Dorothy famously told Toto that she felt like they weren’t in Kansas anymore.
And the locals of Ivinghoe could be forgiven for thinking they are no longer in Buckinghamshire after creating a fictional village for the upcoming film Wicked.
The story, loosely based on The Wizard of Oz, will see Ariana Grande as Glinda the Good Witch and Cynthia Erivo as Elbaba, the Wicked Witch of the West.
Photographs obtained by the Daily Mail show a circle of shallow huts with colorful thatched roofs and what appear to be the exposed bones of the yellow brick road in the middle of a field.
A planning application to transform the land into the fictional Munchkinland was submitted by Western Sky Limited last year with construction starting from November.
A village from the fictional world of Munchkinland has arisen from the land in the Chilterns
The film’s set was held in Evengo, Buckinghamshire, for the Hollywood adaptation of the punk musical
The majority of the sets were previously made at Sky Studios Elstree, according to the app.
Filming on the newly erected set was scheduled to begin on Thursday, 6 April, and continue until 4 August with six night shots with a 3.30am finish.
The production company is “actively exploring the option of including work experience opportunities in production for media and film students” at a local school and will also offer “educational seminars and workshops on filmmaking” to local colleges.
Although there were no written objections, some locals weren’t enamored with this group, with some calling it a “pest on the landscape.”
Last week, Miss Grande revealed that she was “halfway through” shooting the movie and was “savoring milliseconds left” with her character.
She said the role was “to transform and heal parts of me that I never knew needed.”
Writing alongside a photo of herself posing under a rainbow, she added: “I don’t want it to end. So while I’m still here, present, right now, I just wanted to… express my immense gratitude! And let my heart flow.”
“I hope it’s not just a dream because as much as I try to be present, it sure feels like one.”
The tower-like rooftops of the village can be seen looming over the picturesque Buckinghamshire countryside
Pictures obtained by the Daily Mail show a circle of narrow huts with colorful thatched roofs
The photos also show what appear to be the bare bones of a yellow brick road in the middle of a field
The majority of the sets were pre-fabricated at Sky Studios Elstree, according to the planning app
Singer Ariana Grande (right) has been cast as Glinda the Good Witch, while Cynthia Erivo (left) will play Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. Pictured: The couple leave for Ronnie Scott in London on April 7
“Happy halfway through this sweetest crew… My heart will be stuck here forever.”
Wicked, based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel of the same name, premiered on Broadway in 2003 before opening at London’s Apollo Theater three years later.
Idina Menzel from Frozen played Elphaba in both the first and second productions.
Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, who co-wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway show, will adapt the script while John M. Chu will direct.
Cho, who is behind Crazy Rich Asians, said directing “The Timeless Story” was akin to “inviting the Wizard himself to Oz”.
Miss Grande posted a selection of behind-the-scenes photos with Miss Erivo, 36, back in October, in which the pair are seen in ballet flats — pink for Miss Grande while her co-star wore black and green in a nod to her figure.
Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, and Jonathan Bailey of Bridgerton fame will also appear in the upcoming film, which will be released in two parts.
Wicked is set to be released on November 27, 2024.
