‘Wicked’s’ Color Grading Is Intended to ‘Immerse People Into Oz, to Make It a Real Place,’ Says Director Jon M. Chu: If It Was ‘Fake,’ Then the Relationships and Stakes ‘Wouldn’t Feel Real’

variety.com:

Emiliana Betancourt Eighty-five years after the release of “The Wizard of Oz,” director Jon M. Chu brings back this magical world to the big screen in “Wicked,” the film adaptation of the Broadway classic starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

The musical movie, which grossed $114 million its in debut weekend at the domestic box office, has received rave reviews from both critics and audiences. (The film received an “A” grade on CinemaScore and sterling 90% average on Rotten Tomatoes, respectively).

However, some moviegoers have been critical about “Wicked’s” color grading and how it compares to the Technicolor in “The Wizard of Oz.” In a recent interview with The Globe and Mail, Chu spoke about the intention behind “Wicked’s” aesthetic after the interviewer commented that the film is “a little desaturated.” “I mean, there’s color all over it.

I think what we wanted to do was immerse people into Oz, to make it a real place,” Chu explained. “Because if it was a fake place, if it was a dream in someone’s mind, then the real relationships and the stakes that these two girls are going through wouldn’t feel real.” Chu noted that he wanted to present the Land of Oz in “a way we have not experienced Oz before.” “It’s been a matte painting.