Wicked,' the phenomenon that even its stars didn't expect: We all feel at some point in our lives like we don't belong'

"The battle lines have been drawn in the United States. No one is safe; everyone has to choose a side. And the decision is incredibly close. The question is simple and direct: pink or green? Glinda or Elphaba? The good blond witch or the wicked (or not so wicked) green Wicked Witch of the West? The debate is spreading through cities and towns. The tie was real in Halloween costumes, the great unofficial American national holiday."

"Wicked fever is an unstoppable invasion. The U.S. premiere took place at a Lincoln Center decorated in pink and green, filled with flowers and photographs, with lines stretching for hours beforehand, in a New York where even its famous Christmas ice rink was sponsored courtesy of Wicked, and a sea of flags. Yes. Pink and green. Its American popularity is explosive, but what about the rest of the world?"

"The way the film has permeated popular culture and become ubiquitous in conversation is undeniable. And not even its stars or its director, Jon M. Chu, fully understand the reasons for this success. Cynthia Erivo is the co-lead of the film, around whom the plot revolves, which is even more the case in the second instalment. With a slightly hoarse voice due to the extensive promotional tour, she speaks to EL PAIS for a few minutes via video conference."

Wicked sparked a nationwide cultural craze in the United States, inspiring intense consumer choice between pink and green and a flood of themed merchandise. The U.S. premiere featured extensive pink-and-green decorations, sponsorships, long lines, and pervasive visibility across the city. The first film grossed $760 million worldwide, earning $475 million domestically and $285 million internationally, and recouped its $150 million budget in five days in the U.S. Popularity is far stronger in the United States than abroad. Key creatives and stars say they do not fully understand the phenomenon. Cynthia Erivo co-leads the film and gains greater prominence in the second instalment.

Read at english.elpais.com