Director Jon M. Chu has unveiled a fresh trailer for Wicked: For Good, offering a glimpse of Cynthia Erivo’s new song and Ariana Grande dressed in a wedding gown.
With only a few months to go until Wicked: For Good hits cinemas, anticipation is soaring. Ever since the first Wicked film cast its spell at the box office, fans have been singing along to the soundtrack and eagerly awaiting the continuation of Elphaba and Glinda’s journey on the big screen.
Now, the first trailer for Wicked: For Good has finally dropped, offering an early glimpse at how director Jon M. Chu plans to transform the complex, often chaotic final act of the stage musical into a streamlined Hollywood blockbuster. One thing is clear: Broadway purists may need to brace themselves for even more overt connections to The Wizard of Oz this time around.
What’s Changing in the Musical’s Movie Sequel?
The countdown is on. Wicked: For Good, the highly anticipated second chapter in the two-part movie adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical, is just months away from hitting cinemas. Ever since Wicked defied gravity at the box office, fans have been humming the songs in the shower and marking their calendars for the next installment.
Now, with the release of the first Wicked: For Good trailer, we’re getting a clearer picture of how director Jon M. Chu plans to transform the complex, often chaotic second act of the stage production into a sleek, emotionally charged Hollywood spectacle. And yes, there are changes—some expected, some surprising—that will reshape the way we experience the untold story of Oz’s witches.
A More Musical Second Half
One of the biggest critiques of Wicked’s stage show is that the bulk of its most iconic songs—like “Defying Gravity,” “Popular,” and “What Is This Feeling?”—all fall in the first act. The second half, by comparison, can feel musically sparse. But Wicked: For Good aims to fix that.
Director Jon M. Chu confirmed to Vanity Fair that both Elphaba and Glinda will have brand-new songs in the film, written by the original composer Stephen Schwartz. The trailer gives us a quick taste: Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba can be heard singing a haunting, unfamiliar melody—presumably from her new number.
This musical expansion should help balance the emotional arc and breathe fresh energy into the film’s latter half, which has always been rich in drama but light on standout tunes.
From Stage Limits to Big-Screen Magic
What the stage couldn’t always pull off technically, the film will deliver with visual grandeur. Elphaba’s iconic flight during “Defying Gravity” got a cinematic upgrade in the first movie, and Chu promises there’s even more to come.
“If you think Elphaba flew in movie one, in movie two, she flies,” Chu told Vanity Fair.
The trailer alone shows her swooping across the skies on her broomstick. We also get a glimpse of a stampede of animals—signaling that the film will dive deeper into Elphaba’s underground campaign to liberate the oppressed creatures of Oz. Her hidden rebel base will appear, setting the stage before her dramatic retreat to the castle at Kiamo Ko.
Nessa’s Complicated Storyline
Notably absent from the trailer is Elphaba’s sister, Nessarose. Her arc—transforming into the Wicked Witch of the East and eventually being crushed by Dorothy’s house—is one of the more controversial threads in Wicked’s second act.
In the musical, Nessa’s jealousy leads her to cast a harmful spell on Boq, turning him into the Tin Man. She also rules the Munchkins with an iron fist in an attempt to keep Boq from leaving her.
A particularly problematic moment has always been the spell that allows Nessa to walk without her wheelchair, seemingly suggesting a disabled character needs to be “fixed.” Actor Marissa Bode, who plays Nessa in the film and uses a wheelchair in real life, confirmed that this element has been thoughtfully reworked.
“I cannot say what those [changes] are just yet,” she told The Hollywood Reporter, “but they did make those changes so that the magic within Wicked is still there, but the narrative is less harmful to disabled people.”
She added: “A lot of non-disabled people already have the preconceived idea that all disabled people want to be fixed. Portraying something like that in something as big as Wicked can have negative effects.”
A Wedding in Oz?
Another noticeable departure from the stage version is the introduction of a wedding. The trailer hints at Glinda (Ariana Grande) in a lavish gown, with several scenes implying she may be marrying Fiyero. In the musical, the two are only engaged—but the film may push the drama further by showing them go through with it.
“It’s life or death for all of them, so a wedding seemed appropriate,” Chu told Vanity Fair. “It makes everything more complicated.”
If Glinda and Fiyero actually marry, it would intensify the emotional stakes when Fiyero ultimately chooses Elphaba. Whether he goes through with the wedding or jilts Glinda at the altar, the moment is primed for a big emotional payoff—and possibly Glinda’s new solo number. Ariana Grande, the stage is yours.
Tighter Ties to The Wizard of Oz
While the first Wicked film focused on events leading up to Dorothy’s arrival in Oz, Wicked: For Good unfolds concurrently with The Wizard of Oz. And unlike the musical, which keeps Dorothy mostly offstage and silent, the sequel appears to give her a slightly larger presence.
One trailer scene shows the Wizard dispatching Dorothy and her companions to retrieve Elphaba’s broom—a mission familiar to any Oz fan. This version may more explicitly tie Elphaba’s downfall to Dorothy’s quest, creating a clearer connection between the two stories.
In the Wicked stage show, the fates of Dorothy’s companions are reimagined: Fiyero becomes the Scarecrow after Elphaba magically protects him from injury; Boq turns into the Tin Man after Nessa’s disastrous spell; and the Cowardly Lion is a cub Elphaba once rescued, stripped of his courage by being coddled.
Chu has hinted that Wicked: For Good will emphasize these backstories more directly, telling Vanity Fair: “We tread lightly, but try to make more sense of how it impacts our girls and our characters than maybe the show does.”
That means stronger “connective tissue” between Wicked and The Wizard of Oz, likely including the yellow brick road, Dorothy’s journey, and the deeper consequences of Glinda and Elphaba’s choices.
Can It All Fit?
With so much to cover—from new songs and deeper character arcs to Oz-spanning rebellion and romantic fallout—Wicked: For Good has a massive narrative load. The original Wicked film already stretched close to three hours, and its sequel may match or even surpass that runtime.
Still, if the first movie proved anything, it’s that Jon M. Chu can deliver spectacle, heart, and unforgettable performances. With powerful leads, reimagined moments, and dazzling visual effects, Wicked: For Good could be a fitting—and fantastically swankified—finale.
Thank goodness.
Conclusion
Wicked: For Good is shaping up to be more than just a sequel — it’s a bold reimagining of one of Broadway’s most beloved musicals. With new songs, deeper ties to The Wizard of Oz, and thoughtful updates to controversial plot points, Jon M. Chu’s adaptation aims to expand the story’s emotional and narrative scope while staying true to the heart of Elphaba and Glinda’s journey.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the original stage show or stepping into Oz for the first time, Wicked: For Good promises a rich cinematic experience filled with magic, music, and meaning. And as the second chapter prepares to take flight, one thing is clear: the land of Oz has never felt more alive — or more relevant.
Thank goodness, indeed.
