Fantasy Film's Unusual Content Warnings Raise Eyebrows
Cinema audiences across the UK are encountering unexpected trigger warnings as they flock to see the newly released fantasy sequel Wicked: For Good. The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has issued cautions about content including characters who 'cast magical spells on one another' in a film that's fundamentally about battling witches.
The BBFC's website soberly informs potential viewers to mentally prepare for scenes of magical combat, despite the film's clear fantasy genre. This follows similar warnings attached to last year's first instalment, Wicked, which alerted audiences to a green-skinned character facing 'discrimination'.
Breaking Down the BBFC's PG Rating
The classification board has awarded the Hollywood adaptation a PG rating, meaning all ages can attend with parental guidance advised. The BBFC elaborates that 'occasional threatening scenes include people caught by falling debris in a cyclone and fantastical creatures rampaging through a crowd'.
In a particularly detailed note, the board states: 'Characters also use guns and cast magical spells on one another.' It also references one of the most famous moments from the Wizard of Oz lore by noting: 'It is implied that a character melts when doused in water.'
A Darker Sequel with Award-Winning Pedigree
Wicked: For Good, released this weekend, serves as the sequel to last year's successful Wizard of Oz-inspired fantasy. The film continues the back-stories of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West played by Cynthia Erivo, 38, and Glinda the Good, portrayed by American singer Ariana Grande, 32.
The sequel is noted for being darker in tone than its predecessor, which earned ten Oscar nominations including Best Picture. Both lead actors received Academy Award recognition, with Erivo nominated for Best Actress and Grande for Best Supporting Actress.
This trend of detailed content warnings isn't isolated to the Wicked franchise. Last month, Amazon faced significant backlash for adding trigger warnings to almost all the James Bond films, with some flagged for 'womanising'. The move has sparked broader conversations about content guidance in the streaming era.
