"Wicked: For Good" Brings Back the Magic, Conflict, and an Unexpected Journey

The land of Oz is about to get shaken up again as Wicked: For Good flies into theaters with Cynthia Erivo returning as the misunderstood Elphaba and Ariana Grande reprising her role as the radiant Glinda. The sequel continues the emotional fallout after the two witches chose drastically different paths.

Now branded a national threat, Elphaba has gone underground while Glinda—now a polished symbol of perfection—becomes a puppet for the ruling powers of Oz, particularly the manipulative Wizard.

A fresh trailer offers a glimpse of rising tension. It opens with Glinda sensing something unusual when her bedroom window mysteriously splinters. Drawn to her balcony, she’s confronted by a shadowy Elphaba—signaling their story is far from over.

Hints of Dorothy Gale’s entrance suggest the iconic girl from Kansas may play a larger role this time around. She’s briefly shown strolling down the yellow brick road with her classic trio, but the actor playing her remains a secret for now.

One standout moment features Elphaba defying authority—literally writing “Our wizard lies” across the Ozian sky with her broom, as a furious crowd lights up the streets with torches, hunting her down like folklore’s worst villain.

The emotional core remains intact, with a touching scene showing Elphaba receiving a heartfelt note from Glinda: "I hope you get what your heart desires." The final shot? Elphaba, with her flying monkeys in tow, soaring toward the unknown, declaring she’s “off to see the Wizard.”

Director Jon M. Chu shared with Vanity Fair that the sequel explores the fallout from choices made in the first film: “We felt the sting when Glinda didn’t choose the path we hoped for in Part One. But Elphaba taking flight felt like a reclamation of power. Part Two turns up the heat and shows us the price of those decisions.”

Based on the celebrated Broadway and West End musical—which itself draws from Gregory Maguire’s novel—the film adaptation was divided into two cinematic chapters. Part two is set to premiere on November 21.

Shot back-to-back at Elstree Studios between late 2022 and early 2024 (with a break due to the Hollywood strike), Wicked’s first chapter became 2024’s top-grossing UK film and took home Oscars for its dazzling costumes and set design.

Clocking in at nearly three hours, the first movie matched the stage show’s length—and with good reason. Grande and Erivo’s off-screen bond added sparkle to the press tour and even carried them to the Oscars stage, where they delivered a fan-favorite Wicked medley.

The sequel, however, faces a musical challenge: many of the most famous songs—like “Defying Gravity” and “Popular”—were already used. To fill the gap, Chu confirmed two original tracks have been crafted specifically for this continuation, calling them “essential” for deepening the story. Still, beloved numbers like “For Good” and “No Good Deed” are set to make a return.

Familiar faces including Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, and Jeff Goldblum are all back. In the teaser, Glinda is seen in a wedding gown, seemingly heading for the altar with Bailey’s Fiyero—who claims he’s “a changed man,” echoing For Good’s touching lyrics.

Meanwhile, Goldblum’s Wizard, dripping with menace, commands Dorothy and her companions to retrieve the Wicked Witch’s broom, raising the stakes for Elphaba once again.

Perhaps the trailer’s most tender moment comes when Elphaba confesses to Glinda, “You’re the only friend I’ve ever had.” To which Glinda, with her signature sparkle, replies: “I’ve had many friends. But only one who truly mattered.”