Director Jon M. Chu has confirmed the intentional similarities between the wedding scene in Wicked: For Good and his previous work, Crazy Rich Asians, highlighting his unique approach to Jon M. Chu movie weddings. The new film, released in 2025, places characters Glinda, played by Ariana Grande, and Fiyero, portrayed by Jonathan Bailey, at the heart of a wedding ceremony drawing critical attention for its striking visual echoes of Chu’s earlier blockbuster.
Wicked: For Good Wedding Design Draws Inspiration From Past Success
Early marketing materials from Wicked: For Good revealed wedding visuals reminiscent of Crazy Rich Asians, with lavish forest decor and Glinda making her way down the aisle alone. This sparked conversations among fans and film critics, leading Jon M. Chu to directly address these comparisons and share insights into his creative process. He described his vision for the wedding, referencing both Oz’s magical potential and his cinematic history:
“I want a yellow brick road with yellow butterflies, and I want her to walk, and I want these butterflies to flutter up when she’s walking,”
said Chu, via The Hollywood Reporter.
“I think it could be the most beautiful thing. And, yes, it did evoke a little bit of that Crazy Rich Asians feel, but in real life, because in Oz, it’s all possible.”
– Jon M. Chu, Director
This connection is more than mere aesthetics; for Chu, the opportunity to revisit wedding grandeur in a fantasy context allowed the team to develop creative visuals far beyond standard cinematic traditions. He revealed that the crew initially entertained extravagant ideas, such as a floating orchestra during the ceremony, embracing the boundless possibilities of Oz.
Production Choices and Symbolism Shape the Wedding Sequence
Despite the elaborate brainstorming, not all concepts made it to the final cut. Chu explained that practical limitations ultimately influenced the outcome, resulting in a more stripped-down ceremony than originally planned:
“I think I brought our wedding design team in like six times,”
said Chu,
“killing each of their designs being like, ‘This is Oz. Think crazier. Think weirder. Think bizarre. This is not a regular wedding,’ and they did it every time. And I was never really satisfied. And in the end, I think we went back to one of the most simple versions.”
– Jon M. Chu, Director
Alongside the visual decadence, the wedding serves as a narrative device, incorporating dark undertones within the storyline. During the celebration, Elphaba, portrayed by Cynthia Erivo, navigates a separate part of the palace, discovering and freeing animals held captive. Their release disrupts the ceremony, infusing the event with tension and aligning it thematically with other elements of Oz, such as the origin of the yellow brick road, which the film reveals is constructed through forced animal labor.
Costume and Character Symbolism Enrich the Scene
Paul Tazewell, the film’s costume designer, contributed significant detail to Glinda’s wedding attire, using butterfly motifs to reinforce symbolic vulnerability and public perception. He explained,
“All of it is operating as someone like Glinda, her idea of a perfect wedding. It speaks of Madame Morrible and the Wizard and orchestrating this as an image of good.”
– Paul Tazewell, Costume Designer
Through both the costume and the wedding’s aesthetic, the perfect couple image promoted by Glinda and Fiyero becomes an element of propaganda, further linking them to regime interests and showing the complex intersection of personal and political narratives within the film’s plot.
Enduring Impact and Audience Response
Wicked: For Good’s wedding scene exemplifies Jon M. Chu’s expertise with movie weddings, providing a lush and emotionally charged backdrop that intertwines beauty with deeper meaning. The overt homage to Crazy Rich Asians resonates with viewers familiar with Chu’s style, while providing new layers of visual storytelling for the broader audience. As fans continue to engage with both Wicked: For Good and Crazy Rich Asians, Chu’s reputation for orchestrating memorable cinematic weddings is only further cemented.
