In the upcoming screen adaptation of the musical Wicked, the beloved song "I'm Not That Girl" takes on a new form. The final note of the song is notoriously difficult. Thanks to the brilliant stewardship of composer Stephen Schwartz and Tony-winning actor Cynthia Erivo, it’s been transformed into something exceptional. While director Jon M. Chu did indeed miss the pivotal conversations, he nonetheless proved an important ally. His biggest piece of advice was to bring down the song’s tempo, which truly amplified its sorrowful spirit. Including these changes, the new film will come to theaters November 21.
The choice to play with the song’s final note was equally a Schwartz and Erivo collaborative effort. That notoriously tricky note was raised a bit for the screen version—an intentional decision, it turns out, to suit Erivo’s performance better. This musical change is aided by a general slowing down, which Chu suggested to start a build and to enhance the song’s emotional effect. The director was looking for a deeper, sadder interpretation. That planted the seed to strip away the opening music, allowing Erivo to begin the number acapella.
Cynthia Erivo’s acapella introduction makes for a pretty powerful lead in to the song during the movie, too. This change emphasizes the song's emotional depth, aligning with the director's intent to focus on its somber qualities. Meanwhile, fans can anticipate another rendition as Ariana Grande is set to perform a reprise of the song in Wicked: For Good.
You can watch the musical Wicked on Peacock, including the recently adapted version of “I’m Not That Girl.” Soak it all in and enjoy the show! With the film’s release date quickly approaching, fans should be excited to check out many of these artistic adaptations for themselves. Maureen Lee Lenker, a senior writer at Entertainment Weekly, has been amplifying these revisions. She even argues for their centrality in adaptive governance.
