Introduction to Wicked’s Sequel
The first full-length trailer for Wicked’s forthcoming sequel has been released, offering fans a glimpse of how the Wizard of Oz spin-off will conclude. Wicked: For the good, stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the evil witch of the West, alongside Ariana Grande as Glinda, the good witch of the north. The films were adapted from the extremely successful Broadway and West End musical, which are based on Gregory Maguire’s novel from 2005.
The Making of the Films
The stage musical was divided into two films for its large screen adaptation, with the second published on November 27. The two films were shot in the Elstree Studios in Borehamwood between December 2022 and January 2024, with the production interrupted by The Hollywood Actors’ Strike. Wicked was the highest-grossing film of 2024 in the UK and achieved 10 Oscar nominations – two for the best costume and production design. At 2 hours 40 minutes, the first film alone was almost as long as the entire length of the stage show.
The Chemistry Between Erivo and Grande
The friendship and chemistry between Erivo and Grande performed viral interview moments in the advertising campaign of the first film, and the couple opened the Oscar awards together with an evil medley in March. However, a challenge for the sequel is that most of the best-known songs from the musical are featured in the first film. The upcoming sequel contains two brand new songs, which according to director Jon M Chu, "are great additions to this film" and "were necessary to tell the story."
The Plot of the Sequel
Grande and Erivo are again joined by co-stars Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, and Jeff Goldblum as the wizard. Wicked: For the good, picks up where the first film left off, covering the years after Elphaba and Glinda’s decision to separate. Elphaba is now an enemy of the state of OZ, while Glinda has become a public figure controlled by the wizard. The new trailer shows Glinda on a balcony with a view of a crowd of angry people carrying flaming torches, looking for Elphaba. It ends with Elphaba saying that she is "to see the wizard" before flying away on a broom into the distance.
The Consequences of the Characters’ Decisions
According to Chu, "Our heart was broken when Glinda couldn’t make the decision that it should be so bad at the end of Film One, and it feels that Elphaba flies away from society. In film Two, we can see the consequences of these decisions. The temperature has expired." The sequel promises to be an exciting conclusion to the Wizard of Oz spin-off, with the two new songs adding a fresh touch to the story. With the release of the trailer, fans are eagerly waiting to see how the story of Elphaba and Glinda will unfold.
