Universal Reportedly Exploring a Third Wicked Film, Despite Two-Part Finale

Universal Pictures is said to be weighing a third Wicked movie even though director Jon M. Chu’s two-part adaptation is expected to conclude the Broadway musical’s storyline with Wicked: For Good next year. The rumour surfaced this week via industry tipsters who say the studio is already testing the waters for further adventures in Oz.

Why a Third Film?

Chu’s first instalment, released in November 2024, earned more than US $750 million worldwide, proving the property’s box-office pull. While Wicked: For Good, set for 21 November 2025, covers the remaining events of the stage show, Gregory Maguire’s The Wicked Years novels extend far beyond The Wizard of Oz. Three sequels, Son of a Witch, A Lion Among Men and Out of Oz, explore Elphaba’s legacy through her son Liir and delve into the political turmoil of a post-wizard Oz. That material could anchor new screen stories, though the novels’ darker tone and shifting character arcs would require significant adaptation.

Creative Team’s Previous Teases

Composer Stephen Schwartz and screenwriter Winnie Holzman revealed last year that they had held informal talks about expanding the film universe, stressing that any continuation would not simply be a “Part Three” retread of the stage plot. The latest chatter builds on that groundwork, though no writer, director or cast attachments have been reported.

Development Hurdles

A third chapter would have to bridge the optimistic ending promised by the musical—where Elphaba survives—with Maguire’s more ambiguous lore. There is also the challenge of sustaining blockbuster interest once the core Wickednarrative is complete, particularly as For Good is marketed as the emotional finale.

Universal has declined to comment on the reports. For now, Oz fans must wait to see whether the studio is ready to “defy gravity” once again after 2025.