Director Explains Why ‘Wicked’ Changed the Title of the Second Movie: “Who wants a movie called Wicked: Part Two?”

When Jon M. Chu, director of Wicked: For Good, explained the decision to drop Part Two from the title, he said that no one really wants to see a movie named Wicked: Part Two. The film’s script always had For Good, and they felt it made more sense to focus on the journey ahead, Variety reports.

The title connects to one of the show’s most powerful songs, where Elphaba (played by Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (played by Ariana Grande) reflect on how their bond changed them.

In December, Wicked: For Good received mixed reactions online, but the movie has become a major success, breaking records in box office history.

Chu also mentioned that there were no other titles considered. ‘For Good’ felt like the right choice, representing the culmination of their story and where they’re headed in the movie:

Who wants a movie called ‘Wicked: Part Two’? On the script, it always said, ‘For Good,’ and so it was just a point of like, ‘Do we really want to call this “Part Two”?’ And nobody wants that. (…) I mean, that’s the destination. ‘For Good,’ we know, is like, ‘Where are we going with this movie? Let’s finish this thing,’

Source: Variety

Wicked is now the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation in the U.S., surpassing Grease and only trailing behind Mamma Mia worldwide. Fans have loved the movie, and there are plenty of memes and sing-along videos circulating online.

Erivo shared that she’s seen clips from these sing-alongs and really wants to experience one herself. At the National Board of Review Awards gala, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were praised for their collaboration on the film. Both actors spoke about their creative partnership, mentioning how they trust each other and support each other both on and off set.

The movie is set for release on November 21.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments below!