Will There Be a ‘Wicked 3’? Everything We Know

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The movies Wicked: Part One and Wicked: For Good have been huge successes, leading many to ask if a third film will be made. Part One earned over $758 million worldwide and received 10 Academy Award nominations, winning awards for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design. For Good has already broken records, earning over $226 million in its opening weekend – the highest amount ever for a movie adapted from a Broadway musical.

The stars of Wicked, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, have become global sensations, earning Oscar nominations for their roles as Elphaba and Glinda. Their incredible singing, acting, and fun public appearances have boosted ticket sales and created huge demand for Wicked merchandise. Unlike other movie adaptations, like Cats, Wicked‘s influence is everywhere – you can find pink and green themed products at places like Dunkin’ Donuts, Pottery Barn, Lexus, Amazon, Google, Lego, and Target.

Honestly, seeing how huge Wicked is right now – people are choosing witches over blockbuster action – it just feels obvious that Universal needs to build on this! They’d be missing a massive opportunity if they didn’t start thinking about sequels, prequels, maybe even spin-offs. It’s not just a movie, it could be a whole universe!

‘Wicked’ Sequels Are Already in the Works at Universal Pictures


Universal Pictures

The hugely successful opening weekend of Wicked: For Good has prompted Universal Pictures to start planning future movies set in the world of Oz. According to Vulture, the studio is very interested in building a Wicked franchise, and CMO Michael Moses has confirmed they’re already exploring possibilities. He explained that the film’s success and dedicated fanbase create a sense of obligation to continue telling stories in this universe, though concrete plans are still in the early stages.

It’s not yet known whether a follow-up film will continue the original story or explore a related spin-off, but fans of Wicked will likely be thrilled. They’ve already shown they’re eager for more adventures with Elphaba and Glinda. The ending of For Good left many questions unanswered – and provided a few answers – and several characters are still alive, leaving plenty of opportunities for them to return in future installments. This means we could see Elphaba, Glinda, Fiyero, Boq, the Cowardly Lion, and even Pfannee and Shenshen again.

Before Universal officially announced plans for a Wicked movie universe (which many are already calling the WCU), Wicked screenwriter Dana Fox mentioned to Deadline that she’d be happy to write a follow-up movie if one were to happen.

I’d be thrilled to be involved in a Wicked 3 if they ever made one. The characters are so well-loved, and the ending of the second movie – especially Elphaba’s voiceover about hoping someone finds out they’re still alive – definitely hints at a potential continuation. That moment felt like a clear invitation for a sequel, and I think exploring what happens next would be fantastic. I’m really excited by the possibility of revisiting them someday.

However, Marcia Gay Harden (who plays Elphaba’s mother) acknowledged that sometimes it’s best to leave things alone, specifically referring to the highly anticipated two-part Wicked film directed by Jon M. Chu. Despite this, Universal Pictures is already considering further stories set in the Wizard of Oz universe. Harden also revealed her daughter is eager for a prequel, and given the rich source material of Wicked, that’s a definite possibility.

Gregory Maguire Just Announced a New ‘Wicked’ Book


Universal Pictures

Fans of Gregory Maguire’s Wicked – the book that inspired the hit musical – have exciting news! Maguire has announced a new book, Galinda: A Charmed Childhood, which will explore Glinda’s early life. Coming out in 2026, the story will reveal what Glinda was like before her days at Shiz University and her famous friendship with Elphaba. This follows the release of Elphie: A Wicked Childhood, which gave readers a look into Elphaba’s upbringing earlier this year.

Beyond the prequels, Gregory Maguire has written several other books in his Wicked Years series, beginning with Wicked in 1995 and continuing with Son of a Witch (2005), A Lion Among Men (2008), and Out of Oz (2011). While any of these could potentially become movies, it’s uncertain whether audiences would be as interested in films that don’t focus as much on Elphaba and Glinda, as the first Wicked film does. It’s important to remember the Wicked musical isn’t a direct copy of Maguire’s book, so future movies could also take liberties with the story. Considering Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are major reasons for the excitement around the Wicked films, sequels without them seem unlikely. However, someone involved in the creative process has suggested there might not be much story left to tell with Elphaba and Glinda anyway.

‘Wicked’ Composer Stephen Schwartz Thinks Elphaba and Glinda’s Story is Done


Universal Pictures

Stephen Schwartz, the composer and lyricist behind Wicked, recently told The Ankler that he feels the story of Elphaba and Glinda has reached a natural conclusion. While he and book writer Winnie Holzman are brainstorming new ideas related to the Wicked universe, Schwartz doesn’t believe a sequel focusing on the two main characters is the right path. He emphasized that the core story feels complete, though other parts of the Wicked world could be explored. Both Schwartz and Holzman were involved in the first Wicked film and are also co-writing the second, and even made cameo appearances in Wicked: Part One.

I’m really excited about what Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman are cooking up! He’s clarified it’s not a straight-up sequel to Wicked, but more of a companion piece, and honestly, that feels right. They’ve got a lot to weave in – Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, and even Jonathan Bailey are joining the world! Plus, Wicked works perfectly as its own story, so any continuation would need completely new music from Schwartz. He can do it – remember he wrote two songs for Wicked: For Good? – but making a whole new musical for a movie is a much bigger undertaking than developing the original Broadway show, and time is tight during film production. I’m just hoping he’ll have the time to make it as magical as the first one!

Scott Schwartz is a highly acclaimed composer with an Oscar, Grammy, and Golden Globe, so he’s certainly capable, but some viewers didn’t think the new music he added to the For Good soundtrack was as strong as the rest of the score. If he, Stephen Holzman, and the creative team want Wicked 3 (or any future spin-off) to be as successful as the original Wicked – which is still running on Broadway after being there for over a decade – they’ll need to recapture the magic that made it a hit.

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2025-11-26 01:22