Since the release of Wicked Part 1, audiences have been desperate to know what to expect from the highly anticipated Wicked Part 2. Set to release one year from now.
Wicked Part 1: The Story
Released on the 22nd of November, the first installment of the movie musical explores the unknown story of the witches. Looking at how Glinda (The Good Witch), and Elphaba (The Wicked Witch of the West) came to be. Set before the The Wizard of Oz, we meet the young witches at Shiz University, and the film tells a touching story of friendship and loyalty. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo star as Glinda and Elphaba, respectively, in this box-office success.
Release Date and Structure
Wicked Part 2 is set to be released on the 21st of November 2025, exactly one year after the release of Part 1. News to fans of the show, who were assuming the story of Wicked would be told in one film. However, having two parts allows the story to stay true to its theatrical origin of Act 1 and Act 2.
The composer of Wicked, Stephen Schwartz, confirmed why the film was separated into two parts.
“The first is that even as a very long single movie, it required us cutting or omitting things that we wanted to include and that we think fans of the show and the story will appreciate. Secondly, we found it very difficult to get past ‘Defying Gravity’ without a break.”
Timeline
Unknown to many Wicked fans, there is a time jump between the two acts of the show. Based on the original book by Gregory Maguire, the time jump represents a five-year period. Brandon Zachary described the difference in tone between the two films.
“While Wicked: Part 1 does briefly tease the ending of the story and reveals the specifics of Elphaba’s childhood, most of the movie is centered around the young women as the grow and make the fateful choices that set up their fates in Wicked: Part 2.”
Details to Expect in Part 2
Name Change
Announced only a few days ago, Wicked Part 2 has officially been retitled as Wicked: For Good. Named after one of the most pivotal songs from the musical ‘For Good’, Ariana Grande discussed why the film had the name change.
“We had ‘For Good’ printed on our original scripts, the hard copies that we were originally given. We were floating around different ideas, but the scripts were printed with it since day one. I’m glad it’s official now because we grew rather attached to it. It’s just the perfect title because this project really has changed us for good.”
Elphaba and Glinda Conflict
Part 2 will see Elphaba transform into the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda as the Good Witch of the South as tensions in Oz rise. At the end of the first film, Elphaba becomes ‘Wicked’ as she refuses to give her powerful magic to the Wizard of Oz, who is determined to silence animals in Oz. Glinda decides to stay loyal to the Wizard, thus leading to the breakdown of their friendship.
Dorothy’s Arrival to Oz
Since the trailer’s release, audiences have been convinced Dorothy will have a cameo in Wicked Part 2, as she does briefly in the original musical. A short clip depicts Dorothy, The Tinman, The Lion, and the Scarecrow following the Yellow Brick Road, suggesting the second instalment will explore Dorothy Gale’s arrival in Oz. Alisha Weir is rumoured to be playing Dorothy in Wicked Part 2.
Wicked Part 1 is currently showing in cinemas worldwide, with Wicked: For Good set to release on the 21st November 2025.
