The original novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, presents somewhat simplistic conventions about good and evil. This is what makes Wicked – the 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, the Broadway musical it inspired, and now the movie – one of the most intriguing adaptations. Its revisionist story questions the very concept of "wickedness" through its protagonist, Elphaba (played by Cynthia Erivo in the film), a reimagining of the "Wicked Witch of the West" as a tragic figure, ostracized by discrimination, politics, and propaganda. This version reinvents the events and characters from the novel, offering interesting reflections on simplistic and polarizing morality, with truly spectacular music.
By the 1920s, Baum’s original novel had already seen multiple adaptations for both film and theater. One of the most intriguing is this 1925 silent version of The Wizard of Oz, a self-aware adaptation takes certain liberties with the plot. For example, Dorothy is imagined as a lost princess of Oz, and her adventure companions aren’t literally the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion. It was co-written by L. Frank Baum Jr. and directed by Larry Semon, a notable comedian of the era, ed for his collaborations with the iconic duo Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy (the latter also appears in the film).
For many, this remains the definitive film adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, and in many ways, it truly is. Taking full advantage of the Technicolor technology of its time, this 1939 musical classic established essential elements of the Oz mythology, from the memorable song "Over the Rainbow" to the ruby slippers (which were silver in the novel but reimagined to truly pop in Technicolor). Starring Judy Garland, it has influenced nearly all subsequent adaptations in literature, film, and theater (including Wicked), making it a must-see for any fan of Oz or the aforementioned musical. Curiously, it was a box office flop upon its release (at the onset of World War II), but became a classic with its 1949 re-release and frequent TV broadcasts in the 1950s.
Return to Oz is a unique production, an unofficial sequel to the 1939 classic, made in the 80s. During that era, "dark fantasy" was booming with titles like The Dark Crystal (1982) and The NeverEnding Story (1984). This sequel, starring a young Fairuza Balk (Francis Ford Coppola on classics like The Godfather and Apocalypse Now.
While the Wizard is the title character, most adaptations only briefly touch on him. Oz: the Great and Powerful is an origin story for the character, created by Disney and directed by Sam Raimi (of the Spider-Man trilogy). The plot follows Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a mediocre magician swept away by a tornado to Oz, where a prophecy foretells his arrival as a hero to save the land from darkness, despite having no real powers. The mythology in this film isn’t excactly compatible with the one presented in Wicked, so consider it an “alternate prequel” to the original story.