Wicked: For Good Might Not Be the Last We See of Oz
When Wicked: For Good was released last year, it was met with both critical and box office success, leaving audiences wanting more of the magical world of Oz. And it seems that they may not have to wait too long, as there have been talks of expanding the universe with more world-building films.
Donna Langley, the chair of NBCUniversal Entertainment, the production company behind the musical films, has hinted at the possibility of future projects in the world of Wicked. In an interview with Variety, she said, “It’s very early days on Wicked but we are hopeful that after the amazing success that we’ve seen with the two movies, there are other ways that we could branch out with the world-building.”
Langley also shared that she and her fellow executives at Universal are in talks with the rights holders to ensure that any future projects only include characters and stories that they already have the rights to within the world of Oz.
The first Wicked film, released in 2024, was a box office smash and a global sensation, grossing nearly £600 million and earning 10 Academy Award nominations. Its sequel, Wicked: For Good, followed a year later and although it received mixed reviews from critics and was snubbed at the Oscars, it still grossed an impressive £390 million. It was only a matter of time before the producers would want to capitalize on the film’s success.
But Langley isn’t the only one teasing the possibility of expanding the world of Wicked. Stephen Schwartz, the composer of the original Wicked stage musical and his long-time collaborator, Winnie Holzman, have also been hinting at a new project set in the same universe. In an interview with YouTuber Ryan Jay in November 2024, Schwartz said, “It’s under wraps and we can’t say too much.” He went on to say that there are other aspects of the world that could be explored, and that they are working on ideas that are not a sequel to Wicked.
In a more recent interview with The Ankler, Schwartz hinted at what these future projects could be about. “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,” he said. “But there’s another idea that Winnie and I are discussing: not a sequel, but an adjunct. Let me put it that way.”
The Wicked musical, on which the films are based, is adapted from the novels by Gregory Maguire. While the events of his novel differ from those of the stage play, the sequels have the potential to be adapted by the studio. Maguire’s second book, Son of a Witch, takes place a decade after the events of Wicked and focuses on Elphaba and Fiyero’s son. The Wicked book series also includes two further sequels, A Lion Among Men and Out of Oz, as well as two prequels focusing on Elphaba and Glinda’s childhood in Oz.
With such a rich and expansive world to draw from, the possibilities for future Wicked projects are endless. Fans of the beloved musical and its film adaptations can only hope that these talks and hints come to fruition and we get to see more of Oz and its fascinating characters on the big screen. Until then, we can only cross our fingers and hope that Langley and her team can make it happen.
