21st November 2025
When Universal first announced that Wicked would be split into two films, critics weren’t shy about questioning the decision. Why stretch a beloved musical into a multi-part epic? But now that the second instalment Wicked: For Good is here, that choice looks a lot less risky and a lot more like a creative opportunity. The expanded format has given filmmakers the breathing room to explore Oz in ways the stage production simply never could.
And yes, this time, Oz is bigger, darker, and more emotionally complex.
A Wider Oz: Dorothy Returns (But Not How You Expect)
One of the boldest choices in For Good is its return to the moment Dorothy arrives in Oz a scene burned into cinematic history. Instead of recreating it beat-for-beat, the film expands it, digging into the ripples her arrival sends through the political landscape. Dorothy appears several times, but her face is strategically hidden, highlighting how she’s used as a symbol almost a pawn in the Wizard’s machinery.
Producer Marc Platt explains it best:
“We had more time to explore how the two stories collide.”
This deeper overlap with the 1939 classic is something the Broadway version never had enough space to explore. The two-film structure makes it possible.
Glinda’s Shine and the Shadows Beneath It
Ariana Grande once again steps into Glinda’s shimmering shoes, but this time the character isn’t just floating in bubbles and perfection. The extra runtime lets audiences’ peek beneath her glossy exterior.
Her new original song, “The Girl in the Bubble,” digs into Glinda’s own painful history one that complicates her picture-perfect personality. It’s an emotional swing that fans never got to see onstage.
By the time For Good begins, years have passed since the first film. Glinda is now the polished poster girl for the Wizard’s regime a position that looks glamorous from the outside but leaves her battling guilt, loneliness, and the weight of her own image.
Grande, already an Oscar nominee for the first film, is firmly back in awards conversations again.
Elphaba: A Rebel in Exile
Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba takes a different journey one filled with resistance, isolation, and misunderstood intentions. Now living in exile, she continues to be branded the “evil witch” by a system desperate to silence her.
Her new song, “There’s No Place Like Home,” adds emotional heft to her arc and has already fueled her Best Actress buzz. It’s a powerful counterbalance to Glinda’s glittering world and one of the film’s standout moments.
Why Two Films? The Answer Finally Makes Sense
- The expanded format allows:
- New storylines that deepen the world-building
- More time with characters who barely appeared onstage
- Fresh political layers connecting Wicked to the original Wizard of Oz
- Two beautiful new songs that enrich character arcs
- A more grounded look at how Oz became the fractured world we see
Universal’s gamble seems to be paying off. The first Wicked film brought in more than $750 million worldwide, and early excitement suggests the audience is ready to return to Oz again.
Quick Comparison Table: What the Two-Film Split Added
| Feature | Stage Musical | Two-Film Adaptation |
| Dorothy’s role | Barely mentioned | Multiple appearances, politically symbolic |
| Glinda’s depth | Optimistic, comic relief | Emotional backstory + darker layers |
| Elphaba’s journey | Focused on friendship & rebellion | Broader political exile + new music |
| Screen time | One condensed story | Rich, slow-burn storytelling |
| Songs | Original score | Original score + 2 new songs |
Poll: Which New Element Are You Most Excited About?
FQAs
To give the story room to breathe adding new character arcs, expanded lore, and deeper connections to the 1939 film.
Yes, but in a unique way. Her presence is felt throughout the film, but her face stays hidden, reinforcing her symbolic role in Oz’s politics.
Yes, two original songs:
“The Girl in the Bubble” (Glinda)
“There’s No Place Like Home” (Elphaba)
Not exactly. They stay loyal to the spirit but expand the story with new scenes, emotional depth, and political framing.
Check out the official site for updates:
https://www.wickedthemusical.com/
Conclusion: A Bigger, Bolder, More Emotional Oz
Wicked: For Good proves why the story deserved two films. With space to explore Glinda’s past, Elphaba’s exile, and Dorothy’s hidden influence, the movie becomes more than an adaptation it becomes a bridge between worlds. One that honors the Broadway classic while building something richer, deeper, and undeniably magical.
Oz hasn’t just expanded.
It’s evolved.
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