Wicked Director Jon M. Chu Admits Even He Wasn’t Sure About For Good’s New Songs At First, And Explains Why

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In just two months, we can look forward to the theater release of the 2025 movie “Wicked: For Good,” featuring the return of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in their magical roles. What’s more, the sequel offers something fresh: two brand-new songs that you’ll find yourself humming along to. Incredibly, director Jon M. Chu initially had some doubts about the new songs in the fantasy sequel – for a compelling reason.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled about the division of “Wicked” into two parts. This split offers a unique chance to delve deeper into L. Frank Baum’s captivatingly reimagined characters. When transforming long-lasting Broadway productions for the silver screen, an innovative approach is often used: original songs are incorporated to enrich the narrative or develop the characters more profoundly. Just imagine, it might even boost its potential for a Best Original Song award at the Oscars, just like “You Must Love Me” from “Evita” did!

Yet, Jon M. Chu openly admitted to Entertainment Weekly his doubts about incorporating two new songs into the film “For Good”, and I can understand his reservations.

As a movie enthusiast, I always ensure that every scene and element we filmed and included in the movie underwent thorough examination before finalizing its place in the film. If it didn’t pass the test, it simply didn’t make the cut – the quality had to be exceptional for our audience.

Considering how deeply affecting every song from “Wicked” was in the original film, it’s important to avoid adding excess new songs that might clutter screen time. Whether it’s a powerful number like “Defying Gravity” or a catchy tune such as “Popular”, each one significantly advances the plot and helps viewers understand the characters better. Given Jon M. Chu’s innovative approach, I believe the two new musical numbers were skillfully integrated into the movie, not haphazardly like Dorothy’s house being swept away, but rather gracefully, like Glinda’s bubble floating gently down.

The upcoming songs in “Wicked: For Good” include one composed by Cynthia Erivo specifically for her Elphaba character, and another titled “Girl in the Bubble” intended for Glinda. Jon M. Chu has shared that these new additions are particularly fitting for the sequel due to their shared focus on the central theme of “home.

In simpler terms, both witches are attempting to return home. The songs in the play, however, delve into this topic and pose questions about their journeys that I’ve always been curious about, yet never heard answered directly. Now, we have the opportunity to delve deeper into these questions and explore them further.

The idea about Glinda and Elphaba’s search for “home” is quite heartwarming, reminiscent of Dorothy’s journey in _The Wizard of Oz_ to find her way back to Kansas. It seems that these Oz residents, prior to Dorothy, could identify with the wandering farm girl as they too were on a journey of self-discovery and finding their place.

The renowned American film director is eagerly anticipating his two upcoming songs, particularly Cynthia Erivo’s rendition of “No Good Deed,” which he considers a standout hit. Given that this song expresses Elphaba’s fury towards wickedness and goodness in the musical tune, it’s no surprise that the director finds it compelling. Additionally, Chu deemed “As Long As You’re Mine” as beautiful, as it showcases a loving relationship between Elphaba and Fiyero. This excitement for the forthcoming musical sequel is already at an all-time high for me.

Initially, Jon M. Chu might have had doubts about incorporating fresh tunes for “Wicked: For Good“. However, it seems like these two songs have found a suitable place in the musical adaptation, which I anticipate will evoke strong emotions and potentially earn nominations for Best Original Song.

If you’re excited to find out how Elphaba and Glinda’s story unfolds, catch the second part of “Wicked” in theaters on November 21st. In the meantime, you can stream the Academy Award-winning film that kicked it all off on your Peacock subscription.

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2025-09-10 22:06