On Nov. 21, the long-awaited sequel to the hit movie “Wicked” was released– “Wicked: For Good”.
The two films wouldn’t exist without the creations before them: the saga began with L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” which was then followed by Gregory Maguire’s reimagining in 1995, a novel titled “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.”
Maguire’s novel was time-changing, exploring cautionary themes of political authoritarianism and social prejudice masked by the fantastical setting of Oz. The book was adapted by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman in 2003 and turned into the Broadway sensation “Wicked.” Then, in 2024, the film, again titled simply “Wicked,” was released in theaters, this time as the vision of director Jon M. Chu.
Now, the final piece of the puzzle (for now) has been released as the sequel to the first movie.
“Wicked,” or “Wicked: Part One,” detailed the friendship between students Elphaba (the future Wicked Witch) and Glinda (the future Glinda the Good) and their adventures at Shiz University in Oz. The prequel leaves off with the pair clashing with both the notorious Wizard of Oz and each other, giving viewers unanswered questions for the second film.
“I [most] enjoyed the chemistry of the people in [Wicked: Part One]. I thought that there was a lot of musical talent and that everything just flowed together well,” senior Maddie Brown said. “I was especially intrigued by the plot … I’m really excited to see what they do with that.”
In short, the second film answers those questions, chronologizing Elphaba’s run from the Wizard as Glinda rises to fame in Oz as “Glinda the Good.” Key components of both films are their casting, with actresses and vocalists Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as Glinda and Elphaba, respectively.
The two didn’t disappoint, earning Academy Awards nominations for “Best Actress” and “Best Supporting Actress.”
Another part of the logic behind the choice of two singers as leads is the vocally demanding soundtrack of “Wicked,” characterized by songs like “Defying Gravity,” “No One Mourns the Wicked,” and “Popular.”
Senior Katy Schmeck shared her thoughts on the soundtrack.
“I really like the music, and I think [“Wicked: Part One”] reminded me a lot of a music video, which I thought was cool,” Schmeck said. “There’s a lot of singing and dancing.”
Brown agreed, also noting the importance of song and dance throughout the film.
“It’s a musical, so the soundtrack kind of defines the plot, and the catchiness of the songs really sticks with people,” Brown said. “It’ll not so much shape the movie, but shape people’s perceptions of the film.”
The new film features Erivo and Grande renditions of Broadway songs “For Good” and “No Place Like Home.”
So far, “Wicked: For Good” is satisfying a very enthusiastic fan base, earning a 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as $150 million at the box office.
The sequel film will likely have record turnouts in State College, with its predecessor setting records for grossing amounts worldwide. “Wicked: For Good” is currently showing at the State College UEC 12 and College 9 Theatres.
