Defying Gravity is an iconic song but its scene in the movie adaptation of Wicked is crucial to the entire film. Getting this right played on the minds of the film's VFX team at ILM as well as the filmmakers, including director John M.Chu. Below VFX supervisor for ILM Pablo Helman reveals what it took to make sure Defying Gravity, well… defied expectations.
On release Wicked smashed the box office, and since earned more than $718 million worldwide and now has 10 Oscar 2025 nominations, including in many of the crafts categories, such as visual effects, production design, sound, costume design, editing and hair and makeup styling. Unlike Disney that has been snubbed at the Oscars, Wicked could sweep the board.
