Have you been listening to “Defying Gravity” on repeat ever since “Wicked” hit theaters last year? Well, you won’t have to wait too much longer for the franchise to return to the big screen—and with even more songs to love! “Wicked: For Good,” the second and final installment of Jon M. Chu’s musical adaptation, is scheduled to release Nov. 21. The first film not only broke domestic box office records as the highest-grossing Broadway musical adaptation, but it also racked up some well-deserved Oscar nominations and wins.
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are reprising their roles as Glinda and Elphaba, respectively, for the sequel, bringing back the magic of the first film. Ahead of the movie’s exciting release, here’s everything we know so far about “Wicked: For Good.”
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The exact plot of “Wicked: For Good” remains under wraps, but the films were adapted from the long-running Broadway musical, which is based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.”
“Wicked: For Good” continues the story after Elphaba (Erivo) steals the Grimmerie—an ancient spell book—from the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum) and escapes from the Emerald City. Her rebellion sparks a witch hunt across Oz, and she eventually turns into the villain known as the Wicked Witch of the West.
Meanwhile, Glinda (Grande), formerly known as Galinda, tries to use her magical powers for good but is conflicted by the Wizard and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), who are determined to capture Elphaba. Once best friends, Glinda and Elphaba are driven even further apart by their differing views on power and justice. The sequel will dive deeper into their emotional parting, which was marked by the iconic song “Defying Gravity” at the end of the first movie.
Chu, who helmed 2024’s “Wicked,” also directed the sequel. Dana Fox and Winnie Holzman co-wrote the screenplay for both films; Holzman wrote the book for Broadway’s “Wicked,” winning the Drama Desk Award for outstanding book of a musical in 2004. Universal Pictures is the studio and distributor for both films. The musical’s lyricist and composer Stephen Schwartz wrote two new songs for the sequel.
Much of the main cast from the first “Wicked” film will return for the sequel, including:
- Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba
- Ariana Grande as Glinda
- Jeff Goldblum as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz
- Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero
- Ethan Slater as Boq
- Marissa Bode as Nessarose
- Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible
- Bowen Yang as Pfannee
- Bronwyn James as Shenshen
- Peter Dinklage as the voice of Dr. Dillamond
Fans are eagerly awaiting casting news for who will play the role of Dorothy in “Wicked: For Good,” although it’s unclear how prominent the role will be in the film as the musical never fully reveals Dorothy. The sequel’s trailer briefly shows the character from behind with the Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, and Tin Man.
Filming has already wrapped on “Wicked: For Good,” as both parts were filmed together. However, if you still have your heart set on joining the “Wicked” universe, there are other opportunities to note.
The musical is currently on Broadway and on tour in North America, and a live “Wicked” musical special will air this fall on NBC, per Variety. For more projects that are currently in the works, bookmark our main casting call page and check out these guides:
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- Everything We Know About the ‘Children of Blood and Bone’ Adaptation
And these articles are filled with advice for auditioning:
- How to Get Cast on Broadway
- How to Audition for Musicals
- How to Choose a One-Minute Monologue
- How to Choose an Audition Song
- Fighting Stage Fright: Tips to Quell Audition Anxiety