Universal Pictures has released the first official trailer for Wicked: For Good, the second instalment of the two-part adaptation of the Broadway smash hit Wicked.
Directed by Jon M. Chu, the sequel arrives one year after the original film broke box office records and reinvigorated mainstream interest in musical theatre adaptations.
The new trailer offers fans their first extended look at the fallout between Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande), as well as a glimpse at what appears to be Dorothy Gale herself, though her face remains hidden, and the actor behind the role is still under wraps.
This strategic tease is fuelling speculation and social chatter, giving Universal’s marketing campaign an extra layer of intrigue.
An adaptation with ambitions beyond nostalgia
Wicked: For Good adapts the second act of the Broadway musical, which was itself based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, a reimagining of L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
The film continues Elphaba’s transformation into the infamous Wicked Witch, while deepening the moral and political complexities of Oz’s fractured world.
The sequel focuses on Elphaba’s resistance to the Wizard’s authoritarian regime and sets up the iconic moment fans know is coming: Dorothy’s fatal splash.
While the trailer hints at this pivotal scene, it avoids revealing Dorothy’s face, an intentional move, according to director Chu, to maintain narrative focus and audience suspense.
A cast with serious star power
The first Wicked film made an impressive mark, grossing US$755 million globally on a reported US$150 million budget. It earned 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, and took home two awards, setting a high bar for the sequel.
Returning to their roles, Erivo and Grande are joined by Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard.
However, the buzz continues to orbit around the unconfirmed casting of Dorothy.
Though a brief shot in the trailer shows the character in her trademark blue gingham dress, the camera never reveals her face.
According to Digital Spy, that mystery has only intensified speculation, with fans linking names like Abigail star Alisha Weir to the role. Weir has acknowledged the rumours but hasn’t confirmed anything.
Chu has remained careful in interviews, noting that Dorothy’s presence in the film universe is more pronounced than in the stage show. “We tread lightly,” he told Vanity Fair.
“We try to make more sense of how it impacts our girls and our characters than maybe the show does. We’re delicate.”