The Wicked and The Wizard Of Oz timeline, explained.

This article contains some small plot spoilers for Wicked.

Wicked has certainly taken over the internet in the past few weeks. With its recent release on November 22, fans have been belting the songs out loud for all to hear. Yes, we're loving the singalongs.

Wicked is an origin story, of sorts, for the classic tale The Wizard of Oz. While many recognise Wicked as a Broadway musical, it might come as a surprise to some that it originated from Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel of the same name.

The book draws inspiration from L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, first published in 1900 and famously adapted into the beloved 1939 film starring Judy Garland as Dorothy.

So to oversimplify things, the new film is basically an adaptation of an adaptation of a fan-fiction of an alternate side of The Wizard of Oz.

Watch the Wicked part 1 trailer. Article continues after video.

While some have been calling Wicked a prequel, it's not entirely the case.

While some parts of Wicked happen years before the events of The Wizard of Oz, other parts occur concurrently.

For those who aren't necessarily clued into the lore behind Wicked and its origins, here's a rundown of how Wicked fits into The Wizard of Oz timeline. 

In Gregory Maguire's Wicked novel, the Wizard holds onto his reign for about four decades before ultimately abandoning his facade of control, escaping the Emerald City in his iconic hot air balloon.

The movie is set to follow a similar storyline, sticking to this established narrative arc.

Fans were eager to see The Wizard of Oz references in Wicked. Image: Warner Bros.

Looking at the Broadway musical as a guide, the opening scenes of Wicked are timed in tandem to the final scenes of The Wizard of Oz: with the people of Oz celebrating the death of the Wicked Witch of the West (or Elphaba).

In the opening scene of the film and Broadway musical, Glinda The Good Witch tells the tale of how she knew the Wicked Witch of the West. From there, we are transported back in time (roughly a decade before Dorothy arrives in Oz) to tell the story of how Glinda and Elphaba met.

Most of the first part of Wicked takes place during Elphaba and Glinda's schooling years at Shiz Universtiy, where they first meet as enemies but soon become friends. 

Part 2 of Wicked is where things really get exciting, because the two timelines finally coincide.

Set approximately 10 years after Part 1, the second half of Wicked leads up to the moment where Dorothy first enters Oz and provides context for all the tragic events that follow.

The second part highlights the motivations behind the Wizard's lies, the backstory behind Nessa Rose becoming 'The Wicked Witch Of The East' and shows how her story comes to an end via a random, flying house (enter Dorothy).

At the site of the house that killed the Wicked Witch Of The East, Elphaba and Glinda briefly share a tense reunion when it is revealed Glinda has given Nessa Rose's heels to Dorothy, and sent her off down the yellow brick road.

In the following scenes, we see how Dorothy's adventure came to life from the perspective of Glinda and Elphaba. Though, Dorothy doesn't play any real significant part as her own character in Wicked. She's barely seen.

The final scenes of Wicked and The Wizard Of Oz are set at the exact same time.

As we eagerly await Part 2 of Wicked the movie, we cannot wait to see the influx of easter eggs from The Wizard of Oz.

From subtle nods to iconic characters, it's going to be a feast for Oz fans. Will we see familiar slippers making an appearance? Or maybe a wink to the Wizard's hot air balloon?

Wicked provides a backtory to the relationship between Elphaba and Glinda. Image: Universal Pictures

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Feature image: Universal Pictures / Warner Bros.