The sleek, iconic black attire of the Wicked Witch of the West has been momentarily cast aside in the new cinematic sequel, leaving fans of the franchise both surprised and intrigued. In Wicked: For Good, Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba Thropp appears in a pivotal romantic scene not in her usual dramatic garb, but in a raggedy purple-knit maxi-cardigan. The choice has sparked considerable discussion online, prompting the film's Oscar-winning costume designer to explain the reasoning behind this unexpected wardrobe decision.
The 'As Long As You're Mine' Scene: A Character-Driven Choice
The scene in question features Elphaba sharing an intimate moment with Fiyero Tigelaar, played by Jonathan Bailey. Fiyero has fled his wedding to Glinda Upland (Ariana Grande) and is hiding out with Elphaba in her treehouse, where they sing the duet 'As Long As You're Mine'. For this tender sequence, the costume departs radically from Elphaba's established aesthetic.
In an interview with NPR on Monday, costume designer Paul Tazewell – who won an Academy Award for his work on the first Wicked film – defended the choice. He explained it stemmed from a logical, character-centric perspective. "It came out of very literally an organic decision of what does Elphaba have access to?" Tazewell stated. "And living alone, what choice would she make when she's looking for a robe, some way to be protective and warm?"
Tazewell emphasised that the cardigan functions as her robe in that private moment. He revealed a key detail about Elphaba's treehouse life: she has a loom and weaves her own clothing. "She's manifesting all these things from the elements that are around her, and the sweater is just in keeping with that," he added, firmly dismissing any notion of a more conventional, glamorous boudoir outfit.
Why Not a 'Black Slinky Peignoir'?
The 61-year-old designer was unequivocal about what the costume could not have been. "There was no way Elphaba's boudoir attire could've been 'black slinky peignoir'," he asserted. Questioning the very practicality of such an item for the character, Tazewell marvelled, "Where would she get... that? Well why would she even have it?"
For Tazewell, authenticity to the character's circumstances was paramount. "I think that it just follows through with reasonable choices that define who a character is and what is important for them, where their priorities are," he concluded, framing the purple knitwear as a symbol of Elphaba's self-reliant and isolated existence.
Box Office Success and Critical Reception
The costume debate unfolds against the backdrop of the film's strong commercial performance. Directed by Jon M. Chu, the $150 million-budget musical sequel has already garnered an impressive $391.5 million at the global box office since its release two weeks ago. The film adapts the second act of the beloved 2003 Broadway musical, which itself is based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel.
Critics and audiences have diverged in their assessments. On the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, Wicked: For Good holds a 67% approval rating from critics based on 304 reviews. However, it boasts a far more enthusiastic 94% audience score, suggesting the film has resonated powerfully with fans.
Cynthia Erivo's Continued Rise
For star Cynthia Erivo, the release coincides with further professional accolades. The 38-year-old singer and actress, known for her powerful vocals on songs like 'Be Okay', has scored three Grammy Award nominations. These are for Best Pop Duo, Best Compilation Soundtrack, and Best A Cappella Arrangement. The ceremony will air on February 1 on CBS and Paramount+.
Erivo, who is just one Oscar away from achieving EGOT status, has a busy slate ahead. She is set to portray Emilia in David Oyelowo's Qatar-set film adaptation of Shakespeare's Othello, produced by Barbara Broccoli, with a release planned for next year. Her other upcoming projects include the fantasy film Children of Blood and Bone and the animated feature Bad Fairies.
