Wicked star Bowen Yang doesn’t want a third movie – but does have a spin-off idea

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Bowen Yang, known for his work on Saturday Night Live and Wicked, has said he doesn’t think a third movie will happen, joining others who have dismissed the idea. However, he has suggested creating a spin-off instead.

The new movie, Wicked: For Good, covers the second half of the popular stage musical. Unlike many Hollywood franchises that are built to last with endless sequels, the filmmakers believe Glinda and Elphaba’s story is complete and doesn’t need a third part.

Yang mentioned to Variety that he believes the story is complete as it stands. However, he’s open to the idea of exploring storylines with some of the more minor characters – including his own.

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He also mentioned he plans to write a story inspired by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, featuring characters he and Bronwyn James have created.

Yang portrays Pfannee in the movies, and James, who is acting in the new How to Train Your Dragon film, plays Shenshen. Both characters are stuck-up students at Shiz University who dismiss Elphaba and admire Glinda.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is a darkly humorous and dreamlike play that reimagines Shakespeare’s Hamlet, telling the familiar story from the point of view of two of its less important characters.

This story first appeared in the 1960s and has since inspired many similar works. A well-known example is The Lion King 3 (also known as The Lion King 1½), which tells the backstory of Timon and Pumbaa, showing their adventures before, during, and after the original animated film.

Could the idea work for Wicked, which already kind of applies the premise to The Wizard of Oz?

I was so excited to hear Jon M. Chu say in an interview with Access Hollywood that the movie was always planned as a two-part story! It sounds like they’ve got a lot of ideas for where things could go next, which he mentioned to Variety, and that’s really promising. I’m already hoping for the second movie!

Ariana Grande explained at a recent Screen Actors Guild event that with the release of the song For Good, audiences will learn the complete story of the characters it represents.

She expressed hope that the film’s team would continue collaborating, playfully suggesting that, like Cher, they’re likely to keep working together. She joked that this isn’t a permanent goodbye, and she doesn’t expect anyone to leave the team.

Wicked: For Good is out in cinemas now.

The latest issue of Living Legends is now available! You can purchase Ariana & Witches at newsstands or online for only £8.99.

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2025-11-22 15:19