“Wicked: For Good” released on Nov. 21. It debuted with a total of $150 million in revenue, and the number just kept going up. This movie sequels “Wicked” which came out Nov. 22, 2024 and follows the story of Act II of the original Broadway play. Universal Studios produced this film alongside Director Jon Chu.
Filming for “Wicked: For Good” began in Dec. 2022 alongside “Wicked”. Production lasted for 155 days, ending in January 2025. The movie’s running time of 2 hours and 18 minutes makes it 20 minutes shorter than its prequel. Many of the sets involved hand-made props and CGI. Prosthetics and makeup created the signature green skin of Elphaba and the other complex looks seen later in the film. This allowed the movie to win “Best Costume Design” at the Critics Choice award. “Wicked: For Good” has also received nominations for many other awards.
The movie and soundtrack have quickly gained popularity. Many fans highly anticipated the music due to enjoyment of the previous movie and the play, and others looked forward to it due to the love they have for the actors. Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda, has many reasons for fame albeit her music career or other acting roles. Cynthia Erivo has played many famous roles, such as Harriet Tubman from “Harriet” and Celie in the Broadway revival of “The Color Purple.” The director of the film decided to add in two new songs written and composed by Stephen Schwartz. “No Place Like Home” and “The Girl in the Bubble” joined “Wicked: For Good” as well as other musical changes like adding Glinda to “Wonderful.”
The story of “Wicked: For Good” follows Elphaba and Glinda as they have to deal with a complex and changing world, Oz. This movie picks up five years after the previous movie’s ending. Elphaba, now known as the Wicked Witch of the West, still seeks justice for the animals and vengeance against the Wizard of Oz. Glinda, known as Glinda the Good, has risen to a high political status and provides support and encouragement to the people of Oz. Other characters have grown and changed since their school years, taking on various roles.
I personally have never seen the original Broadway play, but I love these movies so much. I have eagerly awaited this movie since the last one came out. It lived up to and exceeded my expectations. The phenomenal music took my breath away. All of the orchestration and call backs to the first movie were truly amazing. The acting had the perfect mix of tragic moments and lighthearted revelry. This movie definitely has a darker tone in comparison to the first one, but that did not change the way I felt about it. The plot twists had perfect execution, and the gorgeous effects really pulled everything together. I highly recommend “Wicked: For Good” for lovers of fantasy, adventure, romance and gut-wrenching friendships.
