Wicked: For Good may not be released in the US until November 21, but it’s already showing in several other countries, and some viewers have been lucky enough to see the conclusion of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda’s (Ariana Grande) story of friendship earlier than others.
While the first film made a few small changes to the Wicked stage show on which it’s based, the sequel features even more new material - enhancing the story in ways that make it feel truly complete. So, without further ado, here’s how Wicked: For Good transforms the play’s Act 2.
Warning: Spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk.
New, Cut, and Expanded Songs
Because this is Wicked, the sequel features several new songs by composer Stephen Schwartz, including a new solo for Elphaba titled “No Place Like Home,” which she sings after discovering a group of animals escaping Oz through a tunnel beneath the Yellow Brick Road.
Glinda also receives a new solo, “The Girl in the Bubble,” performed as she struggles to maintain her public image while confronting her true feelings, which ultimately inspire her to follow her heart and pursue Elphaba to Kiamo Ko.
Some existing songs are expanded as well, such as the extended “Every day more wicked, every day the terror grows,” now featuring reprises of “The Wizard and I,” “What Is This Feeling?” and “Popular,” along with a new “We Believe in Glinda” refrain.
“Wonderful” is also broadened. Originally a duet between the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and Elphaba, it later includes Glinda and is performed differently to emphasize the Wizard’s carnival-show past.
Nessa’s (Marissa Bode) solo “The Wicked Witch of the East” has been modified as well, removing the line “longing to kick up my heels.” Madame Morrible’s (Michelle Yeoh) number “Thank Goodness” has been cut entirely – likely a relief for the actress after admitting she isn’t a strong singer.
And one of the film’s most notable changes is that Glinda, not Elphaba, sings “Fiyero.”
Glinda’s Backstory
If the first movie featured a young Elphaba, it’s only natural for Wicked: For Good to include Glinda’s backstory, portrayed by Scarlett Spears.
This sequence shows that if there’s one thing Glinda wants most in the world, it’s the ability to use magic and to do something meaningful with her life – both of which she ultimately achieves by the end of the film.
Showing Elphaba’s Wickedness
The stage version of Wicked only alludes to Elphaba’s “acts of wickedness,” but the sequel actually shows them.
As she begins the film by freeing animals who are being forced to build the Yellow Brick Road, she writes “The Wizard Lies” across the sky, only for Madame Morrible to change it to “Oz Dies,” revealing who is truly wicked.
The Truth Behind Glinda’s Transport
If there’s one major character change in Wicked: For Good, it’s Nessa. After her father’s death and her sister’s disappearance, her anger has intensified, leaving her feeling desperate and abandoned.
When she becomes the new Governor of Munchkinland, she interrupts trade and seizes control of the railways.
But Nessa no longer longs to walk again. Instead of wanting Elphaba to restore her mobility, her desires have become more emotional – sparked by the moment her sister made her float in the air while Boq (Ethan Slater) danced with her at the Ozdust.
"That night at the Ozdust / Boq danced with me there / And it felt like he loved me then / That night when I felt I was floating on air / I want to feel that again,” she sings in a newly written verse.
New Scenes During Glinda’s Wedding
Another major change occurs during the performance of “Wonderful,” when Elphaba visits Glinda the night before her wedding to Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey).
Glinda follows Elphaba to see the Wizard, where Elphaba promises to end her underground campaign in exchange for the Wizard stopping his discrimination against animals.
The Wizard agrees and has Elphaba free the monkeys, but she soon discovers Dr. Dillamond and more animals still locked in a hidden room in the Wizard’s primary chamber, prompting her to swear to “fight him till the day I die.”
As Glinda walks down the aisle, an animal stampede is triggered—another new scene not present in the stage play.
Tearjerking ‘I Love Yous’
Whether on stage or screen, the heart of Wicked is Glinda and Elphaba’s friendship.
In the movie, when they sing “For Good,” the final words are changed: instead of Elphaba telling Glinda to hide before Dorothy melts her, the scene becomes a heartfelt exchange of “I love yous” that is sure to bring viewers to tears.
A Happy Ending for Dr. Dillamond
While the stage version doesn’t reveal Dr. Dillamond’s fate after his abduction, Wicked: For Good gives him a happy ending, showing that the fan-favorite goat has survived and been reinstated to his former job, alongside other animals, and has the happy ending he deserves.
Glinda the Good
Wicked: For Good repeatedly emphasizes Glinda’s magical deficiencies. The film even adds a scene in which Madame Morrible gives her a bubble that can be activated with the touch of a button.
“Don't fret over your inability to produce any actual magic. This invention will disguise your deficiency,” Morrible tells Glinda.
Later, after earning the moniker “Glinda the Good” by reinstating the animals to their previous jobs, the Grimmerie magically opens for her once she sets it down.
While it isn’t explained how it works, a potential third movie may show how she suddenly gains magic.
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