“Wicked” was briefly removed from Kuwaiti theaters, allegedly due to its LGBTQ cast, but will the blockbuster musical ever be completely banned in the United States? Filmmaker Adam McKay says he “would not be surprised” if the film is pulled in the coming years due to America’s political climate.
The “Don’t Look Up” director shared his “Wicked” thoughts on X on Tuesday, writing: “On a pure storytelling level ‘Wicked Part 1’ is right up there as one of the most radical big studio Hollywood movies ever made. I know ‘Part 2’ swings back to the center a bit but ‘Part 1’ is nakedly about radicalization in the face of careerism, fascism, propaganda.”
He went on to say, “What is particularly striking about ‘Wicked Part 1’ is that it is being released at a time when America has never been more right-wing and propagandized. And yes, I know the theatrical production and the book are much older so part of the timing is a coincidence but still…”
While responding to another X user who was surprised by his take on the film, McKay wrote, “I think you will be shocked. If America continues on its current path, I would not be surprised to see the film banned in 3-5 years.”
McKay is no stranger to political films. His most recent film, 2021’s “Do not Look Up,” was a timely apocalyptic thriller about how the world would (poorly) react to a catastrophic meteor. Prior to that, he directed “Vice,” a political satire about former US Vice President Dick Cheney, and “The Big Short,” a film about the 2007 US housing market crash.
He compared “Wicked” to other “radical big studio” films such as “The Bridge on the River Kwai,” “The Sound of Music,” “The Searchers,” “Citizen Kane” and “The Hunger Games.” He wrote of Jennifer Lawrence’s 2012 film, “That is a big one.” “It is very left-wing.”
He added that “Wicked” is “VERY radical.” My daughter told me the book is wild and worth a read,” McKay added of the 1995 novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” which inspired the Broadway musical.
“Wicked” is expected to be nominated for best picture at the Oscars, and it has already received Golden Globe nominations for best musical/comedy and acting for Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
McKay praised Grande’s performance as Glinda, writing, “Also Ariana Grande is incredible. It is one of the best performances you will see in any genre.