It’s time to defy gravity… again, because Wicked: Part 2 is coming.
When it comes to modern musicals, one that I always think about is Wicked, and now, it’s finally had the movie adaptation that it rightfully deserved for years with the release of Part 1 in November 2024. There’s still so much story to be told in Wicked Part 2, and this is what we know so far about it and what you can expect.
What Is The Wicked Release Date?
Universal confirmed that Wicked Part 2 will release on November 21, 2025, as part of the 2025 movie release schedule.
The Wicked Cast
With any Wicked cast list, we already know that the overall ensemble is going to be filled to the brim with talent, and as you can expect, you’ll be seeing a lot of familiar faces in Wicked Part 2.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Granda as Elphaba Thropp and Galinda Upland
Both Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, the stars of Wicked Part 1, will be back in Wicked Part 2.
Both of these stars have done their fair share of work in the industry. Grande is best known for her music but has been on Broadway before and also had a small role in the 2021 Adam McKay movie, Don’t Look Up. Erivo has won a Tony, Grammy and Daytime Emmy for her acting and singing talents. She played the part of Celie in the revival of The Color Purple on Broadway, as well as roles in movies such as Harriet, Bad Times at the El Royale and many more.
Jeff Goldblum as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Goldblum will be back as The Wizard – i.e. the actual Wizard of Oz. Goldblum is a well-known actor who has appeared in a variety of films, such as the Jurassic Park franchise, Thor: Ragnarok and many more.
Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible
Michelle Yeoh will be back as Madame Morrible, the headmaster of the school that Elphaba and Glinda attend. Yeoh is a talented actress who has been in the business for decades. She starred in Everything Everywhere All At Once in 2022, which earned her an Academy Award win, and recently starred in A Haunting in Venice and in the Netflix TV show, The Brothers Sun, in 2023.
Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar
Jonathan Bailey will be back playing Fiyero from the musical. Bailey is primarily known for his role in Bridgerton where he plays Anthony Bridgerton.
Ethan Slater as Boq
Ethan Slater will return to play Boq in Wicked Part 2. Slater is primarily known for his role as Spongebob in Spongebob: The Musical.
Peter Dinklage as the voice of Doctor Dillamond
Peter Dinklage will be back as the voice of Doctor Dillamond. The actor is primarily known for his critically acclaimed role on Game of Thrones, where he played Tyrion Lannister.
Additional Members Of Oz
Of course there are plenty of other stars that will return to the world of Oz. This includes the following:
- Marissa Bode as Nessarose Thropp
- Bowen Yang as Pfannee
- Bronwyn James as ShenShen
- Keala Settle as Miss Coddle
- Aaron Teoh as Averic
- Colin Michael Carmichael as Professor Nikidik
What Is Wicked Part 2 About?
The first part of Wicked was an adaptation of the original stage production of the same name, so Wicked Part 2 is going to be following that same storyline.
The musical is loosely based on the novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, written by Gregory Maguire, which is a spinoff of the popular children’s novel, The Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum.
The musical tells the story of the early years of Glinda and Elphaba when they were young adults in school, and how they became friends. But, in a world where Elphaba doesn’t feel appreciated for who she is, she takes her power into her own hands – causing Glinda and her to grow apart. Wicked is a story about everlasting friendship, and how just one person can change your life forever.
There Will Be New Songs In Wicked Part 2
The soundtrack for Wicked Part 1 displayed plenty of familiar tunes for those who are fans of the musical, including the ever-famous “Popular” sung by Ariana Grande as well as “Defying Gravity.” But the second part is actually going to bring some fresh music to the scene as well.
From The Schwartz Scene (via Broadway World), back in November 2022, it was confirmed that Stephen Schwartz (the composer behind Wicked), was composing new songs for the movies and that there will be two new songs that aid the storyline:
There are two new songs in the second movie that are complete songs in themselves, and then there are new sections in some of the existing songs in both movies. All the new material, of course, is to meet the demands of the storytelling.
I mean, I am down for literally any new music in this second part, so sign me up!
Jon M. Chu Directed Both Parts
Obviously we know that Jon M. Chu directed both Wicked Part 1 and the upcoming Wicked Part 2.
If that name sounds familiar, you’re in the right place. Chu directed the fantastic romantic comedy hit, Crazy Rich Asians, which earned rave reviews. He also directed the fun 2021 musical, In the Heights, an adaptation of another famous musical from Broadway that was written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. He worked on many other music-based films such as the Step Up franchise and Justin Bieber’s concert films.
Truly, having Chu as the director is such a win for these movies, and I have a feeling that it’s going to be amazingly done.
I know that Wicked Part 2 is a year away, but trust me, time will certainly fly, and I for one can’t wait to see what happens next with this big-time adaptation. I think it’s time to listen to this soundtrack again.
