"Wicked: For Good" will be released in cinemas on November 21.
Image: Instagram.
Universal Pictures has released the highly anticipated "Wicked: For Good" trailer, and fans can not contain their excitement.
The teaser not only offers a captivating glimpse into an Oz at war, but also reintroduces iconic characters from "The Wizard of Oz", including Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow.
This sneak peek is guaranteed to entice both long-time fans and newcomers.
In less than 9 hours, the post on Instagram received close to 2 million likes.
Returning to grace the big screen are the talented Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Ariana Grande as Glinda, the Good Witch of the North.
Joining them are Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, and Marissa Bode as Nessarose.
In this sequel, we find Elphaba on the run, branded an enemy of the state after speaking out against the Wizard's regime.
The trailer teases her dark exile while hinting at her strained relationship with Glinda, who remains steadfast in her loyalties.
Director Jon M. Chu confirmed that both Grande and Erivo will deliver new, original songs, alongside well-loved numbers such as "For Good" and "No Good Deed".
"I think it’s been reported that we have two new songs. They’re great additions to this movie, and they were necessary in this movie to help tell the story,” Chu shared previously in an online interview.
Composer Stephen Schwartz, who penned the original score for the stage musical, has once again collaborated on these new pieces, infusing them with the signature charm that has resonated across generations.
Fans were first treated to the film’s glimpses at the annual theatre owners conference in Las Vegas in April, where initial reactions hailed the footage as "dazzling" and "intriguing".
The first film, which grossed an impressive $750 million at the box office and earned 10 Academy Award nominations, set an incredibly high bar.
"Wicked: For Good" will continue the narrative from the Broadway musical, which is an adaptation of Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel.
This sequel promises to delve deeper into the relationship between Elphaba and Glinda, exploring themes of friendship, betrayal, and the complexity of good and evil.
It also teases an integral connection to the classic story of "The Wizard of Oz," with a glimpse of Dorothy standing before the Wizard, flanked by her loyal companions, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion.
Fans are left wondering who will play Dorothy, as the casting for this pivotal role has yet to be revealed.
Fans of the musical will also find that "Wicked: For Good" has been crafted simultaneously alongside the original film.
In an interview, Chu expressed the decision to split the adaptation into two films as a means to honour the material fully and explore its depth without compromising characters or songs.
"It was impossible to make 'Wicked' into one film without doing some real damage to it," he explained.
Meanwhile, taking to the comments one fan wrote: "Not even November yet and something has already changed within us....", while another said: "I apologize in advance for the person I will become once I watch Jonathan Bailey and Cynthia Erivo singing 'As Long as You're Mine' 😭😭😭."
• "Wicked: For Good" is slated to release in cinemas on November 21.