Wicked: For Good — release date, cast, plot and everything we know

Elphaba and Glinda standing on opposite cliffs in Wicked: For Good poster
(Image credit: Universal Pictures)

The Wicked movie ended on a major high note, but if you left the theater feeling like there was still a lot of things unresolved, there’s a very good reason for that — the movie was the first half of the story, which is going to be concluded with Wicked: For Good (originally titled Wicked: Part Two), one of the most anticipated 2025 new movies.

A number of big Hollywood movies have opted to split their stories into two parts in recent years (Avengers: Infinity War/Endgame, Dune, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse). But Wicked has an inherent advantage; as a Broadway play it was already split into two acts. Wicked (aka Wicked: Part One) was an adaptation of the musical’s first act, while Wicked: For Good will take on the second act of the show.

What happens in Wicked: For Good and, perhaps most importantly, when can you see Wicked: For Good on the big screen? We’ve got everything you need to know about the movie right here.

Wicked: For Good release date

Wicked: For Good is releasing exactly one year after Wicked, with the sequel hitting movie theaters on November 21, 2025.

In the meantime, here’s how you can watch Wicked to make sure you’re caught up with the movie ahead of release the second part's release.

Wicked: For Good cast

Ariana Grande in Wicked

Ariana Grande in Wicked (Image credit: Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures)

The cast of Wicked: For Good will include just about all of the main cast members from Wicked’s first half. Most importantly that includes Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda; both actresses received Oscar nominations for their performances in Wicked.

That also includes Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard, Michelle Yeoh as Madam Morrible, Marissa Bode as Nessarose, Ethan Slater as Boq, Bowen Yang as Pfannee, Bronwyn James as ShenShen, Keala Settle as Miss Coddle and Peter Dinklage as Professor Dillamond.

No new additions to the cast have been announced at this time.

Wicked: For Good plot

Universal has not shared their own official synopsis for Wicked: For Good, but fans of the Broadway show are likely well versed in the events of the story. For those who haven’t seen the stage production however, here’s a recap of where things left off with Wicked and where the story is expected to go in Wicked: For Good (FYI, SPOILERS ahead).

After going from enemies to friends at Shiz University, Elphaba and Glinda journey to the Emerald City to meet the Wizard. There, Elphaba makes a few major discoveries: she can read the legendary magic book the Grimmerie (which no one has been able to do for a long time), that the Wizard actually has no powers of his own and has plans to turn the people Oz against the animals that also inhabit the land. Appalled by this, Elphaba decides to break away from the Wizard. Glinda, however, decides she cannot follow Elphaba on this path, and the two have a teary goodbye, with Elphaba creating a magic broomstick to allow her to fly away as the Wizard and Madam Morrible begin to portray her as a “wicked witch.”

The second act of the Wicked Broadway show continues the story of Elphaba and Glinda as they move forward in their journeys to becoming the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good, respectively, as well as setting the stage for the classic Wizard of Oz story of Dorothy.

Wicked: For Good trailer

There is no trailer for Wicked: For Good at this time, but that will be changing soon.

The Wicked: For Good trailer is going to be shown to audiences for the first time as part of a special re-release of Wicked in movie theaters on Wednesday, June 4, as shared via an Instagram post from Erivo and Grande. The only way you'll be able to watch it on June 4 is if you go see Wicked again on the big screen.

After that it will assuredly be made available online, but TBD on how soon after. Either way, we'll have it for you here when that happens.

Check out the Instagram post:

Wicked: For Good director

Jon M. Chu continues on as the director for Wicked: For Good. Here is a full list of his feature directing credits, including the first half of Wicked:

  • Step Up 2: The Streets (2008)
  • Step Up 3D (2010)
  • Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (2011)
  • G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)
  • Justin Bieber’s Believe (2013)
  • Jem and the Holograms (2015)
  • Now You See Me 2 (2016)
  • Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
  • In the Heights (2021)
  • Wicked (2024)

Wicked: For Good behind the scenes

Both parts of Wicked were filmed back-to-back, so production on Wicked: For Good is already completed. A TV special on the production of Wicked is available right now if you want to learn more about it, with Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked now streaming on Peacock.

In addition to the cast and director, some of the movie’s other key contributors include Winnie Holzman, who wrote the adaptation of the Broadway show for the big screen, and producers Marc Platt and David Stone. Universal Pictures is the studio behind the movie, alongside Marc Platt Productions.

Elphaba and Glinda standing on opposite cliffs over the yellow brick road with Wicked: For Good title center in Wicked: For Good poster

(Image credit: Universal Pictures)
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Michael Balderston
Assistant Managing Editor

Michael Balderston is What to Watch’s assistant managing editor and lead movie writer, , writing movie reviews and highlighting new and classic movies on streaming services; he also covers a range of TV shows, including those in the Taylor Sheridan universe, Slow Horses, Only Murders in the Building, Jeopardy!, Saturday Night Live and more, as well as the best ways to watch some major US sporting events.

Based outside of Washington, D.C., Michael's previous experience includes writing for Awards Circuit, TV Technology and The Wrap.

Michael’s favorite movie of all time is Casablanca, while his favorite TV show is Seinfeld. Some 2025 favorites include Sinners, One of Them Days and Black Bag for movies, and The Pitt on TV. Follow on Michael Balderston on Letterboxd.

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