Back to Oz: Schwartz and Holzman Are Working on a New ‘Wicked’ Project

The world of Wicked may soon grow again, but not in the way fans might expect. Stephen Schwartz, the songwriter and producer behind the musical’s iconic score, says he and writer Winnie Holzman are quietly working on fresh ideas related to the universe of Oz.

During a conversation after the New York premiere of Wicked: For Good, Schwartz explained that he is open to returning to the world he helped create, but only if the project feels necessary. He stressed that the original story of Glinda and Elphaba already feels finished.

“If there were a right idea, but I’m just not sure that that right idea exists,” Schwartz, 77, said. He added that he and Holzman are exploring concepts connected to the world of Wicked, but emphasized they are not developing a sequel.

“What I will tell you without giving away too much is that Winnie Holzman and I are doing some work right now on ideas that aren’t a sequel to Wicked, because I think the Glinda and Elphaba story feels complete, but there are other aspects that could be explored.”

Schwartz noted that the broader Oz universe includes several books by author Gregory Maguire, whose novel inspired the stage musical. He also hinted that he and Holzman are thinking about something that sits alongside the current story. “There’s another idea that Winnie and I are discussing: not a sequel, but an adjunct. Let me put it that way.”

He made it clear he has no interest in extending the saga unless it has a strong purpose. “If someone could think of a continuation of the story that seemed to have a justification beyond simply making money, of course,” he said. “As far as right now, no one has yet presented an idea that I’ve heard that would justify such a thing.”

The latest film, Wicked: For Good, continues the adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical. It covers the second act and brings back much of the original cast, including Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Colman Domingo joins them this time. Director Jon M. Chu returned to finish the two-part project, which began filming in 2022 and wrapped early in 2024 after delays caused by industry strikes.

The movie premiered in Brazil on November 4 before heading to U.S. theaters later that month. It has earned $36 million worldwide and has received mixed reactions from critics. Despite that, the brand continues to expand. Universal is currently working on theme park attractions based on the Wicked films, signaling the start of a growing franchise.

Schwartz and Holzman confirmed last year that they had talked about doing more with the film universe, but they repeated that it would not be a third or fourth installment. For now, their conversations focus on side stories and possible new viewpoints within the same world.

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