Wicked: For Good – Recapping Part I and unpacking definitive confrontation for Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande

As the globe eagerly awaits the worldwide premiere of Wicked: For Good on November 21, 2025, audiences everywhere will be able to witness the concluding chapter of the friendship that moulded Oz. The two-part film adaptation of the popular stage musical, directed by Jon M. Chu, hit a cultural and commercial apex last year, paving the way for a major event in 2025.

With nearly $750 million grossed globally by the end of its theatrical run, the first installment, Wicked (2024), solidified its position as one of the highest-grossing musical adaptations in history. The film was a smashing hit at the box office and critically acclaimed, garnering eleven nominations and winning in technical categories, including Costume Design and Production Design, among others.

Here's an essential look at the first film's dramatic climax and an examination of the story threads that Wicked: For Good must resolve in anticipation of the sequel's impending release.

ALSO READ: Wicked review: Ariana Grande glimmers, Cynthia Erivo powers through a bewitching tale

Part I Recap: Ascent of Elphaba in Wicked

Beginning with Glinda the Good (Ariana Grande) reflecting on the Wicked Witch of the West's (Cynthia Erivo) demise, the 2024 film flashed back to the two witches' formative years, introducing viewers to their genesis narrative. Elphaba Thropp, a character with vibrant green skin, and her sister Nessarose, played by Marissa Bode, who is wheelchair-bound, had an eventful journey to Shiz University.

Initially a social outcast, Elphaba unceremoniously partnered with the gregarious and successful Galinda Upland. At its heart, the film was an emotional exploration of the bond between the two ladies, which was shaped by their divergent personalities and their complicated feelings for Fiyero Tigelaar, the Winkie Prince, played by Jonathan Bailey. In solidarity with their persecuted history professor, the Animal Dr Dillamond (voiced by Peter Dinklage), Glinda's metamorphosis from "Galinda" to "Glinda" cemented their friendship via shared experiences.

With the help of her sorcery teacher, Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), Elphaba was able to secure an appointment with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum), changing her fate forever. However, the long-awaited trip to the Emerald City proved to be the pivotal event. Elphaba and Glinda exposed the charlatan who used his position to control and subjugate the Ozark Animals.

Extreme acts of disobedience and treachery defined the climax. In the gripping climax of the film, Elphaba takes flight on a broomstick after escaping from the capital with the magical Grimmerie spellbook, following the Wizard's manipulative attempts to use her strong but untrained magic to create the Flying Monkeys. After much deliberation, Glinda decided to stay and embrace the public narrative that portrayed Elphaba as a "wicked" fugitive and as the public enemy number one of Morrible and the Wizard. Glinda accepted her new role as the Good Witch in the public glare, but Elphaba faced exile; the two friends were separated at the end of the film by fate, politics, and a vast, merciless sky.

Wicked is streaming on JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium) right now for people in India who want to go back to the beginning.

Part II Analysis – Definitive Confrontation in Wicked: For Good

Wicked: For Good will adapt the second act of the stage performance and pick up right after the dramatic separation. How Elphaba and Glinda deal with the fallout from their different decisions and the Wizard's regime's subsequent PR campaign constitutes the central conflict of the film.

Returning to spearhead the stunning ensemble are Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, and director Jon M. Chu maintains continuity in his vision. Jeff Goldblum plays the cunning Wizard, Michelle Yeoh plays Madame Morrible, and Jonathan Bailey plays Fiyero.

Narrative stakes

Seen in the musical number No Good Deed, Wicked: For Good follows Elphaba as she goes from being a runaway to assuming the mantle of the "Wicked Witch of the West" in her quest to end the government's cruelty towards animals. At the same time as Glinda becomes the public face of kindness and navigates the political intrigues of the Emerald City, Fiyero is secretly battling his allegiances to the two witches as he gets ready for his much-publicized marriage to Glinda.

The film is expected to delve into the intricate fates of several significant figures whose paths intersect with Dorothy Gale's. Among these are the final evolution of Boq (Ethan Slater), who is still madly in love with Glinda, into the Tin Woodman, and the subsequent unexpected repercussions caused by Nessarose's desire for independence. It has been announced that there will be a major change from the stage play in the film. Instead of walking, Nessarose can float thanks to her magical shoes. This modification is a small but substantial change in the narrative's emphasis on disabilities. In addition, the presence of Dorothy Gale in Oz will act as the catalyst that drives the main storyline to its sad climax.

The bond that develops between Elphaba and Glinda is the emotional anchor of the sequel. Glinda's efforts to mediate peace between the Wizard and the women will backfire, severely estranging them. Confronting each other for a final time, the two friends set the stage for the classic events described in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which form the basis of the climax. Erivo and Grande both pledge to sing their vocal parts live during filming, which adds an unmatched emotional realism to crucial moments like the last, titular duet, For Good, although the production scale is still enormous.

With the last promotional waves having broken and the box office gearing up for yet another record-setting opening, Wicked: For Good looks like it will be the ultimate cinematic conclusion to the untold Oz story—emotionally complex, lavishly produced, and conclusive. Soon, viewers will discover whether "goodness" lies in fame, power, or the enduring bonds of friendship.

FAQs:

Q: When is Wicked: For Good released in theatres?

A: Wicked: For Good is scheduled to be released globally in cinemas on November 21, 2025.

Q: Which actors are returning for the Wicked sequel?

A: The main cast from the first film, Wicked (2024), will reprise their roles, including Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp (The Wicked Witch of the West), Ariana Grande as Glinda Upland (Glinda the Good), Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Ethan Slater as Boq (who becomes the Tin Woodman), and Marissa Bode as Nessarose Thropp. The film is again directed by Jon M. Chu.

Q: Is Wicked: For Good the final film in the series?

A: Yes, Wicked: For Good is the definitive conclusion to Jon M. Chu's two-part cinematic adaptation of the original stage musical. The two films, Wicked (2024) and Wicked: For Good (2025), tell the complete untold story of Elphaba and Glinda, culminating in the setting for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.