Wicked: For Good is finally in theaters this week, apparently bringing the cinematic phenomenon to an end, even amid rumors of a third Wicked installment. Based on the beloved Broadway musical of the same name, 2024’s Wicked was a record-breaking hit. Its follow-up, which will adapt the second act of the show, is decisively one of the most anticipated movies of 2025.
Starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba a.k.a. The Wicked Witch of the West and Ariana Grande as Glinda the Good Witch, Wicked reimagines The Wizard of Oz, reframing Elphaba as the victim of a smear campaign while trying to fight a corrupt regime. The Wicked movies also star Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum.
First reactions to Wicked: For Good were overwhelmingly positive, and the sequel is projected to be another box office giant. So, Universal Pictures has reason to want to pursue continuing the Wicked franchise even though the Broadway source material has run out. Theoretically, the story would allow for it, with the potential to explore ongoing socio-political conflict in Oz.
However, Saturday Night Live comedian Bowen Yang apparently shut down the idea when speaking with Variety. “I think we leave it here,” Yang said during Variety On the Carpet presented by Lexus. However, he teased the idea of a spinoff: “I’m going to pitch a Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead story with my and Bronwyn James’ characters.“
Most Wicked purists would probably agree with Yang that the cinematic venture should end here. Yang and James portray Glinda’s friends Pfanee and ShenShen, goofy characters who entirely buy into the narrative of The Wicked Witch of the West. The roles were expanded from the stage version, especially enhanced by the movie actors’ comedic sensibilities.
However, when he was also asked about the matter, Wicked and Wicked: For Good director Jon M. Chu responded: “What’s it about? You know, there’s a lot of ideas flying around right now. We’ll see. Let’s enjoy this ride first.” Thus, Universal may not have entirely ruled out the idea, especially when Gregory Maguire wrote several more novels after Wicked.
Making more movies set in Wicked‘s universe after Wicked: For Good would be immensely challenging; it would presumably mean writing many original songs, and possibly reworking parts of the plot of Maguire’s books to be more family-friendly, as the Broadway production once did with the first novel. It is probably for the best if Yang is right, and audiences should just enjoy the magnificent finale.
