How a quiet village turned into the Land of Oz for Wicked

Wicked: Village gets Oz makeover for Ariana Grande film

As dramatic as local gossip can be, the idea of Ariana Grande filming a Hollywood blockbuster in Ivinghoe proved a step too far for many villagers.

Yet it was impossible for the naysayers to deny reality when Munchkinland began to emerge in the Buckinghamshire countryside in 2023.

It was all part of shooting Wicked – the Wizard of Oz spin-off, which hit UK cinemas on Friday and stars other A-listers including Cynthia Erivo and Jeff Goldblum.

Those living in the quaint village share their memories of what it was like when the Universal cameras came to town.

‘Just extraordinary’

Grammy Award-winning Grande plays Galinda Upland, who goes on to become Glinda the Good Witch

Universal Ariana Grande wears a pink gown complete with a crystal embellished crown and wand. — Grammy Award-winning Grande plays Galinda Upland, who goes on to become Glinda the Good Witch

For Russell Smith, who owns the Daisychain cafe on the High Street, the mass of activity felt like an “alien invasion”.

The 55-year-old spotted the pop-up film set being created while walking his dog along the canal towpath.

“Normally there’s nothing there, so we were thinking, ‘What the hell is that?’

“It was just extraordinary as it unfolded. It looked to be a circular village with a yellow brick road going into it and then back out.

“You could see lots of filming with enormous cranes, great lighting stations that lit up the area. It was amazing.”

Drone shots captured the set and its colourful, thatch-roofed homes during production

An aerial picture of the film set in Ivinghoe. It consists of a range of colourful, thatch-roofed homes all centred around a yellow brick road. The set is based in a field and there are various cars, trailers, cranes and other items associated with film production surrounding the set. — Drone shots captured the set and its colourful, thatch-roofed homes during production

Russell Smith witnessed the evolution of the film set while walking his dog along the canal towpath throughout 2023

Russell Smith A picture taken from beside a canal and behind temporary fencing. The film set is behind the fencing, with cranes and many thatched-roof homes. They are mostly hidden by the fencing. — Russell Smith witnessed the evolution of the film set while walking his dog along the canal towpath throughout 2023

The original stage show of Wicked opened on Broadway in 2003 and went on to be seen by about 65 million people worldwide.

Drone shots captured the set and all its quirky, colourful, thatch-roofed homes, before production was halted amid the US actors’ strike in July 2023.

‘We wished Ariana would walk in the pub’

Nicola Johns, the landlady of nearby pub The Village Swan, says locals heard the cast singing during certain points of the day.

“We all wished Ariana Grande would walk into the pub – sadly she didn’t,” says the 32-year-old.

“It was surreal at times, walking around and hearing the singing.

“The amount of manpower that went into building the set was extraordinary.

“At first you didn’t really know what it was – you were trying to work out what scene it could be. Most people were looking for the yellow brick road.”

A bar worker at another local pub, the Rose and Crown, says members of the crew popped in for a drink when their schedule allowed.

The temporary Munchkinland was removed at the end of autumn 2023.

With filming moving to Sky Studios Elstree in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, the fantasy world was shipped out as quickly as it arrived.

Elphaba (Erivo) becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, and Galinda (Grande) becomes Glinda the Good Witch

Universal Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande stare into the camera dressed as their Wicked characters Elphaba and Glinda, in a scene from the film Wicked. Elphaba wears a black outfit and black witch's hat, while Glinda wears a pink dress. — Elphaba (Erivo) becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, and Galinda (Grande) becomes Glinda the Good Witch

Grande told the media before the film’s release she was “incredibly emotional” about Wicked hitting the big screen, with Erivo adding the cast’s lives “irrevocably changed for good” thanks to their time on set.

For Mr Smith, he says the impact on the 1,000 residents of Ivinghoe will also be long lasting.

“People will be thinking about when Hollywood came to Ivinghoe,” he says.

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