Wicked: For Good – UK release date, cast and plot for Part Two

At long last, the interval is almost over. One year on from the monumental success of Wicked: Part One – which broke multiple box office records, received a string of impressive reviews and was eventually nominated for 10 Oscars – the conclusion to the beloved Oz saga is arriving in cinemas imminently.

The review embargo for Wicked: For Good lifted earlier in the week, and once again the verdict is predominantly in favour – even if some of the notices are a little less enthusiastic in their praise than they were for the first part. Still, our own reviewer awarded the film 4 stars and declared that it will "surely satisfy Wicked’s extensive army of devotees" – an army that has only grown in the last 12 months.

The second instalment dramatises Act 2 of the beloved stage show and picks up directly after the events of the previous film – check our recap if you need a refresher – with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande once again bringing Elphaba and Glinda to life. Plus, some more familiar characters from the Wizard of Oz also make an appearance this time around, even including Dorothy herself.

Meanwhile, fans who might be worried that the bulk of the memorable tunes from the stage musical appeared in the first film needn't worry. Not only does this second entry include plenty of great tracks from the show – including No Good Deed and the titular For Good – composer Stephen Schwartz has also penned two brand new original tracks for the soundtrack, one each fro Elphaba and Glinda.

As for the sets, you can expect them to be even more epic this time around, with Production Designer Nathan Crowley spilling some of the secrets in an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com ahead of the release.

Whatever happens, it seems like this is going to be an experience that stays with fans for a long time after watching, especially if Grande's experience of making the film is anything to go by.

"Shooting For Good was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced," the Glinda star previously told Variety. "It was such a long and emotional process. I kind of left my body. We filmed it over the course of a week, and it stayed with me. I haven’t even seen the final cut yet because I’m not sure I’m ready to feel all of it again."

Director Jon M Chu previously explained the decision to split the musical into two films rather than one, saying in a social media statement back in 2022: "As we prepared this production over the last year, it became increasingly clear that it would be impossible to wrestle the story of Wicked into a single film without doing some real damage to it."

He continued: "As we tried to cut songs or trim characters, those decisions began to feel like fatal compromises to the source material that has entertained us all for so many years.

"So we decided to give ourselves a bigger canvas and make not just one Wicked movie, but TWO!!!! With more space, we can tell the story of Wicked as it was meant to be told while bringing even more depth and surprise to the journeys of these beloved characters."

Meanwhile, star Cynthia Erivo told Variety of the second part: "We’re diving deeper into the consequences of the characters’ choices. The story is richer, and the stakes are higher. It’s not just a continuation; it’s a transformation."

So when is For Good coming to cinemas? And will any new stars be joining Erivo and Ariana Grande in the second part? Read on for everything you need to know.

Wicked: For Good release date

Wicked: For Good is almost here! It arrives on Friday 21st November 2025 – so almost exactly a year after the first film's launch in cinemas.

Of course, that was a lot longer to wait between the two acts than the 15-minute intermission theatregoers are accustomed to, but it's still a shorter gap than there often is between two instalments in a franchise.

Given how enthusiastically people took to part one, we're willing to bet that many fans managed to fit in a fair few viewings of the first film while they waited...

Wicked: For Good plot – What happens in the second act?

If you've not seen the stage show or read Gregory Maguire's source novel and are thus unfamiliar with the events in the second half of the musical, you might not want to read too much on from here – but suffice to say that the second part follows the story after Elphaba has learned to fly and discovered the treachery going on in Oz.

On stage, the second act picks up with her already known as the Wicked Witch of the West due to her opposition to the Wizard's regime, while Glinda has gone the other way – now the lead spokesperson for the Wizard and known as Glinda the Good.

Meanwhile, the story also delves further into Fiyero, who is now looking for Elphaba but is led astray and ends up coming into conflict with Glinda.

Crucially, the second part depicts the events we know from The Wizard of Oz, albeit from a different perspective – focusing on what is happening behind the scenes during Dorothy's venture down the Yellow Brick Road, while also including some interesting reveals about other characters we know from the classic film.

Given how faithful the first film was to act one, we're not expecting any major deviations, but of course we'll update this page accordingly if we hear any snippets to the contrary.

"The first tells how Elphaba becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, and the second tells how her best friend, Glinda, becomes authentically good,” producer Marc Platt explained in the production notes (via NBC).

Wicked: For Good cast – Will Dorothy be in the film?

The cast is almost exactly the same as it was for the first film – which is no surprise given that the two films were shot at the same time and that there were no character deaths in the first part, with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande once again leading the way.

Here's a reminder of the biggest names you can expect to see in the sequel:

• Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp
• Ariana Grande as Glinda Upland
• Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar
• Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible
• Jeff Goldblum as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz
• Ethan Slater as Boq Woodsman
• Marissa Bode as Nessarose Thropp
• Peter Dinklage as the voice of Doctor Dillamond
• Bowen Yang as Pfannee of Phan Hall
• Bronwyn James as ShenShen

In the musical, there are no new additions in the second act, save for a brief appearance by iconic Wizard of Oz character Dorothy, who can be heard crying off-stage but is not normally played by an actor on stage.

That said, both Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion have been given slightly expanded roles in the film – with the latter being voiced by two-time Oscar nominee Colman Domingo and the former played in a non-speaking role by Bethany Weaver

Given Judy Garland's performance in the 1939 film is one of the most beloved screen performances of all time, Weaver has very big shoes – or ruby slippers – to fill.

Will there be new music in Wicked: For Good?

While the movie currently covers off all the songs from the first act of the musical, it has been confirmed that there will be a couple of additions in part two.

Those tracks are No Place Like Home, sung by Erivo as Elphaba – 30 seconds of which have already debuted ahead of the film's release, and The Girl in the Bubble, sung by Granda as Glinda.

During an interview with The Messenger in 2023, composer Stephen Schwartz said: "The storytelling required it, and therefore they were created—the intention was that they were organic and not imposed on the movie."

He added: "There's new stuff that I think the fans will enjoy. Our hope and intention is that the people to whom the story and the show are important will not in any way be disappointed, but will be thrilled by what they will see."

Meanwhile, Erivo told Variety that she collaborated with Schwartz to create the new song for Elphaba, which she said is "so special to me".

Erivo explained: "When we filmed it, the entire crew was in tears. I hope audiences are ready — it’s a song that speaks to the heart of who Elphaba is."

More recently, Grande revealed in an interview with Variety that the new song for Glinda comes at "a pivotal moment in [her] journey" and that "it shows a side of her we’ve never seen before".

She added: "In the stage show, this transformation happens off-stage. But in the movie, we get to see her make the decision that defines who she is. It’s a privilege to sing this song and be the first Glinda to bring it to life.”

Is there a Wicked: For Good trailer?

Yes, more than one! The final trailer for the film was released on Wednesday 24th September – just under two months ahead of the release – and you can find it below:

The previous trailer – which features several call-backs to the original 1939 Wizard of Oz film – can also be found below:

Wicked: For Good is scheduled for release in UK cinemas on 21st November 2025.

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