After the success of the first part of Wicked in 2024, fans of the franchise can get excited once more for its sequel and final installment, Wicked: For Good, which comes out on Nov. 21. The story of the second Wicked film picks up after the first film’s climax, the song “Defying Gravity,” and follows the second act of the original Broadway musical.
“I’m really excited for the musical. The vocals from Ariana and Cynthia are incredible, and my personal favorite part of the movie. I’m most excited to hear them sing ‘For Good’,” said junior Katherine Duarte.
Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, and others return to their roles from the first film, with one newly announced star. Sing Sing and The Color Purple star Colman Domingo will be voicing Brrr, the Cowardly Lion. As for who will play Dorothy, it is unclear. “I didn’t want to step on who you think Dorothy is in whatever story that you came into this with. She’s probably more in this story than in the show and yet not taking over the story-it is still Elphaba and Glinda’s journey, and she is a pawn in the middle of all of it,” said Wicked director John M. Chu in an interview with People.
The story picks up with Elphaba (Erivo), now an outcast from Ozian society. She is in hiding, and only occasionally appears in public. Glinda (Grande) is engaged to Fiyero (Bailey), and faces the public eye while mourning the loss of her closest friendship. Wicked: For Good sees the beloved characters grow into those from the original Wizard of Oz film and Wicked musical. Glinda becomes Glinda the Good, Elphaba becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, and Nessarose becomes the Wicked Witch of the East, with Boq and Fiyero also undergoing magical transformations into famous characters. The film also promises to take a closer look into the connection between the events of the original Wizard of Oz film and the musical, which the musical leaves vague and undiscovered.
Two new songs that are not in the original musical will be in the soundtrack of the new film, “The Girl in The Bubble” sung by Glinda, and “No Place Like Home,” sung by Elphaba. The rest of the songs will match the second act of the musical, with popular hits such as “No Good Deed,” “Thank Goodness,” and the film’s title song “For Good” included in this installment. The song “The Wicked Witch of the East,” sung by Nessarose in the original musical but not on the cast recording, will also be added to the soundtrack for Wicked: For Good.
“I’m most excited for Ariana Grande’s new song in the movie, ‘The Girl in the Bubble.’ I am a huge fan of Ariana Grande’s music, and I love seeing her act too,” said freshman Emilio Balestri-Eassey.
As excitement and anticipation grow, fans of Wicked are taking over social media. The hashtag #WickedMovie has made a huge comeback with millions of fans liking, commenting, reposting, and creating content surrounding the film. Additionally, many brands have come out with Wicked: For Good collaborations. Great Value’s color-changing mac ‘n’ cheese has received mixed reviews due to the unusual color changing behavior, resulting in it becoming pink or green. More popular is the Owala collaboration, two new FreeSip water bottles that reflect the aesthetics of Elphaba and Glinda. Dunkin Donuts has also released a Wicked collection including green and pink sprinkled munchkins, a Wicked themed tin with 10 munchkins, a Wicked Green Matcha, and a Wicked Pink Refresher.
“I love all the collabs that have come out recently with the upcoming release of Wicked. I especially love the Dunkin Wicked Refresher, it is so good!” said senior Basia Hechtman.
The director of Wicked: For Good, Jon M. Chu, says that the movie is a “love letter to the fans.” Chu gave new insight to the details of the movie, explaining how it will dive deeper into Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship and how they help each other grow. The second movie is meant to reflect the second act of the Broadway musical, meaning it will reflect much more serious and emotional themes than the first film did. Chu wants the film to feel bigger, but still personal, giving fans a familiar story that feels refreshed.
“I’m so excited to get a conclusion for the cliffhanger of the first movie. I’ve been waiting for this movie all year and I’m super excited that it’s finally out,” said freshman Carmela Polydorou.
Since its debut in 2003, Wicked has been one of Broadway’s most beloved musicals. The story of Elphaba and Glinda has inspired fans and performers alike, proving that friendship, courage, and confidence are everything. Wicked: For Good represents the lasting influence of a story that continuously connects to audiences around the world. This sequel isn’t just a conclusion to the movie series, but it is also a celebration of everything the original Wicked has inspired. With this movie, the last curtain falls, but the magic will continue to defy gravity and show how well pink really goes with green.