Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba Takes the Spotlight in ‘New Wicked: For Good’ Look

Empire has shared a new look at Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in Wicked: For Good, the second chapter of director Jon M. Chu’s two-part film adaptation of the famous stage musical.

In an interview with Empire, Chu explained that the first film only told part of the story, and the sequel will finally complete it. “I love that people get to see the full masterplan, and the full scope of what Cynthia and Ariana do in this movie,” he said.

“I’m so happy they were appreciated in the first one, but movie two is where the meat comes out.”

The story in Wicked: For Good picks up after Elphaba chooses to go against the Wizard, played by Jeff Goldblum, and takes her own path with her flying monkeys. Glinda stays in the Emerald City, left with Madame Morrible as an oppressive new regime rises to power.

The sequel also begins to move into The Wizard of Oz territory, with the Yellow Brick Road starting to appear, as shown in Empire’s exclusive image.

Chu also talked about how much higher the stakes are this time. “The stakes are higher than ever for Elphaba,” he said. “She’s fighting to expose the Wizard, but she’s alone in that. Can one person actually make a difference? She’s up against the Wizard’s propaganda, calling her the Wicked Witch, talking about how her skin is green and her soul is impure. What happens when the home you believed in doesn’t want you anymore? Is it worth defending? Why stay?”

He added that Elphaba will need to defy much more than just gravity in this chapter.

Wicked: For Good is directed by Jon M. Chu and written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox. It adapts the second act of the stage musical and brings back the cast from the first film, including Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum.

The film will show both Elphaba and Glinda fully becoming the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good, while their choices reshape their friendship and the future of Oz.

The project has been a long time coming. Universal and producer Marc Platt first announced the film in 2012, but it faced years of delays, including setbacks caused by the pandemic.

Chu signed on as director, and in 2021 Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were officially cast. Filming began in late 2022 in England, was paused during the SAG-AFTRA strike in 2023, and finally wrapped in January 2024.

Wicked: For Good will be released in the United States on November 21, 2025.

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