You’ve seen the trailers. The impossibly vibrant tulips, that golden-hued art deco train station, and the sheer scale of Munchkinland. It looks like a fever dream. But here’s the thing about Jon M. Chu’s Wicked: he was obsessed with making it feel real. While most modern blockbusters hide behind a green screen in an air-conditioned studio in Atlanta, the production of Wicked took a hard left turn.
So, where was Wicked filmed?
Basically, the crew spent the better part of a year in the English countryside. Specifically, a massive, custom-built set in Ivinghoe, Buckinghamshire. They didn't just build a few facades; they built a functioning village and planted actual crops. If you’re looking for the heart of Shiz University or the Yellow Brick Road, you won't find them in a Hollywood backlot. You have to look at the rolling hills of the UK.
The Munchkinland Set in Ivinghoe
If you were driving through Buckinghamshire in 2023, you might have spotted something weird. Rising out of the flat farmland was a massive, colorful structure that looked like it belonged in a storybook. Because it did.
The production took over Vicarage Farm in Ivinghoe. This wasn't some small operation. They built the entirety of Munchkinland here. We're talking about a physical Yellow Brick Road made of actual tiles, not painted plywood. Jon M. Chu famously insisted on planting 9 million real tulips. He wanted the actors to smell the flowers. He wanted the wind to move through the petals naturally. You can't fake that kind of organic movement with CGI, at least not without it looking slightly "uncanny valley."
The sheer scale was massive. Local residents often reported seeing the bright colors from the nearby hills. It’s wild to think that in the middle of a traditional English farming community, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were filming "One Short Day" surrounded by millions of flowers.
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Sky Studios Elstree: The New Hub
While the outdoor spectacle happened in the fields, the technical heavy lifting took place at Sky Studios Elstree. This is a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility in Borehamwood. Wicked was actually one of the first major productions to utilize this space.
Elstree is historic ground for film—think Star Wars and Indiana Jones—but the new Sky Studios wing is a different beast entirely. This is where the interiors of Shiz University were brought to life. The detailed woodwork, the towering libraries, and Madame Morrible’s office were all housed within these soundstages.
Honestly, the craftsmanship is what sets this film apart. Production designer Nathan Crowley, who is known for his work with Christopher Nolan on films like Interstellar, brought a tactile, "used" feel to the world. It’s steampunk meets art nouveau. When you see the gears turning in the Great Wizard’s chamber, those are real mechanical effects.
Why the UK?
You might wonder why a quintessentially American musical (based on an American book) moved across the pond. It’s a mix of tax incentives and talent. The UK’s "Creative Sector Tax Relief" is a massive draw for Disney, Warner Bros, and Universal. But more than that, the UK has a specific pool of artisans.
The people who build these sets are often the same ones who worked on Harry Potter or Star Wars. There is a deep lineage of prop making and set construction in the London area. For a movie like Wicked, which relies on practical magic, you need those hands.
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The Abandoned Quarry and Darker Tones
Not everything is bright tulips and sunshine. As the story shifts toward the Emerald City and the eventual rise of the Wicked Witch, the locations reflect that. While much of the "exterior" Oz was the Ivinghoe farm, several second-unit shots and atmospheric backgrounds utilized local quarries and wooded areas around the Home Counties.
The production faced some serious hurdles. The 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike shut down filming when they were agonizingly close to the finish line. For months, the Munchkinland set sat empty. Rain lashed the Yellow Brick Road. The 9 million tulips eventually faded. When the strike ended, the crew had to perform a monumental task of restoration to get the sets back to their "Oztastic" glory. It’s a testament to the crew that you can’t see the "seams" of that delay in the final cut.
Can You Visit the Filming Locations?
Here is the slightly disappointing news: Vicarage Farm is private property. Once filming wrapped, the set was meticulously dismantled. The 9 million tulips were not permanent. In the film industry, this is called "striking" the set, and they are legally required to return the land to its original state.
However, you can still experience the vibe.
- Ivinghoe Beacon: You can hike the Ivinghoe Beacon nearby. It offers a stunning view of the fields where Munchkinland once stood. It’s a gorgeous walk even without the movie connection.
- Elstree & Borehamwood: While you can't just wander into Sky Studios, the town itself is steeped in cinema history. There's a "Film Walk" in Borehamwood that celebrates the area’s contribution to movies.
- London's Art Deco Landmarks: To capture the aesthetic of the Emerald City, Crowley and Chu looked at real-world architecture. If you want to feel like you're in Oz, visit the Battersea Power Station or the Daily Express Building in London. Their streamlined interiors heavily influenced the look of the Wizard's lair.
The Secret "Real" Elements
One of the most impressive feats was the train. The Emerald City Express wasn't a digital asset. They built a 40-ton, functional steam engine. This wasn't just for show—it actually moved on tracks laid down at the studio.
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This commitment to reality is why the movie feels so heavy and "lived-in." When Glinda’s bubble floats, it’s not just a digital orb; they used massive lighting rigs to ensure the reflections on the actors' faces matched the environment.
Final Insights for Fans
If you’re planning a "Wicked" tour, don't expect to find a theme park in Buckinghamshire. Instead, look for the spirit of the production in the English landscape. The contrast between the grey, moody British sky and the neon-bright colors of Oz is exactly what gives the film its unique visual "pop."
To truly appreciate the scale of where Wicked was filmed, keep these points in mind:
- Look at the ground: In the Shiz University scenes, the cobblestones and floors are often real stone, chosen to create a specific acoustic sound when the actors' shoes hit them during dance numbers.
- The Flowers: Every time you see a flower move, remember that a gardener probably spent months tending to it before a single frame was shot.
- The Weather: The production had to deal with genuine British mud. Some of the "grittier" parts of the Oz outskirts aren't CGI dirt—it's actual Buckinghamshire earth.
The real "magic" of the Wicked filming locations wasn't in a computer. It was in the mud, the rain, and the millions of flowers planted in a quiet English field.
Practical Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to dive deeper into the production design, check out the official "Art of Wicked" books usually released alongside the film. They contain the exact blueprints used for the Elstree sets. For those in the UK, a trip to the Chiltern Hills (near Ivinghoe) will give you the exact topography seen in the sweeping aerial shots of Oz. It's the closest you'll get to walking the Yellow Brick Road without a permit.