Spider-Man x Wicked Crossover Works Even Better Than You Think

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If you’ve ever pondered how a Spider-Man collaboration with the musical Wicked might appear, a sneak peek at this unusual mix has emerged online. On Instagram, digital artist Donovan Rose posted a video that combines a scene from Sam Raimi’s 2002 film Spider-Man featuring the Green Goblin (played by Willem Dafoe) attempting to recruit Spidey (Tobey Maguire). Instead of their original dialogue, the scene now features the Wicked song “Defying Gravity,” sung by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in the 2024 version of Wicked. This creative reworking of the conversation on a rooftop between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin effectively blends a parody of Spider-Man with a new interpretation of Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship in Wicked.

[Link to video below]

By incorporating “Defying Gravity” into the background music, the rooftop scene featuring Spider-Man shifts from a tempting pact offered by Green Goblin to a casual invitation for him and the Goblin to embark on an adventure together. The coincidence that both the Green Goblin and Elphaba are green characters adds an extra layer of appropriateness to the song’s inclusion in the Spider-Man scene.

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Under the guidance of director John M. Chu, Wicked is a cinematic rendition of the beloved stage musical, delving into the backstory of two renowned characters from The Wizard of Oz, namely the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch of the North. In this film adaptation, Elphaba (portrayed by Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) form a friendship while studying at the magical academy in Oz. However, Elphaba, who has endured a challenging life due to her unique green complexion, experiences hardship and eventually embarks on a journey that leads to her transformation into the Wicked Witch of the West, after uncovering the secret behind the enigmatic Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum).

The film adaptation of “Wicked” managed to capture the limelight and garnered a staggering $728.1 million globally. The performances of Erivo and Grande were highly acclaimed, complementing the movie’s breathtaking portrayal of the enchanting world of Oz. Notably, “Wicked” is merely the first part of the tale, with “Wicked: For Good” scheduled for release in theaters on November 21, 2025. Interestingly, both parts of “Wicked” were filmed consecutively.

It’s clear that fans of both Spider-Man and Wicked recognize that Norman Osborn’s truce with Spider-Man doesn’t go as planned, just as Glinda and Elphaba’s paths diverge despite their initial harmony in “Defying Gravity.” Interestingly, both stories present Norman Osborn and Elphaba not as inherently evil characters, but rather individuals shaped by circumstances and poor decisions. In Spider-Man, Norman’s relentless pursuit to save OsCorp ultimately leads to his transformation into the Green Goblin. On the other hand, in Wicked, Elphaba learns the harsh truth about the Wizard of Oz, which causes her disillusionment and eventually turns her into the Wicked Witch of the West.

Apart from the extravagant Broadway production “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,” the character Spider-Man isn’t typically linked with musical theater. However, the internet has a knack for bringing together the most unconventional pairings. A blend of Spider-Man and Wicked, like the crossover you mentioned, is one such instance that surprisingly does an impressive job of honoring both original works it’s based on.

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You can watch Spider-Man streaming now on Disney+, while Wicked: Part I will become available for streaming on Peacock starting March 21st.

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2025-03-01 17:10