‘Wicked’ first appeared on Broadway in 2003 and has since become one of the longest-running and highest-grossing musicals of all time. Now the movie adaptation is finally here, but in reality, both musicals are adaptations.

The story centers on Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande), who eventually become known as The Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good, respectively. But before that, they were roommates at school; enemies became best friends. Unfortunately, the world became very complicated for them very quickly.

The film is based on the Broadway musical of the same name, but that musical is actually an adaptation of a book. Gregory Maguire first wrote ‘Wicked’ as a novel and was published in 1995. It was the first in a trilogy of books about life in Oz.

Do the musical and the film stay true to the book?

Like most adaptations, the musical streamlined one lot of the book’s plot, as the story takes place over several years. It also straight up changes some things.

For example, when we meet Elphaba as a baby in the book, she is described as a bit wild, with a tendency to bite off chunks of people. Fiyero is also killed in the book, along with his entire family, except for one daughter, who is enslaved for the sorcerer.

To say the book is dark would be putting it mildly. The musical spices things up a lot, and the movie stays mostly true to the show while expanding on some plot points from the book.

Does the book have a different ending?

Well yes and no. All versions of this story end with Elphaba receiving a bucket of water thrown in the face by Dorothy. What happens next varies, but we won’t spoil that for you if you’re planning to see “Wicked” Part 2 and aren’t familiar with the musical.

Will the sequels play a role in the second film?

It’s hard to say for sure, as films adapt different bits of the story. It’s certainly possible that parts of the book and/or its sequels will end up in the next film. But since Part 1 followed the musical’s first act, Part 2 is expected to mainly stay the course and close the show.

However, Vince Klaseus, president of Universal Products & Experiences, did tease an expansion of the story to TheWrap. So we’ll just have to see!

‘Wicked’ is now in theaters everywhere.