UPDATE: The excitement surrounding Cynthia Erivo’s new song “No Place Like Home” from Wicked: For Good is palpable as it gains momentum for award nominations. This track, integral to the film, dives deep into the character of Elphaba, portrayed by Erivo, as she grapples with her fight for the Animals of Oz.
The film, which just released digitally, serves as a follow-up to the first blockbuster installment and features a star-studded cast, including Ariana Grande as Glinda and Jonathan Bailey. The narrative picks up after the shocking revelations of the first film, where Elphaba discovers the Wizard’s sinister agenda against the Animals.
Stephen Schwartz, the film’s composer, shared exclusive insights with Entertainment Weekly, revealing that “No Place Like Home” was designed to showcase Elphaba’s motivations. Schwartz emphasized the importance of the song, stating, “It was crucial for us to highlight how much Elphaba loved Oz, despite its failures to love her back.”
The song underwent multiple revisions, initially containing a more literal return to Munchkinland, which was ultimately cut to focus on Elphaba’s emotional struggle. Schwartz noted, “There was a whole intro that ended up being one spoken line of dialogue in her cave.” This change reflects the film’s commitment to portraying Elphaba’s internal conflicts effectively.
Erivo, who co-created the song with Schwartz, described it as a significant moment of self-discovery for her character. “She has to question why she wants to continue to save Oz, or save the animals in it, even though this place doesn’t necessarily want her,” Erivo explained.
As buzz builds, “No Place Like Home” is already a contender for the Best Original Song category at the Golden Globe Awards, with expectations of further accolades at the Academy Awards.
Fans eager to experience the film can now rent or buy it digitally, with a future streaming release on Peacock yet to be announced. As “Wicked: For Good” continues to captivate audiences, Erivo’s powerful performance and the emotional weight of “No Place Like Home” are sparking conversations across social media platforms.
Stay tuned for more updates on this thrilling cinematic journey and the awards landscape as it unfolds.
