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The Unlikely Rise of the Musical Romantic Comedy

A strange phenomenon has taken over Hollywood, and it’s not just the movies’ sudden obsession with musicals. It’s the way they’re being marketed, too. Films like Wonka, Mean Girls, and Joker: Folie À Deux have been shying away from announcing their status as song-and-dance musicals, opting for a more subtle approach instead. This phenomenon isn’t new, but it seems more prevalent than ever today.

However, Jon M. Chu’s two-part adaptation of Wicked takes a different approach. The film’s latest trailers have been clearer about its musical roots, and star Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba, has shared her thoughts on the matter in an exclusive interview with Empire.

"There’s something really special about a movie musical," Erivo explains. "In its essence, it becomes a spectacle, whether you like it or not. I think that we don’t give audiences enough credit when it comes to musicals, so we pretend that musicals aren’t musicals. And I think now, it’s okay to just be like, ‘Hey, this is a musical, come and see it, you’ll survive… and you might even like it!’"

The shying away from showing songs in trailers might be due to the divisive nature of musicals. Some audiences simply don’t enjoy them, or at least claim to. Erivo disagrees, using everyday examples to illustrate the ubiquity of singing in daily life. "People sing every day, randomly, in the middle of the street! They literally do! I have sat in cars and people are just singing along to songs! Or the amount of times where people do that passive-aggressive thing of, when something happens that they don’t like, instead of saying, ‘What’s going on?’, they sing the thing that’s happening. Or at football stadiums, all of a sudden, everyone is singing along together — that’s singing in real life!"

As for disliking every musical, Erivo quips, "Be honest: disliking every musical is about as impossible as defying gravity."

Mickey 17, the latest issue of Empire, is on sale Thursday 24 October. For the full interview with Cynthia Erivo, pick up a copy or read it online. Wicked is set to hit UK cinemas from 22 November.

Conclusion

The marketing strategy for these musical romantic comedies may be shrouded in mystery, but one thing is clear: audiences are in for a treat. As Erivo so eloquently puts it, "In its essence, a movie musical becomes a spectacle, whether you like it or not."

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why are some films hiding their musical roots?
A: It may be due to the divisive nature of musicals and the risk of alienating potential viewers.

Q: How does Cynthia Erivo feel about the perceived notion that musicals are only for a select few?
A: Erivo believes that we don’t give audiences enough credit when it comes to musicals and thinks that it’s okay to be upfront about the fact that a film is a musical.

Q: What’s next for Wicked?
A: The film hits UK cinemas from 22 November.