Wicked, one of the most highly-anticipated films of 2024, was released on the 22nd of November to major box office and critical success. The movie musical-starring (Starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in the leading roles) is an adaptation of the 2003 musical, which is based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 wizard-of-oz inspired novel.
But with recent years bringing a cry of change in the screen industry, films and TV programmes have been pushed toward inclusion of groups who have previously been stereotyped and mistreated. With twenty years of social change between the movie and musical, has Wicked managed to improve its previously problematic portrayal of disability?
Whilst the original musical is undoubtedly brilliant and iconic, the characterisation of the protagonist’s paraplegic sister, Nessarose, relies on two particular stereotypes of disabled people. The helpless disabled person, who is pitied and wholly reliant on others And the bitter disabled person, who is resentful and discontent with their life.
In the musical, Nessarose is often used as a plot device. She motivates her older sister, Elphaba, to attend university in order to take care of her, and confront the lies of the wizard later on.
A rather vital aspect of this portrayal is that Elphaba considers herself Nessarose’s protector, becoming furious when other characters deign to put themselves in that role.
However, the newly released film took a major step forward:Nessarose was portrayed by a wheel-chair user. American Musical and Dramatic Academy graduate Marissa Bode made history by being the first ever actress to do so, starring in the new film.
In addition to this, the other changes made to the newly released film have been subtle but effective. Elphaba does not attend University in order to ‘take care’ Nessarose, and her outburst comes when another character attempts to do so to an unwilling Nessarose.
Elphaba is frequently shown to respect her sister’s independence and self-sufficiency, far more than she ever did in the original musical.
Of course, the film is only adapted from the first half of the wicked musical, which contains more of the ‘’helpless’ stereotype. We will have to wait until 2025 to see what the sequel does with other aspects of Nessarose’s character.
Cre: Yahoo! News
