Wicked fans have revealed their delighted reactions to the film’s biggest surprise, as they praised the scene as ‘perfect’ and ‘the best kept secret’.
The highly-anticipated film, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, was released in cinemas last week to acclaim and generated huge buzz online.
As the first movie-goers took to social media to praise the flick, many highlighted their elation at the surprise cameos from theatre legends Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth.
The two actresses famously originated the roles of Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, during the musical’s initial run on Broadway in 2003.
And the pair make appearances in the film, playing members of the Emerald City ensemble who hilariously fight for the spotlight while singing a new verse in One Short Day about the Wizard of Oz.
While there had been several hints that Idina and Kristen could make cameos, the actual moment had been successfully kept secret, meaning the majority of fans were caught unaware.
Wicked fans have revealed their delighted reactions to the film’s biggest surprise, as they praised the scene as ‘perfect’ and ‘the best kept secret’
The highly-anticipated film, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande (pictured), was released in cinemas last week to acclaim and generated huge buzz online
The two actresses famously originated the roles of Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, during the musical’s initial run on Broadway in 2003 (pictured)
And many took to social media to reveal their shocked reactions, as they described ‘audibly screaming’, having ‘a full body reaction’, and the ‘whole theatre cheering and clapping’.
They wrote: ‘the cameos in wicked might just be the best and most fulfilling cameos in the history of cinema; the super special cameos made me SOB.’
‘The cameo in wicked was so important to me like omg I almost cried when I saw idina and kristin; Our team went on a field trip to see #Wicked and when THAT moment happened?!? The #theatrekids in all of us rejoiced.’
‘i had a full body reaction in the cinema i was truly gagged!!! the best surprise in the best movie; The screech that came out of me when I saw you two on the screen!’
‘my reaction to seeing kristin chenowith and idina menzel cameos in wicked with no spoiler is how i assume people who actually care about marvel felt about seeing all 3 spidermans; I screamed when I saw THAT scene ❤️❤️’.
‘This was truly the best kept secret. I mean I assumed there might be a cameo but this was next level; When I tell you – The entire theatre gasped; Yeah just went flying out of my chair with joy, it’s fine.’
‘The absolute perfect surprise! I knew you two would be in the movie but these parts were beyond what I imagined and so needed; the gasp i gusped seeing kristin and idina……………. that was actually so special’
‘nobody was ready for that but YOU ALL KNOW HOW TO MAKE A ROOM FULL OF THEATRE GAYS GO FERAL; It was BRILLIANT… I audibly screamed when you popped in… genius’
And the pair make appearances in the film, playing members of the Emerald City ensemble who hilariously fight for the spotlight while singing a new verse in One Short Day about the Wizard of Oz
And many took to social media to reveal their shocked reactions, as they described ‘audibly screaming’, having ‘a full body reaction’, and the ‘whole theatre cheering and clapping’
‘I literally howled in that theater when y’all stepped out; whoever was in charge of keeping this secret needs to win an award because the collective gasp the theatre let out when we saw you both was crazy’.
‘best kept secret and made it even more magical than it already was; the whole theater cheered and clapped when you guys came on the screen!!!!! what an insane moment. i was so happy.’
‘The Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth cameo was perfect. I expected a blink and you miss it cameo but giving them an entire musical sequence was such a fun surprise. It was a beautiful passing of the torch moment as they stood side by side with Ariana and Cynthia.’
Speaking to Variety last week about returning to Oz after two decades, Idina said: ‘It was so surreal. It was really extraordinary.
‘It was wonderful to be there, to get all the feels, to rehearse together, to somewhat echo our characters a little bit, to be with Cynthia and Ari and enjoy the set in a totally different way. It was everything.’
While Kristin said: ‘I was so honored that they wanted to include us. I thought, “Should we? Is it weird, because it’s [Ariana and Cynthia’s] now?” And Marc Platt said, “You have to. What do you mean? It wouldn’t happen without you!”
‘Idina and I had so much fun. Our costumes were amazing, and we just made up our thing. We just had the best time ever. We did it in one day, and to be reunited with my with my sister was very, very special. We had a good time there. Elphie and Glinda grew up!’
The pair also both took to their Instagram accounts to share a slew of behind-the-scenes snaps from their time on the set, now their secret was out.
Speaking to Variety last week about returning to Oz after two decades, Idina said: ‘It was so surreal. It was really extraordinary. It was everything’
While Kristin said: ‘I was so honored that they wanted to include us. We did it in one day, and to be reunited with my with my sister was very, very special. We had a good time there. Elphie and Glinda grew up!’
The pair also both took to their Instagram accounts to share a slew of behind-the-scenes snaps from their time on the set, now their secret was out
Idina showed off her and Kristen’s intricate and dazzling ballgowns, with photos of the BFFs laughing together and blocking out their scene
While one sweet snap saw her fixing Cynthia’s witches hat for her, in a moment that people have seen as her passing on Elphaba’s torch
The Rent star captioned the poignant post: ‘This was a special day. Sisterhood all around’
Idina showed off her and Kristen’s intricate and dazzling ballgowns, with photos of the BFFs laughing together and blocking out their scene.
While one sweet snap saw her fixing Cynthia’s witches hat for her, in a moment that people have seen as her passing on Elphaba’s torch.
The Rent star captioned the poignant post: ‘This was a special day. Sisterhood all around.’
While Kristin shared a string of playful photos of her getting kitted out in her costume, hair and makeup, while embracing Ariana and Cynthia.
She captioned the set photos: ‘One short day. The most magical time back in the emerald city – who saw @wickedmovie this weekend?!?’
Captioning one photo of her and Idina talking to Ariana and Cynthia, Kristen made reference to symbolically giving their roles of Glinda and Elphaba over to them, writing: ‘Passing of the wands’.
While she dedicated another post to sharing snaps of the reunion of her and longstanding friend Idina, with the duo taking selfies decked out in their finery and in between rehearsing.
And responding to the emotional reaction from fans, the actress cheekily quipped: ‘It was good to see us, wasn’t it?’
While Kristin shared a string of playful photos of her getting kitted out in her costume, hair and makeup, while embracing Ariana and Cynthia
She captioned the set photos: ‘One short day. The most magical time back in the emerald city – who saw @wickedmovie this weekend?!?
Captioning one photo of her and Idina talking to Ariana and Cynthia, Kristen made reference to symbolically giving their roles of Glinda and Elphaba over to them, writing: ‘Passing of the wands’
While she dedicated another post to sharing snaps of the reunion of her and longstanding friend Idina, with the duo taking selfies decked out in their finery and in between rehearsing
And responding to the emotional reaction from fans, the actress cheekily quipped: ‘It was good to see us, wasn’t it?’
Directed by John M. Chu, Wicked is the origin story of ‘a green-skinned woman who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West.’
It serves as a prequel to The Wizard Of Oz, exploring the narrative before Dorothy’s arrival and delving into the former friendship between the characters Elphaba and Glinda, with the story being separated into two films.
Critics’ reviews for Wicked have already poured in and for the most part they have applauded the leading stars’ performances.
The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw described it as a ‘sugar-rush fantasy with the overpowering star presence of Cynthia Erivo; it basically dunks you face-down in a hyperreal ball pit of M&Ms for two and three-quarter hours.’
Praising Erivo’s performance he added: ‘Erivo’s charismatic Elphaba exerting a planetary pull over a star-studded cast’.
The Daily Mail’s Brian Viner wrote: ‘It’s a fabulous spectacle, which demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible.’
Directed by John M. Chu, Wicked is the origin story of ‘a green-skinned woman who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West’
Critics’ reviews for Wicked have already poured in and for the most part they have applauded the leading stars’ performances (Idina, Cynthia, Ariana and Kristin at premiere this month)