Featured Image Credit: Universal
Topics: Entertainment, TV And Film, Wicked
Bec Oakes
Cinema-goers have been flocking to see Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in Wicked: For Good since it was released last week (21 November).
The film is the second part of last year's blockbuster Wicked - based on the musical and book of the same name - which provides a prequel to the goings-on of the Wizard of Oz.
Set in the land of Oz, it chronicles the early relationship between Elphaba (Erivo) and Galinda (Grande) - the future Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good - as roommates at Shiz University.
Wicked: For Good has a much darker undertone than the first film, which earned ten Oscar nominations including Best Picture. Even so, one of the trigger warnings provided for the new flick has proven rather controversial.
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The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has awarded the adaptation of the long-running musical a PG rating - meaning that all ages are able to watch the film, but parental guidance is advised.
It warns on its website that 'occasional threatening scenes include people caught by falling debris in a cyclone and fantastical creatures rampaging through a crowd.'
Other warnings include 'wordplay around the phrase "oh shiz"' and characters slapping 'each other across the face during an argument'.
Potential viewers are also soberly told to prepare themselves for characters casting spells on one another, with one warning reading: "Characters also use guns and cast magical spells on one another."
In a film about witches and wizards, we'd be more concerned if there was no magic and spells involved to be honest.
And, referring to iconic death of the Wicked Witch, it says: "It is implied that a character melts when doused in water."
People have been quick to respond to the bizarre warning, with one user writing online: "Are you serious? Are they seriously warning people about this?"
Another commented: "Since the beginning of fairy tales there were evil villains casting spells. This is now triggering?"
Meanwhile, another admitted that the sequel was 'very dark compared to the first'.
But, this isn't the first unique trigger warning related the Wicked film adaptations.
The first film was hit with a warning by the BBFC due to one heartbreaking aspect of the storyline that could upset viewers.
The BBFC website warns potential viewers that Wicked contains both 'mild threats' and 'discrimination'.
"A green-skinned woman is mocked, bullied and humiliated because of her skin colour," they explained, adding that there is also abuse that could be described as ableist.
"A disabled woman in a wheelchair is treated in a condescending manner by able-bodied people."
And the blockbuster sees 'talking animals persecuted in a fantastical society'.