And now whatever way our stories end, I know you have rewritten mine by being my friend…
Last year’s global cinematic cultural sensation, which became the most successful Broadway film adaptation of all time, now reaches its epic, electrifying, emotional conclusion in Wicked: For Good. Directed once again by award-winning director Jon M. Chu and starring the spectacular returning cast, led by Academy Award® nominated superstars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, the final chapter of the untold story of the witches of Oz begins with Elphaba and Glinda estranged and living with the consequences of their choices.
One of the most extensive sequences involved “The Girl in the Bubble” sequence, which the team started on during the first week of filming on Part 1. The four-minute, continuous shot took the team two years to complete, involving collaboration with fellow crew like cinematographer Alice Brooks. They had to complete previs and techvis work to add large amounts of computer graphics detail, including the railing on the staircase, everything seen behind Glinda, and half of the closet that she approaches, and to manage a total of six pass-throughs of the mirror that were mapped out with the techvis without using motion control.
Another large part of the ILM team’s work revolved around the creatures, specifically the flying monkeys we see return from the first film. Hair and feather simulations were boosted for the second film, especially for Chistery, who has an increased performance as he gains the ability to speak. Until he does so verbally, a lot of his “speaking” is presented through his facial expressions, which ILM’s animation team, led by animation supervisors David Shirk and Mathieu Walsh, designed, sometimes using performance reference footage from Mathieu himself.
The Wicked team was led by overall visual effects supervisor Pablo Helman in collaboration with ILM visual effects supervisors Anthony Smith and Robert Weaver, ILM visual effects executive producers Jill Brooks and Kacy McDonald, and ILM visual effects producer Sandra Beerenbrock. ILM’s visual effects work was led by our Sydney studio with additional support from the San Francisco studio. Their work received numerous nominations, including an Astra Film & Creative Arts Award nomination, a VES nomination, and a Saturn Award nomination.
Wicked: For Good is now available to watch on Peacock.
Read more about Wicked: For Good here on ILM.com:
“Preparation is the key to success”: Pablo Helman on the complexity of making ‘Wicked: For Good’
Mirrors on the Walls: Reflecting on ‘Wicked: For Good’s’ ‘The Girl in the Bubble’
