The witches of Oz are coming back to cast another spell this fall, andWicked: For Goodis already making headlines months ahead of its November 21 release.ComposerStephen Schwartz, the Broadway legend behind the franchise’s unforgettable music, opened up toCollider’s Michael Zimmermanat the 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction Gala about the film’s current state — and confirmed it’s still very much a work in progress. “No, they’re still cutting away,” Schwartz said when asked if he’d seen a final cut ofWicked: For Good.
“I’m seeing it as it develops, and still working on aspects of the score, because we have our recording sessions coming up next month, so we have to get it finished. But, I mean, that’s the interesting thing about movies—and live action movies—that I didn’t really know: how much they continue to evolve and change in the editing process. So our brilliant director,Jon Chu, and you know,Myron Kerstein, he’s the editor, they’re still changing and discovering, and it’s exciting to see it develop.”
Despite still being in post-production,Wicked: For Goodhas already conjured up an incredible milestone. According toVariety, the debut teaser for the sequelracked up113 million views in its first 24 hours, outpacing the first full trailer forWicked(75 million) and drawing comparisons to viral blockbuster campaigns likeBarbie. It’s even soaring higher thanBeetlejuice BeetlejuiceandThe Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes— a promising sign for Universal’s follow-up to its 2024 megahit.
The two-and-a-half-minute trailer transports fans back to Oz, whereWicked: For Goodpicks up right after Elphaba’s (Cynthia Erivo) airborne escape. While the outside world thinks the green witch and Glinda (Ariana Grande) are at odds, the teaser hints at the emotional weight of their bond with stirring reprises of “No Good Deed” and “For Good.” The footage also teases Fiyero’s (Jonathan Bailey) growing doubts, the creation of the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion, andthe long-awaited arrival of Dorothy.
Stephen Schwartz Has Written New Songs for ‘Wicked: For Good’
Fans who wondered how a three-hour stage show could become two movies got their answer:Schwartz has writtenbrand-new songsto fill the second half of the cinematic journey. And according toCynthia Erivo, one of them packs a serious emotional punch.
“I don’t know if you’re ready for it. I mean, I love the song, and I remember when we filmed it, the cast and crew were crying. So I don’t know. And I don’t know if that’s just because they were emotional that day or that’s what the song does.”
Wicked: For Goodhits theatersNovember 21, 2025.
Wicked: For Good
