Wicked 2 Is Confirmed to Fix the Broadway Show’s Glinda Issue

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The upcoming movie, *Wicked: For Good*, is expected to address a key criticism many have of the *Wicked* musical, potentially making the sequel more impactful. Set to premiere on November 21, 2025, the film will complete the adaptation of the popular two-part Broadway show. A trailer is already out, and fans are curious to see how faithful the movie will be to the original stage production.

The upcoming movie sequel to *Wicked*, titled *Wicked: For Good*, will noticeably change Glinda’s storyline compared to the stage musical. This significant alteration aims to resolve a conflict within the relationship between Glinda and Elphaba.

I was reading an interview with Jon M. Chu, the director of the *Wicked* movie, and he talked about a big change they’re making from the stage show. Apparently, Act II of the musical has a problem where Glinda and Elphaba aren’t really together much until pretty late in the act. Chu said the movie will fix that – they’re not going to follow that part of the stage show exactly and will have them interacting more throughout Act II, which I’m really excited about!

According to Chu, Ariana Grande’s Glinda and Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba will come together much sooner in the upcoming movie, *For Good*, than they do in the stage musical. This means we’ll see the two characters together in more scenes, making some parts of the film noticeably different from the original musical that fans know and love.

In the interview, Chu explained that, at its core, “Wicked: For Good” is always focused on either Glinda, Elphaba, or the connection between them.

Throughout the entire story, the focus always returned to either one of the characters themselves, or the connection between them.

As a huge fan of *Wicked*, I always thought it was a little strange that Glinda and Elphaba didn’t really have any scenes together after Elphaba takes off during “Defying Gravity.” Apparently, director Jon M. Chu agreed! He felt like that separation was a missed opportunity in the original musical, and wanted to fix it in the movie.

Chu commented on the film’s focus, saying, “It’s always about them,” hinting that audiences will see Glinda and Elphaba together in numerous scenes throughout the movie *Wicked: For Good*.

We repeatedly found that the core of the issue always came back to the girls and their relationships with each other. Whatever challenge someone was facing, it was either influenced by what they’d learned from another girl, or by the absence of that connection. Ultimately, the solution always revolved around understanding their dynamic.

We don’t yet know how often the two main characters will share scenes, or how much screen time will be given to other characters in the movie.

Wicked: For Good will also star Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Jeff Goldblum, and Michelle Yeoh.

Will Wicked’s Source Material Deviation Hurt the Movie?

People who are passionate about stories – whether they enjoy them as books, musicals, video games, or movies – often get worried when those in charge of adapting a story announce changes. The musical *Wicked* is a prime example; it’s hugely popular and cherished by a large fanbase.

Most people probably agree that *Wicked* is really about Glinda and Elphaba, and the first movie focused heavily on developing their connection. So, it would be surprising if the sequel didn’t show them together much, as it would essentially negate the relationship built in the first film.

The play and the movie adaptations differ significantly in how they present the story. The play’s two parts are meant to be watched together, or very close in time, while the movies will be released as separate films with about a year between them.

Because the audience has just seen Elphaba and Glinda together onstage, it’s less important for them to share a lot of scenes. However, a movie version really needs to feature both of them, as their stories are closely connected and rely on each other.

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2025-10-06 06:08