Wicked Sequel For Good Greenlit After Box Office Triumph, Launching the Wicked Cinematic Universe
Elphaba and Glinda may have taken their bow with Wicked: For Good, but Oz isn’t done yet—the film has already been greenlit for a follow-up that won’t be a straight continuation.
Wicked: For Good wraps up the Elphaba/Glinda saga... mostly. Universal clearly isn’t done with Oz, though, because there’s more Wicked on the way. Not a straight Wicked 3 that picks up on the next beat, but the franchise is definitely moving forward in some form.
So, is there another Wicked or not?
Short answer: yes, but not necessarily a traditional sequel. Michael Moses, Universal’s chief marketing officer, told Vulture that the studio is already working on what comes next in Oz.
'Because of Wicked’s success but also the fanship, we have almost a responsibility to figure out how we can continue in this universe. Have we figured it out yet? No. But there are things underway.'
Translation: call it a green light if you want, but it’s more like: the door is open, they’re walking through it, and they’re still deciding whether it’s another movie, a spin-off, or even a TV series.
Why keep going? Two words: it worked
Wicked (2024) reframed Oz from the so-called Wicked Witch’s side, tying her story to Glinda’s. With Ariana Grande and Michelle Yeoh among the cast, it was a legit hit. Per Box Office Mojo, that first movie pulled in $758 million worldwide.
Wicked: For Good, which hit theaters on November 21, 2025, closes the book on Elphaba and Glinda… but not on Oz. It also debuted strong: $223 million worldwide so far, which is already about a quarter of the first film’s total. That kind of momentum makes future projects a pretty easy call.
What shape could the next thing take?
For Good finishes the Elphaba/Glinda arc but leaves plenty of space to explore other characters and corners of Oz. Stephen Schwartz, who wrote and composed the stage musical’s songs, put it simply: their story feels complete, but other parts of this world are absolutely still on the table.
- Wicked: For Good quick stats: Directed by Jon M. Chu; Cast: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey; Release date: November 21, 2025; IMDb: 7.2/10; Rotten Tomatoes: 69%; Worldwide box office: $223 million (and counting); Produced by Marc Platt Productions
Will Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo be back?
This is the big question, and the honest answer is: probably not, at least not as the leads. Their journey together got its ending in For Good. That matches what Schwartz hinted at — Elphaba and Glinda’s story feels done, even if Oz isn’t. Never say never to a cameo or a surprise, but the next chapter sounds more like a new perspective than another round with the same two.
Where things stand right now
Universal is developing more Wicked, the exact format is still undecided, and the franchise has the box office to back it up. If they’re smart (and they are), expect them to mine Oz for fresh characters and storylines rather than trying to undo a finished ending.
Wicked: For Good is currently in theaters across the U.S. What would you want to see next from Oz?