When IsWicked: Part TwoOut? What to Expect in the Movie's Second Act

Mar. 15, 2025

Ariana Grande as Glinda.Photo:Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures

Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures

OneWickedmovie just isn’t enough!

While audiences are already traveling to the Land of Oz with the release ofWicked: Part Oneon Nov. 22, they’ll have to wait one year to witness how Elphaba and Glinda’s stories end. In April 2022, directorJon M. Chuannounced on X(formerly Twitter) that the film adaptation ofthe long-running Broadway musical— which was an adaptation of Gregory Maguire’s 1995 bookWicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West— would be split into two parts.

“As we prepared this production over last year, it became increasingly clear that it would be impossible to wrestle the story of WICKED into a single film without doing some real damage to it,” theCrazy Rich Asiansdirector wrote, noting that the damage would have involved cutting songs or trimming characters.

“So we decided to give ourselves a bigger canvas and make not just one WICKED movie but TWO!!!!! With more space, we can tell the story of WICKED as it was meant to be told while bringing even more depth and surprise to the journeys of these beloved characters,” he wrote.

WithWicked, which starsCynthia Erivoas Elphaba andAriana Grandeas Glinda, now in theatres, more details are coming out about whatWicked: Part Twowill entail. Here’s everything to know aboutWicked’s second act.

Warning: This article contains spoilers forWicked: Part One.

Why isWickedin two parts?

Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba and Ariana Grande is Glinda.Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures

ScreenwriterWinnie HolzmantoldScreenRantin November 2024 that there were “long conversations” between her, Chu, composerStephen Schwartzand producerMarc Plattabout whether or not to splitWickedinto two parts. Eventually, they all agreed there was “too much story for one movie.”

“We wanted the fun, and the whole artistic fulfillment of being able to make these movies was to be able to explore our story and our characters with a little bit more depth,” Holzman said. “As we’re doing that, it’s adding up. And nobody wanted to cut any songs — in fact, we wanted to add songs.”

This decision means thatWickedalso follows the original Broadway production’s two-part act. Just as the song “Defying Gravity” closes the curtain on Act 1 on stage, it also signals the end of the first movie. Schwartz said that iconic number was also a part of the decision to break the film into two parts.

“We found it very difficult to get past ‘Defying Gravity’ without a break,” the composer told a fan newsletter called The Schwartz Scene in 2022. “That song is written specifically to bring a curtain down, and whatever scene to follow it without a break just seemed hugely anti-climactic.”

What isWicked: Part Twoabout?

Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba and Ariana Granda is Glinda.Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures

Wickedis expected to follow a similar plot structure as the Broadway musical. The firstWickedmovie is a prequel to the 1939Judy GarlandmovieThe Wizard of Oz,while the second details the same events of the film but from the perspective of Elphaba.

“The first tells how Elphaba becomes the Wicked Witch of the West,” Marc Platt wrote in production notes, “and the second tells how her best friend,Glinda, becomes authentically good."

In a November 2024 interview withScreenRant, Chu teased the potential ofThe Wizard of Ozprotagonist Dorothy Gale being involved inWicked: Part Two.

“In movie 1, it was important to let Dorothy be how you want her to be. I didn’t want to step on your images of whatever version of Dorothy you wanted her to be,” the director said. “But the presence is important because that plays a significant role in what will happen and how they intersect … But you’ll have to see movie 2 to know how far we go with her.”

Which cast members are returning forWicked: Part Two?

Cast members attend Universal’s ‘Wicked’ premiere at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles on Nov. 9, 2024.VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty

VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty

ThoughDeadlinedid confirm in June 2023 that Erivo and Grande will return to their roles of Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, only a few details about the rest of theWicked: Part Twocast have been announced.

Both movies were filmed at the same time, so there’s a good chance thecast ofWicked— includingJonathan Bailey,Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater,Jeff Goldblumand Marissa Bode — will appear in the second movie as their characters do in Act 2 of the Broadway musical.

When did filming finish?

Director Jon M. Chu with Cynthia Erivo (as Elphaba) and Ariana Grande (as Glinda) on the set of ‘Wicked’.Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures

“I’ve been trying to think of what I’d say when this day finally came,” the actress wrote in the caption. “THIS moment, this film, these people, this cast, this crew, this director, my Glinda, were the Grandest gift I could ever have asked for, and I am eternally grateful for the chance to bring you This Elphie."

She continued, “I hope when you meet her, you’ll love her as much and as fiercely as I do. And with that I say, that’s a wrap for me, Elphie out!! 💚💚💚.”

When willWicked: Part Twobe released?

‘Wicked’.Universal Pictures

The second act ofWickedwill be released on Nov. 21, 2025.

Is there a trailer forWicked: Part Two?

The Emerald City in ‘Wicked’.Universal Pictures

There is no trailer yet forWicked: Part Two. Fans can watchWicked: Part Onein theaters now.

source: people.com