Fortnite Sound Effect Discovered in Wicked’s Signature Scene

An unexpected crossover between gaming and musical theater has emerged as film editor Myron Kerstein revealed the presence of Fortnite’s signature skydiving sound effect in the movie adaptation of “Wicked.” The sound, familiar to millions of Fortnite players, appears during one of the film’s most crucial moments.

The gaming sound effect features prominently in “Defying Gravity,” the musical’s climactic number, during a scene where the character Elphaba falls from a tower while attempting to master her broomstick flight. The sound, originally known as “All Skydiving Fly Sounds (Fortnite),” was integrated into the complex arrangement of music and vocals that characterize the sequence.

The revelation came through a YouTube video on The Rough Cut channel, where Kerstein detailed the editing process for the scene. While the editor didn’t explicitly reference Fortnite, viewers quickly identified the distinctive audio cue, which typically accompanies players’ descent from Fortnite’s Battle Bus. The sound effect, according to Sound Library, was released by Epic Games for royalty-free use.

This creative audio choice appears in what has become one of 2024’s most successful films. “Wicked” has already secured multiple awards and received ten Oscar nominations, including recognition for Best Film Editing. The incorporation of the gaming sound effect represents an innovative approach to modern film sound design, bridging the gap between interactive entertainment and traditional musical theater.