the new movie musical
Dorothy's arrival in Oz and interactions with the Wicked Witch of the West take on new context for Wicked audiences
Are you off to see the Wizard inWicked: For Good? You may want to watchThe Wizard of Ozfirst.
The 1939 cinema classic starringJudy Garlandis one of many depictions of L. Frank Baum's magical land of Oz that informs the new movie starringAriana GrandeandCynthia Erivo.Wicked: For Good(in theaters Friday) is directorJon M. Chu's second of two movies adapting Winnie Holzman andStephen Schwartz's hit Broadway musical that's inspired byGregory Maguire's 1995 revisionist prequel novel.
Without spoiling much,Wicked: For Goodalsooverlaps with the eventsofThe Wizard of Ozin several key ways, making a rewatch of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musical a useful primer. Read on for the five key scenes you should pull back the curtain on before experiencing theWickedsequel.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Dorothy arrives in Oz's Munchkinland
MGM Studios/Courtesy of Getty
Audiences see the witches of Oz in a whole new light thanks to Maguire,Wickedthe musical and now Erivo, 38, and Grande, 32. The Oscar-nominated actresses play Elphaba a.k.a. the Wicked Witch of the West and Galinda Upland a.k.a. Glinda the Good, respectively — two school friends who end up being crucial and opposing political figures within Oz.
Elphaba and Glinda's new origin stories cast one of the most memorable scenes in 1939'sThe Wizard of Ozin a new light. Garland's Dorothy lands in Munchkinland via tornado, killing an unseen Wicked Witch of the East and inheriting her shoes in the process. In stunning technicolor, she meets the Munchkins, their princess-like idol Glinda (played byBillie Burke) and Oz's fearsome Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton).
This is the only time in the Victor Fleming-directed classic that Oz's two witches appear together. Light spoilers forWicked: For Goodfollow: Dorothy's arrival is of course a key development in Elphaba and Glinda's dynamic, so the new movie shows its beginning and end from their perspectives. RevisitingThe Wizard of Oz, it seems the Kansas girl is merely a pawn in both witches' schemes.
The Witch attacks the Scarecrow
Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures
Along the yellow brick road, Dorothy and her dog Toto first recruit the Scarecrow then the Tin Man (and later the Cowardly Lion) in their quest to reach the Wizard in the Emerald City. The Wicked Witch's second appearance here proves toWizard of Ozaudiences just how villainous she is; forWickedfans, there's more to the story.
Hamilton's cackling witch threatens the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), saying, "I'll stuff a mattress with you!" and hurling a fireball at his feet that the Tin Man puts out. In the context ofWicked: For Good, this is not the first time the witch has met either of Dorothy's companions….
The Wizard gives Dorothy and friends their mission
Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty
The titular character inThe Wizard of Oz, introduced with a booming voice and torrent of emerald smoke, sends Dorothy and her three friends to the witch's castle to kill her, promising their hearts' desires. InWicked, we similarly meetJeff Goldblum's man behind the curtain after his theatrical Wizard mask.
Wicked: For Goodoffers glimpses of this iconic moment, with Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion (voiced byColman Domingo) seen only from behind. By this point in the story, the Wizard is at war with Elphaba, while different members of Dorothy's entourage have different motivations for agreeing to his mission.
The Wicked Witch dies
Silver Screen Collection/Getty
Audiences back in 1939 surely cheered when Hamilton's witch kicked the bucket — or rather, died via bucket. Dorothy commits manslaughter by throwing water on the inflamed Scarecrow, accidentally completing the Wizard's mission as the witch succumbs to her one weakness. What a world, what a world, indeed.
Even those new toWicked: For Goodwon't be surprised to learn Elphaba's death plays out rather differently (there's even an unseen character witnessing the event from afar!). Considering the new sequel commits tonever showing Dorothy's face, both scenes depicting the death of the so-called wicked witch demonstrate the stark storytelling differences between the two movies.
The Wizard departs Oz
Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures
The end of Dorothy's time in Oz would also serve as a helpful refresher before seeingWicked: For Good. The scene in which the Wizard (Frank Morgan) floats back to Kansas in his hot air balloon without Dorothy is, in the new movie, again shown from a distant Glinda's perspective. Who steps in to rule Oz after the Wizard's departure?Wicked: For Goodaudiences know that answer.
Wicked: For Goodis in theaters Friday, Nov. 21. The movie costarsJonathan Bailey,Michelle Yeoh,Ethan Slaterand more. Go behind the scenes of the sequel with PEOPLE's new special issue,available here.
Read the original article onPeople
