Wicked’s Cliffhanger Ending, Explained (and What to Expect in Part Two)

In Wicked: Part Two, we might find Elphaba a secret about Glinda’s past actions, but Elphaba declines, saying it would only make the Ozians turn on Glinda too. Instead, they form an uneasy alliance to bring down the Wizard and Madame Morrible, with Elphaba using her magic to help Glinda navigate the treacherous waters of Oz politics.


Spoilers ahead for Wicked, the Broadway musical, film adaptation, and original novel.

In case you’ve missed it, let me share some insights about the movie adaptation of “Wicked”. If you thought the film was a complete story, I can understand why – the trailers have been quite misleading. The truth is, the film ends with a cliffhanger, leaving many viewers eager for more. This 2-hour-and-40-minute movie is actually an adaptation of the first act of the stage musical “Wicked”. The second part, titled “Wicked: Part Two”, based on the second act, is scheduled to hit theaters on November 21, 2025. So, for the next 12 months, we’re in for what might be the longest intermission ever experienced by audiences since Kevin Costner’s “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1”.

In its accomplishment, “Wicked” successfully gives the impression of a fully-fledged film despite much narrative yet to unfold. Fortunately, there’s no need for mystery regarding future events, given the popularity of the long-running Broadway musical and Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” which serves as the film’s inspiration. To help you navigate the upcoming year, we’ve outlined the ending of the first movie and hinted at what may lie ahead in the sequel.

What happens at the end of Wicked: Part Two?

In the musical number “The Wizard and I,” character Elphaba (portrayed by Cynthia Erivo) expresses her long-held anticipation to encounter the so-called Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum), who she’s yearned to meet since birth. However, upon their arrival in the Emerald City with roommate Glinda (Ariana Grande), they soon uncover that he is merely an ordinary man. The Wizard and university headmistress Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) persuade Elphaba to read from the Grimmerie, an ancient text of spells. Unfortunately, her spell goes awry, resulting in the creation of a swarm of flying monkey spies. She subsequently understands that she has been manipulated and recognizes the Wizard as a fraud, devoid of genuine power.

Elphaba decides against teaming up with the Wizard and Madame Morrible, whose cruel treatment of animals aims to control the populace and seize power. Instead, Elphaba flees with the Grimmerie, prompting the Wizard to dispatch palace guards in pursuit. As for Madame Morrible, she publicly denounces Elphaba as a dangerous adversary who needs to be stopped, labeling her a wicked witch.

In a later encounter, Glinda attempts to reconcile with Elphaba, urging her to apologize to the Wizard and reunite. However, Elphaba has witnessed too many atrocities and has grown disillusioned. A transformation has occurred within her! She’s not the same person anymore! Determined to escape, Elphaba conjures a spell, managing only to enchant a broomstick, allowing it to fly – an acceptable means of departure. Almost persuading Glinda to follow, she ultimately fails as Glinda refuses, instead gifting her friend a stylish cape. As the palace guards approach, Elphaba leaps out the window (or rather, falls first and then flies), outwitting the flying monkeys, performing “Defying Gravity,” and vowing that no Wizard, current or past, will bring her down.

The words of Madame Morrible deeply influence the people of Oz, causing them to perceive Elphaba as a fearsome danger. Nessarose, Elphaba’s sister (Marissa Bode), is greatly distressed, but not as much as their father (Andy Nyman), who appears to faint from shock. Meanwhile, at the Wizard’s palace, Morrible orders the guards to release Glinda. Despite all she has witnessed, Glinda and Morrible share an embrace. In the sky above them, Elphaba lets out a war cry before soaring away into the horizon.

Is There an After-Credits Scene?

No. Thank goodness.

What’s going to happen in Wicked: Part Two?

It’s reasonable to expect that the upcoming film “Wicked: Part Two” will closely follow the second act of the musical, given its faithful adaptation in the first movie, despite some expansion and character additions. Since Act Two is shorter, it might require additional content, which could account for composer Stephen Schwartz’s earlier statement about at least two new songs. As for the storyline, the musical offers a clear preview of what we can anticipate in a year from now.

Under normal circumstances, “Wicked: Part Two” would carry on with Glinda, now known as Glinda the Good, propagating positivity among Ozians, while the Wizard and his public relations officer, Madame Morrible, persist in disseminating falsehoods about the Wicked Witch of the West. Although engaged to Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), who functions as the Wizard’s captain of the guard, Glinda’s fiancé remains faithful to Elphaba. He isn’t particularly pleased about marrying Glinda and flees to locate the witch he truly adores.

In the musical “Wicked: Part Two”, Nessa, Elphaba’s sister, undergoes an unexpected change that leads her towards becoming the Wicked Witch of the East. The story could potentially delve deeper into her character’s motivations. Now governing Munchkinland after her father’s demise, she keeps the Munchkins trapped and holds Boq (Ethan Slater), a servant, close to herself. Elphaba arrives with the Grimmerie, using magic to enable Nessa to walk when needed (the movie might adjust this part of the plot). However, when Boq declares his intention to depart and express his feelings for Glinda, Nessa attempts to cast a spell, but inadvertently destroys his heart. This forces Elphaba to transform him into a Tin Man (the first movie refers to Boq as “Woodsman”, suggesting this development is not entirely unexpected).

Elphaba and Fiyero eventually become a couple, but their passionate duet is cut short when Elphaba notices a floating house endangering Nessa. Madame Morrible plans to exploit Nessa’s death to lure Elphaba out of hiding, so she summons a cyclone to bring Dorothy Gale to Oz, similar to the events in “The Wizard of Oz” involving the Wicked Witch of the East. When Elphaba reaches the scene of her sister’s house collapse, she encounters Glinda once more. The two women clash over Fiyero and the fact that Glinda gave Nessa’s magical shoes to Dorothy before sending her on the yellow brick road.

In summary, Elphaba is close to capture but is rescued by Fiyero who turns out to be a spy. He’s taken away, and Elphaba casts a protective spell while singing “No Good Deed,” a powerful song that highlights the darker aspects of her character and contributes significantly to Act Two. Meanwhile, the citizens of Oz are eager to destroy the Wicked Witch of the West. Some of Dorothy’s friends harbor grudges against Elphaba: The Tin Woodman, originally Boq, seeks revenge for his transformation, even though it was done to save his life; and the Cowardly Lion, who is an adult version of the lion rescued by Elphaba and Fiyero in “Wicked,” holds Elphaba responsible for his cowardice.

In the end, Elphaba and Glinda manage to reconcile, although Glinda considers revealing the truth about the Wicked Witch of the West. However, Elphaba advises against it as it might lead to backlash towards Glinda as well. The duo then perform a touching song called “For Good,” which is a highlight of Act Two if you value excellent harmonies and tearful reflections on friendship. When Dorothy splashes water on Elphaba, it appears to harm her severely, but the musical Wicked offers a brighter ending, so we can expect the same from the movie. Following Morrible’s arrest, Glinda sends Elphaba’s green glass bottle to the Wizard, who then recognizes that he was responsible for his biological daughter’s death. Interestingly, Elphaba only pretends to die in order to live freely with Fiyero, transforming into the Scarecrow through a spell – something Glinda remains unaware of their true fates.

What could be added to Wicked: Part Two from the book?

If the sequel to the movie “Wicked” intends to delve deeper into the events of Act Two from the musical, there are numerous chances for additional background, additional scenes, and fresh characters. Finding places to incorporate the two new songs is crucial! One potential source for these enhancements could be Gregory Maguire’s original novel, which provided a basis for the musical. However, it’s important to note that the book version of “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” is significantly darker, more complex, and contains mature themes such as intricate politics, intense violence, and adult content – elements that are not suitable for a family-friendly musical or a PG-rated film. (Winnie Holzman, who wrote the book for the “Wicked” musical, collaborated with Dana Fox on the screenplay for the films.)

Excluding significant deviations from its musical format, Wicked: Part Two would need to draw heavily from Gregory Maguire’s novel. It’s improbable that Fiyero will be forced into an arranged marriage (not with Glinda) and will engage in an affair with Elphaba. This means we may not encounter Elphaba’s son, Liir, unless the filmmakers are keen to adapt more of Maguire’s novels. Liir is the central character in his first Wicked sequel, titled Son of a Witch.

In the story titled “Wicked”, a significant portion unfolds within Fiyero’s castle, Kiamo Ko, which serves as home to Elphaba, Liir, and Fiyero’s widow, Sarima. Though Elphaba imagines the Scarecrow might be Fiyero in disguise, it is revealed that he has actually passed away. Sarima is an intriguing character, but it’s unlikely she will appear in “Part Two”. To preserve a PG rating for the film and present Elphaba as less morally ambiguous than her book counterpart, we may not witness scenes like her accidental bee-induced chef’s death or her posthumous attack on Madame Morrible with a bludgeon.

The aspect that seems most probable for expansion in Part Two, drawing from Maguure’s novel, appears to be the depiction of Elphaba and Dorothy. While Dorothy is only hinted at in the musical, either hidden off-stage or glimpsed in shadow, she has a more significant role in the book. This includes a crucial scene where she expresses her wish for Elphaba’s forgiveness for killing Nessarose. Given that the first Wicked movie was heavily influenced by The Wizard of Oz with numerous Easter eggs and references to the 1939 film, it is suggested that Part Two might delve deeper into Dorothy and her companions. Introducing some scenes from Maguire’s Dorothy could aid in reinforcing one of the key themes in Wicked: good and evil being subjective matters of perspective.

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2024-11-22 02:57