How ‘Wicked’ Built Immersive Real-Life Sets, From Shiz To Emerald City | Architectural Digest

Today, AD welcomes production designer Nathan Crowley to explain how he designed the sets for ‘Wicked’. Through his extensive use of practical effects, Crowley designed sets where Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo could shine and come alive as Glinda and Elphaba. From planting nine million tulips for Munchkinland to Shiz’s 52-foot high set, Crowley’s designs for ‘Wicked’ are truly immersive and nothing short of impressive.


00:00 Intro
00:15 Munchkinland
03:10 Shiz Exterior
10:02 Shiz Library
11:51 Elphaba & Glinda’s Room
13:30 The Emerald City


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[olivlivlivliv]

He is snatching that Best Production Design Oscar

[olivlivlivliv]

When I heard the tulips were all planted it reminded me of the cornfield planted in interstellar so it’s cool to know it’s the same guy

[audreylynn]

I appreciate that the promotion of Wicked seems to include acknowledge the crew members in addition to the cast much more than I’ve seen for other films!

[Vanessa-uolt]

I really hope studios get motivated by the success of wicked and take more chances with practical effects

[jessicathejedi]

Holy cow that was RIVETING. And THANK YOU for convincing executives to not go full CGI all the time. Nothing beats practical

[SO-ymzs]

"We take things out rather than add them." Thank goodness someone is still thinking like this. Less CG and more practical is always the best.

[cardiffst]

I could happily have watched Nathan scribbling away for two hours plus.

What an absolutely fascinating video.

[futurekingjay]

The production value of this film goes HARD.

[a.m]

It is so nice to see real extravagant sets like this and not just CGI. It makes the film more magical in my opinion

[kuumih]

Everything I'm hearing about this movie makes me feel like a kid again watching the behind the scenes and being mesmerized by the set building and practical effects like Lord of the Rings

[socialsheen]

There should be a Wicked Tour on their set!!!! I would gladly buy a ticket for this.

[fyorarules]

The video ended so suddenly? I could have easily watched 20 more minutes of whatever design magic he wanted to explain! That was so fun!

[tal]

After Barbie, Agatha All Along, and Wicked which uses about 90% of practical effects, I hope studios will start doing more of this. Practical effects looks so much better. VFX is fine but should not be the main ingredient. It should help tune up practical effects/ make up, not take over it.

[sadie]

Props to the over 300 visual effects artists listed on IMDB, y’all made this movie fantastic.

[DarMar]

The film is a visual feast for the eyes. It took me a few scenes to realize how many physical sets and locations are in the movie. Such a breath of fresh air with so many films relying on CG. Crowley and his team absolutely deserve whatever awards they have coming to them. As well as costume design

[paulschacht]

THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL! !! !!! As an engineer, I was expecting stuffy engineering commentary (and would have loved it), but this guy is amazingly incredible to be able to understand what's likely possible (within time & budget) and push his teams to deliver - WOW! !! !!!

[Toonksbell]

Any production designer that says “ I want to do as much practically” has my respect it always comes out wonderful

[redchristianpalustre]

Give Wicked the Best Production Design and Costume Design Oscar already!!

[donna_irene]

I thought watching the film that the majority of the sets had to be CGI due to their larger than life of complexity, I had no idea how much of it was real! Nathan Crowley is an artistic genius, one of the greatest gifts to modern cinema ❤

[victoriadougall]

The circular bookshelves were incredible!