Dark Oz: The Epic Finale of the Wicked Musical Film

One of pop culture’s highlights of the year is the finale of the musical film Wicked, centering on the two contrasting witches Elphaba and Glinda, portrayed by Grammy winner Cynthia Erivo and U.S. superstar Ariana Grande. As with the first part last year, Wicked: Part 2 is already being floated as a potential Oscar contender. Is that warranted?

First things first: The sequel, which opens in theaters now, feels darker and more serious than its predecessor. After all, the events in the magical land of Oz are intensifying. The story is an adaptation of the eponymous Broadway musical, which itself is a prequel to the 1939 classic film The Wizard of Oz.

How will Glinda and Elphaba’s friendship progress?

At its core, Wicked centers on the friendship between the “good” witch Glinda (Grande) and the green-skinned Elphaba (Erivo), who in Oz people know as the Wicked Witch of the West and who are hunted. After a rocky start in the first film, the two friends connect at college, but in this sequel they are torn apart once more by a decision with grave consequences.

Because in the land a political conspiracy around the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum) brews. The speaking animals in Oz lose their voices and are imprisoned. Elphaba wants to rescue the animals, while Glinda stays with the Wizard and his confidante Madame Akaber (Michelle Yeoh) and ascends into a near-mystical light. To the residents of Oz, Elphaba becomes a traitor threatening the entire realm.

Visually impressive and with a sweeping musical score

Nevertheless, Elphaba and Glinda cannot forget their bond. It will be tested further by Prince Fiyero, played by Jonathan Bailey, who has been hailed as the first openly gay “Sexiest Man Alive” of 2025.

As with the first film, Wicked: Part 2 is visually striking under director Jon M. Chu. It renders Oz as a vibrant, magical realm. The musical numbers are emotionally resonant, largely thanks to the powerhouse performances by Erivo (38) and Grande (32). For that reason alone, it’s worth experiencing the film with the original English songs whenever possible. Both actresses were Oscar-nominated for the first installment (Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress).

Scarecrow, Tin Man, and a Lion from The Wizard of Oz

Overall, the more-than-130-minute film can test viewers’ patience at times. Some stretches feel a bit stretched. Yet there’s a welcomed reunion with familiar faces from the classic. For context: Dorothy lands in Oz after a storm and teams up with a Scarecrow, a Tin Man, and a Lion in search of the Wizard.

What’s especially impressive are the costume designs for the Scarecrow and the Tin Man. It’s very possible the film could win an Oscar in this category—just as it was nominated in another category this year for production design.

Director Chu told the German press agency that the second chapter builds an emotional arc. “I picture the characters as adults looking back on their youth and questioning the stories about the world that were told to them. Only then can you decide who you are and how you want to see the world.”

A Viral Press Tour

It was “really difficult” during the press tour last year to focus only on the first film, since the sequel was already in the can. Both parts had been filmed simultaneously.

Apropos: The promo phase in 2024 became a viral phenomenon. Short videos on Instagram and TikTok showed Grande and Erivo in ostensibly highly emotional interviews.

Director: “It’s all part of the storytelling”

The leads sat side by side, holding hands, praising journalists’ questions or breaking into tears. The interview sequences sometimes felt like their own orchestrated film.

Did he ever feel the press tour overshadowed Wicked itself? “No, because I think it’s all part of the storytelling. It’s all part of the storytelling,” said Chu. The work stands on its own.