Anthony Bergamini
Wicked is the latest adaptation of a classic book and stage musical of the same name, participating in an aspect of cinema that has been a contentious point for movie fans over the last couple of years: splitting a film into two parts. This concept isn’t new, with many films based on prior media, such as The Hunger Games and Harry Potter. The difference here is how this film uses its runtime, making this decision a two part endeavor for the sake of the story over the sake of a meaningless cash grab. It appears as though Hollywood may be favoring this direction, with Wicked working well in this capacity much like another huge blockbuster this year, Dune: Part 2. But there are more than a few similarities between these two franchises that may hint at where the future of Hollywood lies.
One of the biggest aspects of both Wicked and Dune that really work is their adherence to the source materials and adaptations that had come before. Let’s face it, Hollywood will forever be stuck in the cycle of adapting or recreating older properties, especially because it makes for more of a sure bet than original films. Just saying that, you can probably hear the screams and cries from every cinephile as they struggle to accept the inevitable; however, that is the nature of the world today. But when you look at those that have truly failed in this endeavor, looking at you Energon, their failure can often be attributed to the oversimplification and failure to grasp the source material. This is a common problem that has plagued adaptations for years, and a lot of it comes down to the studio’s insistence on quantity over quality.
But the opposite can also be possible. Sometimes a franchise fails because it relies too much on source material that probably should never have been adapted. This is actually apparent in another live action adaptation of a musical, Cats, where the attempt at a fully CGI version of the property just utterly failed both critically and commercially. So, with this fine line being present, when does it actually make sense to adapt a property into a film?
One thing that immediately works with Wicked and Dune is how adaptable they really are. These two franchises could not be more different; however, they both feature settings and worlds that work very well on the screen with today’s technology. Both of these films bring to life drastically different landscapes in wonderful ways, showcasing all of the aspects of these worlds in detailed ways, as they take them off the page and stage in new and inventive ways. For Dune, this means showcasing the deserted planet of Dune in long shots to truly set the tone and setting. For Wicked it is the practical sets and excellent use of special effects to make the fantastical world of Oz approachable and feel lived in. To truly capture the tone and ambiance of these worlds, both Wicked and Dune take their time to showcase in all of these fascinating aspects. And taking proper time is exactly what makes these faithful adaptations stand out amongst the rest.
Wicked and Dune are both long stories. Wicked, for example, is a two act musical. Yes, in theater, this comes out to about two and a halt to three hours for the entirety of both parts, but that comes with the limitations of what can be done and portrayed on a stage. The film takes that first act and has it fill practically that entire runtime in and of itself. By doing this, the filmmakers were able to take all of the greatness from the source material and expand upon it without significantly changing it, using the already established end of the first act as a spectacular end to the film. Dune, on the other hand, is an adaptation of a single book. But similarly, the book has a two act structure which is used by the filmmakers as a logical stopping point for the first part, creating two films that still work on their own as much as they do together.
That is where these films really are alike and can be viewed in the same vein, in the way the filmmakers approach the material and how they find logical reasons to split the films into two parts. Because of this, these two parts are almost as practical as they are successful. Again, there are examples of where this doesn’t work, such as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This was a film that was split into two parts for seemingly only monetary reasons, with the first part barely working as its own film. In that case, the film and source material did not have a structure built in that lent itself well to a two part adaptation. That is really the core concept, splitting it up into multiple parts only when necessary.
There are plenty examples of film adaptations that work well as single films, but Hollywood’s insistence on milking franchises for all they are worth led to the renaissance of attempts at cinematic universes that made little to no sense to create. For Wicked and Dune, it’s the adherence to the core story and reasons why the originals worked that make them work as two part stories. Additionally, it’s that idea that two films exist in the singular stories. Both of these first parts would have failed hard if not for having actual structure in themselves that lend to a standard 3 act film for both parts. In these films, the two parts together produce a full story, but only in as much as they are complete films alone first.
These two films really should be viewed by Hollywood as a template for how to adapt books, musicals, and other properties; and when it is appropriate to split one story into two parts, with the key being the organic nature of the projects. Nothing is ever a guaranteed success in Hollywood, but when a studio and filmmakers allow the organic nature of a properties structure to show in the final product, it makes for a final product that audiences immediately know is more authentic. Yes, Hollywood will always be all about the money, but in a world where film going experiences are getting more and more expensive, it is time for studios to let filmmakers go wild into truly adapting stories the way they deserve to be told. Nothing is more emblematic of this, both critically and financially, than Wicked and Dune.
