Wicked Recap Before For Good: Plot Summary
The original Wicked film, released in 2024, adapts the Broadway musical and tells the story of Elphaba and Glinda before the events of The Wizard of Oz. The movie follows their time at Shiz University, where their friendship forms despite opposing views on the Wizard of Oz. The film explores themes of power, prejudice, and propaganda in the Land of Oz, setting up the moral complexity that For Good continues. Forbes detailed how the film reframes the classic Oz narrative from the perspective of the so-called Wicked Witch.
Wicked premiered globally in November 2024 and opened in U.S. theaters shortly after, grossing over $150 million in its first five days of release worldwide. The film stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, with Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, and Michelle Yeoh in major supporting roles. Director Jon M. Chu helmed the adaptation, which was produced by Universal Pictures. Box Office Mojo tracks the film's cumulative global total as it approaches $800 million across all markets.
Wicked Cast, Characters, and Musical Numbers
The cast of Wicked includes Marissa Bode as Nessarose, Peter Dinklage as Doctor Dillamond, and Bowen Yang as Pfannee. The film features iconic songs from the stage production, including Defying Gravity, Popular, and What Is This Feeling. The soundtrack became a major streaming success, with Defying Gravity and Popular trending on music platforms following the film's release. Billboard reported the soundtrack's chart performance across global markets.
Wicked for Good is confirmed as a two-part adaptation, with the second film continuing directly from the first. The sequel will cover Elphaba's transformation into the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda's political rise in the Emerald City. Universal Pictures has not yet announced a specific release date for the second part, though industry sources expect principal photography to begin in 2025. The Hollywood Reporter covered the development timeline for the follow-up film.
Wicked Box Office, Production, and Cultural Impact
The production budget for Wicked was reported at approximately $145 million before marketing costs. The film was shot at Pinewood Studios in the United Kingdom, with extensive use of practical sets and CGI for the Emerald City and flying sequences. Universal Pictures distributed the film globally, and it became the highest-grossing adaptation of a Broadway musical in cinema history. SEC filings from Universal's parent company include revenue breakdowns for the film's theatrical run.
Wicked received multiple award nominations, including nods for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay at major ceremonies. The film's visual effects, costumes, and musical arrangements were widely praised by