AceShowbiz - The storied world of Oz, created by L. Frank Baum in 1900, has continually evolved, reflecting the significant societal changes of its time. Jon M. Chu, the director of the upcoming "Wicked" movie adaptation, draws attention to this cyclical nature of Oz's adaptations. According to Chu, the Yellow Brick Road in Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" symbolizes the journey through America's transitions, a theme that remains relevant across different adaptations.

The 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz", directed by Victor Fleming and starring Judy Garland, was released during a pivotal moment in American history. "The Wizard of Oz was always sort of prophetic in a way. It was written at a time of America in transition," Chu told NBC News. "At that point, the Depression had just finished and they're about to go into war. And so it's always a question of what the American dream looks like when the road ends and what are the possibilities of the next thing."

Fast forward to 2003, the Broadway musical "Wicked", based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel set in Baum's universe, debuted at another transitional period. "When 'Wicked' came around, it was a re-examination of that," said Chu. "That was right after 9/11 and about to go into war. So another time where America is in transition."

Now, Chu's adaptation of Wicked, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, is set to premiere on November 22, amidst yet another critical juncture in American history. "This is the road we travel," Chu pointed out. The film was conceived during the pandemic, a period filled with questions about leadership, heroism, and villainy. Reflecting on this, Chu remarked, "When this came to my desk, it was during the pandemic and I felt like, wow, this thing is so prophetic. How does it know that we would be going through this? We were questioning all the stories of America, of the world. Who's in control? Who's telling it? What does a hero look like? What does a villain look like?"

"Wicked" is set to open in U.S. theaters on Novemeber 22.