Universal Pictures has released the trailer for “Wicked: For Good” starring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Michelle Yeoh & Jeff Goldblum. The film will be released in theaters on November 21st.
Plot Synopsis:Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), now demonized as The Wicked Witch of the West, lives in exile, hidden within the Ozian forest while continuing her fight for the freedom of Oz’s silenced Animals and desperately trying to expose the truth she knows about The Wizard (Jeff Goldblum). Glinda, meanwhile, has become the glamorous symbol of Goodness for all of Oz, living at the palace in Emerald City and reveling in the perks of fame and popularity. Under the instruction of Madame Morrible (Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh), Glinda is deployed to serve as an effervescent comfort to Oz, reassuring the masses that all is well under the rule of The Wizard. As Glinda’s stardom expands and she prepares to marry Prince Fiyero (Olivier award winner and Emmy and SAG nominee Jonathan Bailey) in a spectacular Ozian wedding, she is haunted by her separation from Elphaba. She attempts to broker a conciliation between Elphaba and The Wizard, but those efforts will fail, driving Elphaba and Glinda only further apart. The aftershocks will transform Boq (Tony nominee Ethan Slater) and Fiyero forever and threaten the safety of Elphaba’s sister, Nessarose (Marissa Bode) when a girl from Kansas comes crashing into all their lives. As an angry mob rises against the Wicked Witch, Glinda, and Elphaba will need to come together one final time. With their singular friendship now the fulcrum of their futures, they will need to truly see each other with honesty and empathy if they are to change themselves and all of Oz for good.
What do you all think of the trailer? After the unbelievable success of “Wicked,” it’s safe to say that its second chapter is one of the most highly anticipated films of the year. The first film grossed over $700 million worldwide and garnered ten Oscar nominations, including two wins. Will this film equal – or even surpass – that success? And will Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande earn unprecedented consecutive acting nominations at the Oscars? Judging the trailer, which played after repeat screenings of “Wicked,” I’d say Universal Pictures has another hit on their hands, commercially and potentially for the Oscars as well. The film looks bigger, more vibrant, and more emotional, closing out this beloved story and giving the musical the big-screen adaptation it deserves. We get to hear pieces of the titular song, Elphaba’s showstopping “No Good Deed” number, the fantastic costumes and production design, and see where the characters have ended up in the time jump following the events of the first film and what they will have to face. We still don’t get a good look at Dorothy, but we do see the CGI cowardly Lion up close, as well as more of Dorothy’s friends. Jon M. Chu says he’s treading lightly over the “Wizard Of Oz” elements, and it will be interesting to see how they’re incorporated into this film in particular. I was a big fan of what Chu did with the first film (other than the cinematography, which was discussed and dissected to death by everyone, so I’m not going to continue to beat a dead horse), and I’m excited to see how he’ll bring this all together with two new songs from Stephen Schwartz (you can pre-save the upcoming soundtrack here), and more fill-in for what many consider to be a lackluster Act II compared to Act I in the original musical. I have faith it will be (for) good. What do you think, though? Do you think it will match the success of the first film? Do you believe Erivo and Grande will Oscars this time around? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below or on our X account.
