‘Wicked’ Sequel is Now Officially Titled ‘Wicked: For Good’

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As a seasoned moviegoer with over three decades of attending premieres under my belt, I must say the recent title change for “Wicked: For Good” has piqued my curiosity. It’s reminiscent of the strategy Marvel Studios employed with the Avengers saga, and it’s intriguing to see this pattern repeated in a different genre.

In a recent development, Universal Pictures has decided to rename the upcoming sequel to “Wicked – Part Two.” The original “Wicked,” which was a massive hit at the box office and critically acclaimed, has already established itself as one of the top-grossing films of 2024 and is now eyeing an Oscar nomination. Adapted from Act One of the musical play, “Wicked” will be followed by “Wicked – Part Two,” which is currently one of the most eagerly awaited movies slated for release in 2025. Unlike Warner Bros., who chose to keep their sequels for “Dune” and “It” as part twos, Universal Pictures has opted to rename the second installment of “Wicked” to give it a more standalone feel, rather than positioning it as just the second half of a movie.

As a die-hard movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news! Over on the official “Wicked X” social media channel, they dropped a video (check it out below) announcing a change in the title for the second part of the movie. Instead of “Wicked – Part Two,” we’ll now be watching “Wicked: For Good” on Nov. 21, 2025! This sequel comes one year after the original film’s release. In this next chapter, Elphaba (portrayed by Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) delve deeper into their roles as the Wicked Witch and Good Witch, respectively. And get ready to see how these stories intertwine with the events from “The Wizard of Oz”!

The choice made by Universal to exclude “Part Two” from the title of their movie mirrors a similar move done by Marvel Studios when they initially titled “Avengers: Infinity War” as “Part One” and “Part Two”, before merging them into one film, which was later renamed “Endgame”. This is also comparable to how “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning” dropped “Part One” from its digital releases, with the sequel now titled “The Final Reckoning”. Interestingly, “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning” still retains “Part One” in its opening credits. It will be intriguing to see if Universal Pictures decides to remove “Part Two” from home video releases of “Wicked”, or if they maintain it in the opening credits of “Wicked: For Good” for consistency with the first film.

‘Wicked: For Good’ Might Hint at a Larger Cinematic Franchise at Play

The title choice for the second film, Wicked: For Good, suggests that Universal Pictures is aiming to break away from the notion that it’s merely half a movie, potentially hinting at future expansions of the material. Notably, Wicked: For Good marks just the beginning of this cinematic journey through the world of Oz. The story for both the film and the musical originates from Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. This book initiated a series called The Wicked Years, which later expanded to include works such as 2005’s Son of the Witch, focusing on Elphaba’s son Lirr; 2008’s A Lion Among Men, centering around the Cowardly Lion; and 2011’s Out of Oz, which follows Elphaba’s granddaughter, Rain. Although the Broadway play only adapted the initial book and didn’t require a sequel, Universal Pictures is continuing the narrative on screen by adapting the subsequent books in this franchise.

Due to the massive success of “Wicked,” viewers are excitedly anticipating the upcoming sequel titled “Wicked: For Good.” The initial film continues to thrive in cinemas and is scheduled for sing-along screenings around Christmas, suggesting that we might have to wait a while before catching glimpses or trailers of “Wicked: For Good.” Initially, fans caught a glimpse of “Wicked” during the 2024 Super Bowl, but Universal Pictures may opt out of this event this year in order to maintain focus on the original film ahead of the Academy Awards, as “Wicked” is expected to make a significant impact at the ceremony. Unlike other sequels such as “Dune – Part Two,” “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” and “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse,” which have left fans waiting for over a year, or films like “Fast & Furious 11” without a confirmed release date, fans can look forward to “Wicked: For Good” hitting theaters relatively soon.

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2024-12-17 01:33