Wicked: For Good

 February 18, 2026

Dear viewers, 

After the overwhelming success of ‘Wicked’, Glinda and Elphaba return with an even more remarkable sequel, ‘Wicked: For Good’. Based on the broadway musical with the elaborate production design and remarkable costuming by Oscar winners Nathan Crowley and Paul Tazewell, ‘Wicked’ and ‘Wicked: For Good’ immerse viewers into the wonders within the land of Oz. Naturally, Jon M. Chu, director of Now You See Me 2 and In The Heights, took on the massive task of adapting the second half of the broadway musical to an emotionally grounded standalone film, while also expanding the storyline to fit its two-part structure. The sequel was held up to high expectations after the highly praised energy and plot of the first film, and those expectations were met with the movie’s emotional narrative, thoughtful casting, and deliberate themes.

Although the first movie centers around Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo,‘Wicked: For Good’ focuses intently on her best friend, Glinda, played by the one and only Arianna Grande. Being one of the most praised celebrities on the planet, the Grammy-winning, multi-platinum singer and actress is recognized as a pop icon with a four-octave vocal range and 98 billion streams. Grande holds our attention with her deeply felt performance, nailing Glinda’s signature hair flip, perfect posture, and her elegant movements over gathering inner turmoil. Grande wasn’t the only extraordinary actor in this film, as Madame Morrible is played by Michelle Yeoh, known for being the first Asian to win the Academy Award for Best Actress. Yeoh’s outstanding display as Madame Morrible with a quiet, unsettling authority rather than over the top theatricality somehow conveys the message better than the original broadway show. With her raw talent, it's hard not to hate the character with how she manipulates Glinda and tricks Oz into hating Elphaba. Not only did the film perfectly capture every detail in the main roles, they also focused intently on the supporting cast. Jonathan Bailey and Ethan Slater give enchanting performances as their respective roles Fiyero and Boq, and Bailey shines in “As Long as You’re Mine” alongside Erivo while “March of the Witch Hunters” powerfully delivers Boq’s character journey.

Now, separated by overwhelming truths and societal expectations, Glinda and Elphaba’s friendship has evolved in unexpected ways. Looking back at the first movie, ‘Wicked’, the two have been an unlikely duo since the beginning. At first, no one expected Glinda, the glamorous, dramatic, attention-loving popular girl dressed head to toe in pink, to become friends with Elphaba, the guarded, green-skinned outsider. However, they saw each other in a way no one else had, seeing through the personas they each created for themselves. Madame Morrible, the headmistress of their school, Shiz, manipulates Elphaba and tricks her into using her powers to create flying monkeys for the Wizard. He cannot actually produce magic, faking his abilities to maintain power, creating chaos to make the citizens of Oz dependent on his leadership, and marginalizing animals, framing them as dangerous to justify silencing them, taking away their rights, and caging them. The first movie ends with Elphaba flying off into the sky on her broomstick while Glinda chooses what she’s dreamed of her whole life, being a beloved public figure representing Oz.

As the sequel begins, under the commands of The Wizard, animals are being silenced and forced to build the yellow brick road. Elphaba is seen living in exile in the forest, known as ‘The Wicked Witch of The West’ and fighting for animal rights and to expose the Wizard. Meanwhile, Glinda is known as a public symbol of goodness, faking her powers with the assistance of the Wizard, enjoying fame and publicity, and living in the palace at Emerald city. Despite living her dream, Glinda is consumed in guilt about how all of Oz is treating Elphaba, because deep down, she knows she only has this reputation because of her best friend. In the song “Couldn’t be happier”, Glinda states “happy is what happens when all your dreams come true”, which highlights how she tries to hide the feelings boiling inside of her. Madame Morrible and the Wizard control the public opinion, spreading false propaganda and carefully crafting the story to frame Elphaba as the enemy. Finally, under the lies spread all across Oz, it's up to Elphaba and Glinda to save Oz and expose The Wizard. 

The movie directly coincides with the classic tale, The Wizard of Oz. It shows a deeper story to each of the characters and events, giving viewers a different perspective to consider. For example, the Tin Man was formerly named Boq, a munchkin in love with Glinda, but forced to marry Elphaba’s sister, Nessa. As he leaves to confess his love, saying how his heart belongs to Glinda, Nessa takes Elphaba’s spellbook, casting a spell to make his heart belong to her. However, the spell goes terribly wrong, almost killing him. Fortunately, Elphaba saves him by turning him into the Tin Man, but Boq, horrified at his new appearance, raises his axe at Nessa. Frozen in fear, Nessa blames Elphaba, making Boq go after her in pure anger. Similarly, the Cowardly Lion was introduced at the end of the first movie, ‘Wicked’. When the Wizard had first started his movement to silence animals, he revealed a lion cub inside a cage in front of Elphaba’s class. Elphaba, heartbroken at the sight, sets the cub free. However, because the cub was forced to survive in the wild, on his own, without his mother, he became fearful of everything, becoming the Cowardly Lion. As ‘Wicked: For Good’ introduces the familiar faces from a different angle, we see the complexity to each character, uncovering deeper layers of each of their personalities.

‘Wicked: For Good’ altogether has a darker theme than the first movie, but this does not mean there’s an absence of brilliance. The film connects directly to political movements occurring after September 11 and the imminent invasion of Iraq, and as we watch the creatures of Oz being stripped of their voices and rights, we see echoes of the real world. Focusing back on the plot, friendship is one of the main themes in the story. Elphaba and Glinda’s bond is tested by political turmoil and their differing moral paths as they strive to salvage their relationship, providing tension and spine throughout the movie. This is especially hard on Glinda; she’s living the life she’s always dreamed about, as shown in a flashback, enchanted by the idea of making people happy and being liked. Heartbroken by the way Elphaba’s being treated, she even tries to convince her to join The Wizard like she did, but seconds after Elphaba agrees, she sees The Wizard caging the animals. Infuriated by the sight, she immediately breaks the allegiance and frees the flying monkeys. Ultimately, Glinda chooses to help Elphaba, leaving her fame and publicity for her best friend. Finally, their friendship is what will determine if Oz can truly be saved, for good.

Best, 

Chloe Zhang