Evil: forever Co-writer Dana Fox is shedding new light on the film’s emotional final moments.
The writer specifically reveals glimpses of Ariana Grande’s final shot of Glinda when the Grimmerie opens in her hands.
At the film’s conclusion, Glinda believes that Elphaba has died, leaving her with the powerful spell book she was never able to read. Elphaba urges her to learn, and late in the film, Grimmerie opens up on her own, hinting that Glinda may finally have access to her magic, or that Elphaba has passed on the gift to her.
Fox, who co-wrote the script with evil Original Broadway writer Winnie Holzman explained the weight of that moment in a conversation with Deadline.
“The other thing that kills me is when Elphaba gives Glinda the Grimmerie and Glinda finally says, ‘You know I can’t read that.’ I’m dying,” Fox said. “To me, that performance and the fact that she says that and has that moment, that’s her deepest shame.”
Fox noted that the film expands on Glinda’s backstory to show where that vulnerability comes from. “In the movie, we created the scene where you see her as a child, her deep desire and need, and the original wound that she has, and you understand how difficult it is for Glinda to say that she can’t access that magic. That’s the hardest thing for her to say and admit.”
She believes that honesty is what allows Grimmerie to respond. “The fact that she admits it, to me, is the reason I think she earns the Grimmerie opening at the end of the movie, which is also not in the play.”
Still, Fox emphasizes that the moment must be personal. “That should be the time for everyone to decide how they want it to be and how they feel about it,” he said.
“It gives me chills just thinking about that ending, though. I love it.”
