After what feels like a lifetime of waiting, the trailer for Wicked: For Good is finally out there. This is the second part of the two-film series, and if you are anything like me, you have been counting down the days since the first movie left us wanting more. Universal Pictures dropped a short teaser for the trailer on social media. It showed off our favorite characters and promised the full preview was coming soon. It has been a long time since Wicked took over pop culture, so a refresher on what is coming is certainly helpful.
The movie is set to hit theaters in the U.S. on Friday, November 21, 2025. Like all big films of this kind, there will be a red carpet premiere and a global press tour before it officially opens. So get ready to hear a lot about Wicked: For Good before it comes out. Plus, the first Wicked movie even returned to theaters for one day only. It was a nice way to get everyone excited again. We do not have a streaming release date for Wicked: For Good yet. However, the first Wicked movie showed up on Peacock in March 2025 after its November 2024 theater release. So chances are good the sequel will also hit the NBCUniversal streamer around March 2026.
The film brings back Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp and Ariana Grande as Glinda Upland, also known as Glinda the Good. Jonathan Bailey plays Fiyero Tigelaar. Jeff Goldblum is the Wizard. Michelle Yeoh plays Madame Morrible. Bowen Yang is Pfannee. Jon M. Chu is directing the film. It is great to see such a strong cast continuing their roles. Their chemistry in the first movie was fantastic. I am excited to see how they build on that in this next part of the story. The costumes look amazing too, with some characters getting new looks that hint at their changes.
Unpacking The Story For Wicked For Good And How It Continues Elphaba's JourneyWhat Happens Next For The Characters After The First Chapter Of The Musical Film
Wicked: For Good tells the second half of the Wicked story. The original stage musical became a huge hit in 2003, based on the 1995 novel. It is a prequel to the classic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and the original book. The first movie started with all of Munchkinland celebrating the Wicked Witch’s death. Then it jumped back in time to show Elphaba’s early life. It followed her arrival at Shiz University and her magic lessons with Madame Morrible. We saw the friendship grow between Elphaba and Glinda. They started as reluctant roommates but became very close. They traveled to the Emerald City together.
When Elphaba’s powers are used for bad by the Wizard and Morrible, she runs away, leaving Glinda behind. The second part of the story focuses on Elphaba after she becomes known as the Wicked Witch of the West. She is opposing the Wizard of Oz. Meanwhile, her former roommate and now best friend Glinda works for the Wizard. Their friendship breaks when Elphaba’s sister Nessarose dies after a house falls on her during a tornado. The story then shows Elphaba’s side of the well-known events from The Wizard of Oz. It reveals there was much more to the iconic tale than we first knew. It is always interesting to get the other side of a classic story.
The director Jon M. Chu announced that the movie would be split into two parts back in April 2022. He said that having more room would let them tell the Wicked story the way it was meant to be told. It would also add more depth and surprises to the characters’ journeys. This approach allows for more detail and emotion, something I really appreciate in adaptations of beloved musicals. It helps ensure that nothing feels rushed or left out.
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The Darker Tone and Exciting New Music Coming in Wicked For Good
How The Second Film Explores Heavier Themes And What New Songs We Can Expect To Hear
Just like the second act of the Broadway show, the second part of the Wicked films gets darker and more complicated than the first. Jon M. Chu mentioned that it "gets messy." He thinks that if audiences follow the emotions of the first movie, they will stick with them through the tougher parts of the second. While much of Part 1 focused on the fun of life at Shiz and new friendships, Part 2 is more about the social and political problems that started after Glinda decided to stay and Elphaba decided to leave during "Defying Gravity." As the director put it "If Part 1 is about choices, Part 2 is about consequences." He also added that "Choices are difficult to make, but when you do make those choices, sometimes the result isn’t what you expect it to be. It can be lonely, it can be hard."
Even with the darker tone, Chu promised there would be "lots of lightness" in the second movie. He said there are "a lot of fun parts" and that they have not forgotten about that. However, he noted there is a "matureness and a nuance to it that we earn from the first movie." This balance of light and dark is crucial for a story like Wicked, and I am glad they are not shying away from the emotional weight. It should make for a truly rich viewing experience.
The soundtrack for Part 2 will definitely have all the music from the original Broadway musical. This includes big songs like "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished" and the powerful Elphaba-Glinda duet "For Good." Stephen Schwartz also confirmed that two completely new songs were written specifically for the Movies. He said that "The storytelling required it, and therefore they were created." He wanted them to feel natural and not forced into the movie. Cynthia Erivo hinted that one of the new songs, sung by Elphaba, will be very emotional. She said "I don’t know if you’re ready for it. I feel like the song is very, very special. I have a feeling that even the title will move you." That makes me very excited to hear what they have come up with.
The second part of the Wicked musical film is almost here bringing a darker story, new songs, and deep emotional moments. We explore what fans can expect.
Deepening Relationships And Big Moments In Wicked For Good
More Details About Elphaba And Glinda's Complicated Friendship And Dorothy's Role
Just as in Part 1, viewers will get to see more of Elphaba and Glinda than they did in the stage musical. This is because of the film format. For Part 2, that means a deeper exploration of their complicated relationship. Ariana Grande even hinted that there might be some romantic feelings. She believes Glinda "is a person who loves so much, and I do think that it goes beyond gender." Grande also feels that the way Glinda loves Elphaba and the forgiveness they share means "they’re in love with each other." She clarified that it is platonic, but said they would discuss it more in movie two. This kind of depth to their bond is something I am really looking forward to seeing on screen.
Grande and Erivo also talked about one of the biggest musical scenes coming in Wicked: For Good. It is the number that gave the sequel its title: "For Good." Grande said that the scene leading up to it and after it is "quite a meal." She even remembers "leaving my body and hovering for, like, the whole week" during filming. Erivo added that it "was a lot." That is high praise from the stars themselves. It tells me this moment will be truly impactful. I expect it to be a tear-jerker for sure.
Viewers only saw a quick glimpse of Dorothy Gale in Wicked Part 1. The first few minutes of the film showed her from behind, walking down the Yellow Brick Road with Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion. Jon M. Chu hinted that Dorothy will play a much bigger part in Wicked: For Good. He said that in movie 1, they wanted Dorothy to be whatever viewers imagined her to be. He did not want to step on anyone’s ideas of her. However, he stated that "her presence is important, because that plays a significant role in what will happen and how they intersect." He said we would have to see movie 2 to know how far they go with her. This sounds like a clever way to integrate her without taking over the story.
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Elphaba's Transformation and What The Future Holds For The Wicked Story
Cynthia Erivo Discusses Elphaba's Evolution And The Broader Impact Of The Films
Cynthia Erivo has also spoken about how Elphaba changes completely in For Good. She explained that Elphaba "is able to access her rage more." Erivo mentioned that "The scent I wore changed. The makeup changed. Little shifts that bring you to a more mature version of who Elphaba becomes." She even said that Elphaba is "delicious in this next one." This sounds like Elphaba will truly step into her power in a powerful way, which is what many fans have been waiting for. It is great to hear how much thought went into showing her transformation.
The trailer was set to premiere in theaters on June 4, when the first film returned to the big screen for one night. That same day, the sequel's official poster was also shown. It features Erivo and Grande in their Act II outfits. This all means that Wicked: For Good season has officially begun. Are you ready for more tears, more touching moments, and more of Ariana Grande’s transatlantic accent? It seems we are in for a truly epic ride that will deliver all the magic and emotion we expect from the world of Oz.