Wicked

Project Overview

Outpost VFX was delighted to contribute visual effects to the feature adaptation of the world-famous musical, Wicked.

Supervised internally by Jason Evans and Christopher Antoniou, the Outpost team delivered a raft of set extensions and invisible effects for a sequence set in the Shiz University Library, where magical main characters Elphaba (Cynthia Eribo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) are studying.

The sequence is notable for providing the backdrop to the popular song, ‘Dancing Through Life’, in which fellow student Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) convinces the young witches to go dancing.

“The sequence was shot in a vast 360 degree set of the Shiz University Library,” explains VFX Supervisor, Jason Evans. “We were tasked with adding in the surrounding hills and countryside as well as the University square and main building, the main build of which was covered by Framestore.

“The plates were shot with silk backdrops instead of traditional Chroma screens which gave the huge benefit of protecting the lighting of the large space and preserving a brightly-lit natural feel."

“The over-exposed silks combined with the big sweeping camera moves and fast whip pans did create quite a challenge in replacing these backgrounds, especially in ensuring consistent edge quality, but working with Pablo [Helman, Production VFX Supervisor] and the team we managed to work with a signoff process for the layout at an early stage to give us a good run at getting all of the details correct.”

Helman led VFX across the production of Wicked, overseeing work that has been praised by critics and recognised with nominations for major awards from the Visual Effects Society, BAFTA and the Golden Globes, as well as a shortlist nod for the 2025 Oscars.

“Working with Pablo and the team was very rewarding,” says Evans.

“Pablo was exacting but always understanding and helpful when coming up against challenges. Working on musicals is always a fun segway from the regular VFX form – it’s always a refreshing change to work on such high energy content."

Wicked was produced by Universal Pictures and Mark Platt Productions. A sequel, Wicked: For Good, is scheduled for theatrical release on 21 November 2025.